The Power of Productive Introverts

This week kicks off National Introverts Week, but don’t expect a lot of celebration, because that’s not typically how we introverts roll. A productive workplace will take the needs of the entire spectrum into account: introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts.

Is it true that you have to be extroverted to be an entrepreneur?

There are different kinds of introversion, but the basic dividing line between introversion and extroversion is that introverts need a lot of time by themselves to recharge. Like many introverts, I don’t mind being with people, but after the peopling, I have to recharge without anyone around me. 

Some introverts hate being on camera or on stage, and don’t talk a lot. Others love all of that and are chatty Cathies, but they just don’t find groups of people energizing.

Some introverts may prefer to talk mostly to their families of origin, but that doesn’t work for everyone. Many people have friends that fill in for families who can’t or won’t be there for them when they need it, and that includes introverts too.

You may know (or be) an introverted business owner. Although popular conception has it that entrepreneurs and salespeople have to be extroverted to do their jobs, it’s not true. Introverts who are good at listening can often solve people’s problems.

A productive day in the workplace for an introvert

As you might have guessed, introverts do need time and space to themselves. They may not be able to ask a question in a meeting, but reflect on what was said and come up with some queries afterward. Sending the agenda for a meeting ahead of time helps everyone prepare and also helps keep meetings on track.

And keep meetings at a minimum. Can it be an email? If so, then make it so. When you do need to schedule meetings, put them on the calendar when they won’t interrupt everyone’s most focused work hours. 

Introverts and “social” media

I’ve started putting the word in quotes because there’s nothing actually social about those media platforms. They exist for one reason: to make money for their owners, usually from advertising. And they’ve gamed the platforms to be as addictive as possible so that users will stay on longer and consume more ads. 

But that’s not social. Many introverts get on “social” media because it seems like you’re being social from the comfy quarters of your own home. But the brain doesn’t recognize it as social, so you’re not getting the benefits of talking to people as you would if you were, you know, actually talking to them.

And introverts still need to stay in touch with friends and have a little bit of a social life. Humans survived as a species because we banded together in social groups, which helped us get food and protected us from other animals with teeth and claws. 

There’s a part of the brain that’s constantly studying the hierarchy so that we feel like we belong somewhere. And that’s as true for introverts as it is for extroverts. We just don’t need to spend quite as much time or have as many friends – a few close-knit friends or family members will usually do the trick.

And you do have to talk to them – in person, over the phone, video. Typing a comment on someone’s post is not social, at least as far as the brain is concerned.

Recharging is critical for a productive day

Introverts are pretty good at knowing they need to be by themselves and recharge, because we get so exhausted after peopling for a while. I can be having a good time at a party but at some point, my brain just hits the off switch. I stop having fun, I don’t want to talk to anyone, I yearn for my house, and have to leave pretty much immediately. I don’t know if that’s true for all introverts. 

What is true is that recharging is necessary because of the culture we live in.

Extroverts might have a harder time with the concept. Some people call it self-care, but I think too many people associate that phrase with luxury they don’t think they can afford and stuff like bubble baths. If you don’t like bubble baths, though, you still need to recharge one way or another. Maybe it’s your favorite hobby, maybe it’s throwing or kicking a ball around with your buddies, maybe it’s calling a friend, maybe it’s snuggling on the sofa with a book and pets. 

Computers have to be plugged in to recharge or else their batteries go dead. They also have to be shut down from time to time to improve their performance. Although human brains are NOT computers, the analogy still works.

Your brain needs sleep so it can do all the work it can’t do while you’re conscious – that’s why you need 7 to 8 hours of sleep as an adult. And if you don’t recharge your batteries by doing things that you enjoy outside work, you’re likely to burn out. It’s not pretty, and you don’t need to do that to yourself. Recharge regularly instead.

Recap: 

Introverts can be successful business owners just as extroverts can. There are several ways you can improve the productivity of your business by working with introverts. However you identify, recharging is critical to happiness and preventing burnout.