Personality types come in innumerable forms.
Some people in society are loud, sociable and confident. Others prefer to be calmer, more reserved and like to be alone. This quickly leads to the assumption that silent people are introverts and loud are extroverts. But that is thought too short.
As Carl Jung said: “There is no such thing as a purely introverted or a purely extraverted. Such a person would be in a madhouse. ”As a result, there is an introvert and an extrovert in each of us. Some people just live out certain traits more than others.
Introverts vs. Extroverts
Whether you are a shy, reserved person or more sociable, confident and social, a superficial description of the personality types will probably not do you justice. Nevertheless, you can get to the bottom of the central aspect of your being with a specific question: How do you recharge your batteries – alone or in a company?
WHAT EXTROVERTS AND INTROVERTS CAN TEACH US
People are complex. You can be introverted, even though you’re not shy, as one of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates. At the same time, there are also cases in which extroverts are shy, as the actress and singer Barbra Streisand proves.
Introverts use being alone to refuel. This also applies to the workplace, where you are probably better off in your own room. They then present the considerations and insights gained there when the time is right. In her book “Quiet: The importance of introverts in a noisy world“, Susan Cain states that extroverted people are fundamentally preferred – with disadvantageous consequences not only on a business level but also on a global scale.
Let’s just think back twenty years: children sat quietly at their tables and dedicated themselves to their tasks; even in the workplace, there were still separate niches. That has fundamentally changed over the years. As a consequence of the preference for extroversion, children now work in groups and are forced to face each other, while offices have become spacious open-plan offices – including permanent background noise.
INTROVERTS AND EXTROVERTS IN THE WORKPLACE
Companies like Google were among the pioneers in open-plan offices. At the same time, they try to respond to the different types of workers with flexible workplace models. A workplace culture that focuses on the well-being and satisfaction of employees and takes into account their preferred way of working often turns out to be the best approach. Introverts don’t have the constant need for collective brainstorming and group meetings at all. In the long run, this can even have a negative impact on the company’s success. An introvert cannot work well under such conditions, even though they are useful in certain circumstances.
Compared to this, extroverts literally bloom in community offices with daily meetings and open doors. The open-plan concept is made for them because they like to get involved and want to be heard. Team-building measures, company celebrations, and group meetings have a motivating effect on extroverts and ensure their commitment.
HOW DO YOU DO JUSTICE TO BOTH TYPES?
Companies can only benefit from this if they support both personality types and ensure that employees of both stripes feel comfortable. While the extroverts take care of customer acquisition and stir up enthusiasm in their environment, it is the introverts who advance the company with their knowledge and expertise. It was the same with Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.
Recommended Readings: Mental Health Advice For More Well-Being At Work
Sure, it’s hard for an introvert in an extroverted world. In order to make it go ahead, introverts should ask their company what they need for an optimal working atmosphere. Neither of the two personality types likes to be bent. Therefore, companies have to find out for themselves how they can do justice to the different ways of working. After all, each of us is different. And it is precisely these differences that ultimately make success.