From the course: Managing Introverts

Introvert, extrovert, ambivert: Learn your team energizers

From the course: Managing Introverts

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Introvert, extrovert, ambivert: Learn your team energizers

- Before we go any further, let's talk about the three broad categories of where people get their energy. Author and career expert, Josh Allan Dykstra, describes how we can look at our strengths through the lens of energy in order to find a flow state at work. He calls them energy strengths. In this context, it's important to recognize that the word introvert often gets misconstrued to mean that a person is shy or maybe even anti-social. More accurately, it reflects where people get their energy versus what drains it. Extroverts enjoy spending time with others because it fuels them. They feel invigorated after spending time meeting, networking, collaborating, and socializing with others. What you're observing is somebody who is energized by interacting with people. And in fact, if they're feeling too isolated, that might deplete their energy or make them bored or anxious. Extroverts are also more likely to think out loud. Expressing themselves and hearing themselves respond is the very process that helps them formulate their ideas and opinions. Contrast this with introverts, who are recharged by spending time alone. Quiet author, Susan Cain, defines introverts as having a preference for less stimulating environments. Introverts tend to enjoy quiet concentration, listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and can have a more circumspect and even cautious approach to risk. Introverts often do well working independently and they process internally, which means that if put on the spot, they will often request time to contemplate, to go figure out where they stand before expressing their thoughts publicly. My friend, Stephanie, describes this process as crock potting, giving ideas and decisions plenty of time to marinate before moving forward. There's an important nuance in these two definitions of introversion and extroversion. Being energized by time alone doesn't mean introverts don't enjoy being around people. Humans are naturally social and we all crave companionship. It's just that introverts will need to balance their time amongst others with time just to themselves much more often than extroverts will. Ambiverts oscillate between both ends of this introvert-extrovert spectrum. They may go through phases of their life or even phases of a day, where they recharge their energy batteries differently. You might also notice changes in how you engage your introversion or extroversion over the course of your life. The lesson here, don't assume that any one person fits just one of these three broad categories. Initiate conversations with each of your team members about what energizes and what drains them when it comes to relationship building, interactions with others, and partnering with others on projects at work. The goal is to understand the preferences of each of your team members and how to create inclusive team environments, meetings, working groups, and one-on-ones. This will not only provide insight into and elevate your best energy, but will also help each of your team members shine and thrive at work.

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