CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – NOVEMBER 29, 2021 -1
Introverts: Working From Home Works
If someone had told us five years ago that 40 percent (or more) of the American labor force would be working from home in 2020, I don’t know that we would have believed them.
Sure, the number of people working partially or fully remote has been climbing for years now. But until Covid-19 hit, the upward trend was gradual.
Today, and perhaps for many more months still, we’re navigating a “new normal” while we run our businesses remotely, with team members connected solely through email, phone, and video conferencing.
For some, the change has been a hard adjustment; people who thrive in busy work environments find it difficult to stay focused at home, and they crave the human interaction they get from checking in at the office every day.
For others, having the option to sometimes work from home gives them the work-life balance they need and saves them from a daily commute five days a week.
In fact, according to a recent State of Remote Report by Buffer, 98 percent of people surveyed said they’d like to work remotely—at least some of the time—permanently.
That brings us to the group of people who’ve wholeheartedly embraced working from home: introverts.
Introverts Can Succeed in the Workplace
It’s estimated that introverts make up as much as 40 percent of the population, yet there’s still a common misconception that introverts are shy, withdrawn, and socially anxious people.
Compared to extroverts who are typically loud, outgoing, and enthusiastic, introverts may appear quiet, passive, and withdrawn.
What people may not realize, however, is introverts are just as outgoing and enthusiastic. What sets them apart from extroverts are the way they gain energy.
Introverts “recharge” by spending time alone; extroverts gain energy from social interaction. But when it comes to business, introverts are just as capable of succeeding in the workplace.
In fact, some would argue introverts are better business people because they listen more than they speak. And we all know how important listening is to effective communication.
So if you identify as an introvert who prefers to spend time in smaller groups, the transition to a largely digital world in the midst of a global pandemic works in your favor. You can succeed in the workplace just by working the way you’ve always wanted to.
This is where you shine. You excel in situations where you connect one-on-one or in smaller groups. You’re no longer competing to be heard over the extroverts; you feel more comfortable to speak up to share your ideas.
You may not be the best public speaker, but your listening skills and ability to ask good questions make up for it. That gives you an advantage, especially in sales and marketing, where listening is always better than talking.
Tips to Succeed in a Virtual World
Introverts, you’ve been preparing your entire life for this. Never before have we seen ourselves in a position where company meetings have been forced to take place over Zoom or Google Hangouts, and more communication has to happen over the phone or through email and text.
As someone who prefers these methods of communication, you’re in a position to show just how valuable having an introvert on the team can be.
