A Vision Of Your "Version"
Here's a quiz for you. What do Warren Buffet, Julia Roberts, Michael Jordan, Jimmy Carter, Mother Teresa and Johnny Carson all have in common? Give up...They are all introverts. According to Jonathan Rauch, in his writings in The Atlantic, "Introverts are the most misunderstood and aggrieved groups in America, possibly the world." Introverts recharge their batteries with silence while extraverts talk to re-charge-it's a style difference.
In my coaching role I meet and give feedback to executives almost every week. I met with an executive for a 360- leadership report. The feedback he received focused on his performance in meetings and group events. All of his colleagues as well as his boss said things like, "Not sure if he listens to us," "Not engaged in the process." The high -level manager sat across from me with no visible reaction---he was the proverbial deer in the headlights. When I asked him what he was thinking, it took him a while to stammer and think his way through his reaction. Suffice it to say he was crushed. He recited word for word what went on in every business meeting he had attended over the last few weeks; he gave me insightful analysis to the dynamics of his team. He could not fathom that people thought he was not listening in meetings. What's going on? Clearly the man is an introvert.
Extraverts (and I must confess I am a member of this club) want to talk everything out. And in the workplace, extraverts are winning the leadership positions. In the general population introverts and extraverts are evenly split with 49% of the population extraverts and 51% introverts*. But in the management ranks of Fortune 1000 executives, even those leaders that rate themselves as introverts at home operate as extraverts in the workplace with 71.6% scoring as extraverts. Often Introverts are mistaken for shy or socially awkward; one of the most common misconceptions is that they are not able to give presentations or speak in public (think Johnny Carson).
Leaders need to be able to show that they are engaged in the process. So if you are an introvert or you manage one, here are some coaching tips that might help with this diversity issue:
- Send agendas in advance so that introverts have time to prepare and think about topics to be discussed.
- Make sure you ask more thoughtful people for comments during the meeting.
- Allow for input after the meeting.
- If you tend to be quieter in meetings, make sure people know you are engaged by individually connecting with key team members before or after the session to comment on content of the meeting.
- Thank leaders at the end of meeting and add something like: "I have some further thoughts on this? Could I send you an email when I have a chance to synthesize my ideas?"
- Learn how to interrupt more talkative people so you get your voice heard in the room.
Warren, Johnny and Julia all learned how to make the most of their way of thinking. "There's nothing small about small talk if you're an introvert," said Rauch. Something for all of the extraverts to keep in mind.
* Snapshots of the 16 Types, Peter D. Meyers and Katherine B. Myers, CPP, 2001
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