How To Live With an Introvert...

A clever cartoon, and accurate according to my own experience as an introvert...

Introverts vs. Extroverts...

The differences between working introverts and extroverts is popping up much more frequently in the news, as in this article from Forbes.  I'm not sure exactly why this is, though I have a suspicion: the past few years has seen a distinct trend toward work environments that are very friendly to extroverts, and actually hostile for introverts.  Being a fairly extreme introvert myself, I live this every day at the office.  This paragraph from the article resonated with me:

Make the office space and work day right for everyone – Allow for a mix of introverted and extroverted spaces when shaping an office space. It is important to have areas where employees can interact and communicate. It is equally important however to have space where employees can be alone and work undisturbed. Current offices have moved towards a more open area concept where all employees work in sight of each other and are able to communicate freely, always. To many this might seem like the ideal work environment especially when compared to the stereotypical cubicle farm that characterized previous office designs. For more introverted workers this type of environment can represent serious problems. Introverts tend to recharge their batteries alone, while extroverts tend to gain energy from participating in group situations. Firms need to make sure that they are allowing for both sides of the spectrum and everything in between to get the opportunity to recharge. Creating open office spaces does not allow for areas for introverts to work alone and really center themselves for the day. Work days are now so often characterized by group collaboration and meeting that some employees can often feel overwhelmed with all the interaction. There have also been studies conducted that suggest that these types of open office space can actually prove distracting to many employees and lead to lower productivity. In the end it is important that office space and work schedules offer time for both interaction as well as solitude.

My company's office environment, from my perspective, might have been designed to zero out my productivity.  I do nearly all creative work on the days when I work from home, or in the first couple of hours I'm at the office (before anyone else gets there).  What's the environment?  Well, my cubicle is in a partitioned-off area which seats 8 people.  One of these people sits right next to me.  I can hear all eight of them when they talk (which, of course, is often!).  To my left is a corridor down which many people walk every day; it's openly visible to me.  And of course anyone who walks in or out of our little areas (inhabitants or visitors) is visible to me.  Each of these things is a distraction that is impossible for me to ignore (this comes along with being introverted).  I can help with the voices by wearing headphones and listening to music – but I get interrupted so frequently that by 10 or 11 am this is no longer practicable.  Some people (the extroverts!) absolutely thrive in this environment; I can observe them myself and see the truth of that.  But for me, it's a productivity killer...

Agile and Introverts...

Fascinating stuff, if you're an introvert working at a company using agile development methodologies with open floor plans...

Introverted? Be a “Shy Connector”

In recent months I've accidentally run across a lot of great articles about what it's like to be introverted, and how to embrace it.  Here's yet another one: a short presentation by Sacha Choa with great advice for introverts about how to connect easily with other people.  Much of the advice I've worked out on my own, but there were a couple of new ideas for me in there.  One recommendation she made resonates particularly strongly: blogging – though I'd generalize that a bit into writing for an audience, any way you can...

The Shy Connector

View more presentations from Sacha Chua

Introversion...

One of the best collections of facts about introverts I've seen, all in clear layman's terms.  This resonates very strongly with me, each and every point...

Tyranny of the Extroverts...

Lots of this resonates with me.  Follow the links, too...

Caring for Your Introvert...

This resonates strongly.  Nobody who knows me well will be surprised.

Introversion...

The longer I spend amongst my fellow workers who are extroverts (as so many are), the more I realize that the way they “process their world” is profoundly different than the way I do.  This piece touches on some of this in a way that resonates with me.  One tiny item that jumped out at me: I am very easily startled, to the point where it's a great source of amusement to others...