Finding a way to speak up

Samantha’s concerns reflect the misconceptions that most people have about introverts. They are usually viewed as being shy, quiet, passive, antisocial, inattentive, or unproductive. Senior research project manager, Robert Leonardo, shares similar sentiments as Samantha. He finds it challenging to voice out his opinions in group meetings or discussions, especially when there are a lot of extroverts talking and taking the stage too fast. “Oftentimes it can be tempting to keep quiet because my point has already been brought out. But as a rule of visibility, I usually find ways to contribute.”

Seeking visibility

Out of all the challenges, visibility in the workplace is one of the biggest ones that introverts face. “The biggest hurdle is visibility at work. I feel that we are wrongly perceived as people who do not care or who only work for money – probably because we do not show off what we do or we try to do things discreetly,” says Robert.

Sophia Yip, a learning design specialist, concurs, “Most bosses prefer their staff to be more effusive and it seems like extroverts get more opportunities in the workplace.” So, although it’s against her nature and she does not particularly enjoy it, Sophia has volunteered to host events and do public speaking to keep herself in her boss’ radar.

Jean Ng, who leads a regional team in market development and business development, finds herself in similar situations as she needs to do a lot of presentations. “It’s hard for me to engage sincerely at times, since my natural reaction is to want to run from the room or fade out. Constantly overseeing my team is also draining for me because as a leader, I cannot fully disengage.”

Drawbacks aside, introverts know that socialising and working in unconducive environments are factors you can’t avoid in the workplace. “You need to change your mindset when you try to adjust. It’s more than just the ability to blend with the rest – you do so because you want to reach out and be a positive contributor to your team or community,” says Robert.

Have a good balance between socialising and alone time

Human interaction is unavoidable especially if you have to work in a team. Robert tries to strike a good balance between being sociable and being reclusive. “If I find that too much socialising is distracting at work, I join group lunches to keep me connected with everyone.”

Sophia needs a lot of downtime to recover from socialising, especially because her job requires her to interact with a lot of people. “Sometimes I work later in the office on purpose because there are fewer people around,” she adds. A trick she does at work is to wear earphones (with no music on) to send out a polite ‘do not disturb’ signal. “I also have a ‘talkative’ side during team discussions. I have a different persona during office hours, then, I use my quiet time at home to recover.”

Take care of yourself first and schedule your ‘me time’

Introverts feel drained in large social settings. It’s similar to extroverts feeling drained when spending too much time alone. That’s why it’s important to find time to recharge and realign your mind to avoid burning out. “When there is a need to be quiet, remove yourself from the environment temporarily,” Sophia advises.

“My company is a startup and it’s an incredibly extroverted workplace. I cope by telling myself to be firm and take care of my mental health/myself first. So, if I look at the situation and if I can afford to give it a miss – no matter how much pressure there is from colleagues to hang out and go for a drink – I just say no,” says Samantha.

Jean also advises finding the time and space to decompress. She schedules regular ‘me times’ such as going to the gym during lunch to rebalance and recharge, especially if she has a long work day ahead. “If all else fails, go for coffee walks and use that time to catch a breather.”