There are many benefits of being an introvert, so if your personality type is lower in extraversion, don’t be too alarmed. Being an introvert is has many perks. If your personality leans more toward the reserved and reflective side of the spectrum, you’re likely more introverted and less extraverted.
Perhaps you’re aware that there are a lot of misconceptions about introverts floating around today. Many people mistakenly believe that you’re depressed when you act introverted. It could also be mistakenly assumed that you’re naturally averse to the world at large, and incapable of interacting with others, whether at a networking event or small-talk with your co-workers. In many cases, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Extraverts often notice more in the workplace and are often more natural leaders. However, introverts can complement the extraverts on their team by using their quiet nature to lead with charisma and confidence. They may not always be the loudest voice in the room, but research suggests that introverted leaders are often highly regarded for their ability to demonstrate creativity, integrity, and innovation.
Below are some of the key benefits of being an introvert:
Introverts are Great Listeners
Introverts are typically very observant and reflective individuals. They are keenly aware of what’s going on around them. Because introverts spend less time talking and more time reflecting, they have more time to pay attention to what’s being said.
Introverts also make great listeners because they tend to care about the people they are listening to. They want to understand them and their experiences. Being a good listener is a way for introverts to build trust with colleagues and leaders without being too assertive or aggressive. It also helps them find out what is expected of them at work and how they can improve themselves.
Deep Thinkers
Introverts are effective communicators when it comes to talking, but their preference is to engage with the world through writing rather than through speaking. Their ability to listen well allows them to create work that is both creative and unique to the needs of the situation they are working in. When an introvert works on a team or with clients, they rely on this skill to anticipate what is needed.
Maintain Better Work-Life Balance
It’s not that introverted people don’t like others, but they tend to feel drained by social interaction after a while. They need to take alone time to re-energize. If they don’t, they risk becoming depressed or anxious. This need for solitude often helps introverts become better employees because it allows them to employ self-care practices that equip them to be focused and productive at work.
Introverts tend to have a greater awareness of their feelings and know the difference between being tired and overworked. They’ll work hard for a while, then get up from the desk and get some air, get a cup of tea, read a book or get on with another task that needs to be done. Taking these mini-breaks is crucial to introverts who may otherwise get overwhelmed by too much stimulation or new information. Their ability to cultivate a healthy work/life balance is an essential aspect of their skillset.
Empathetic
Introverts tend to be more thoughtful and analytical in their line of work. The ability to have more empathy for others is one of the best benefits of being an introvert.
Introverts feel the pressure and the need to be empathetic of their colleagues’ feelings and needs — they don’t want others to feel bad or wronged.
They will usually take on new tasks and challenges with gusto and confidence. This is because introverts believe that everyone makes mistakes and that failure is not necessarily a bad thing. Their self-awareness allows them to have a more realistic view of their abilities.
Introverts are often very empathetic, which allows them to step into other people’s shoes. Introverts often think before they speak. This helps them gather their thoughts and is a positive quality in the workplace, especially when problem-solving. Leadership is an area where introverts can shine – they create an open and quiet work environment that lets their employees feel comfortable and included, ultimately increasing their loyalty and work ethic.
Self-Reflective
It is common sense that you can never stop learning new things in the modern, digitalized world with instant communication at your fingertips. With this in mind, the main reasons introverts are faring better when it comes to work are that they are self-reflective and want to learn more. There will always be room for improvement.
Research has shown that the more self-reflective individuals are, the more effective they will absorb and use feedback to improve their performance. This is not only vital in the workplace but also life in general. Introverted people like to take time for their thoughts and reflect on any issues and obstacles and how they might be able to resolve them, rather than leaving everything to run its natural course with no direction or focus.
Not Impulsive
One of the greatest strengths of an introvert is their ability to form considered rather than impulsive decisions. This is often misunderstood as over-analyzing or even worrying too much, but this description is grossly inaccurate for most introverts. Whether this is for better or worse depends on the context of the decision being made. However, when it comes to business, introverts are often associated with making slower, more considered decisions that can be to their advantage, creating opportunities for great strides to be taken in the right direction.
Final Thoughts
If you’re just starting out in your career, it can be intimidating to figure out who you are at work. After all, the stress of dealing with new employees, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, or coming up with a work/life balance can take its toll on anyone.
It’s normal to find your footing when you’re working full-time for the first time, especially if you’re an introvert. However, this doesn’t mean that any introvert in the workplace is in the wrong place. The critical lesson in this scenario is that you need to understand yourself to fit into your environment properly.
In fact, doing your best work, being a valued member of the team and finding happiness at work all share a single common characteristic: they rely on the ability to be the person you are inside. A lot of people might assume that being an introvert in an overly social workplace environment is a bad thing. If, however, you take time to understand how to use your innate personality traits as a superpower, you’ll find yourself thriving as an introvert.
Understanding who you are is key to self-love, success and happiness. This means that you must embrace the fact that you’re introverted, and understand where your personality falls on the scale of extraversion. Use CircleDNA to find out your personality profile based on your genetics, and find out if you’re genetically more likely to be an introvert.
