How to Find Success as an Introvert in an Extroverts Job - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Find Success as an Introvert in an Extrovert’s Job - Introvert Whisperer How to Find Success as an Introvert in an Extrovert’s Job How to Find Success as an Introvert in an Extrovert’s Job You might identify as an introvert â€" you feel more recharged after a night in than a night out, say â€" but that doesn’t mean you should feel limited in the types of jobs you can pursue. Stereotypically, introverts are portrayed in positions where they can work outside of teams or even separate themselves completely from other people, in roles like authors, archivists and astronomers. However, the truth is that introverts are everywhere, and many find great success in jobs that require them to exert extrovert-like skills. You, too, can be successful in a career that might not rely on your introversion â€" but it will take some effort to overcome your natural tendencies and settle into an extrovert’s job. Here’s what you can do if you are drawn to extroverted career paths. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses Just because you are an introvert doesn’t mean your strengths only consist of “working well alone.” In truth, most people fall somewhere in the middle of the introvert-extrovert spectrum, which means you probably have plenty of extrovert-like strengths as well as your share of introvert weaknesses. For instance, maybe you quite enjoy talking to people face-to-face about serious issues, but you struggle to make small talk or connect with people over the phone. You should work to identify your strengths â€" especially those pertaining to extroversion â€" and utilize them to your best ability in your role. Furthermore, you should work to improve areas in which you are weak, but you should also try to limit your responsibilities that rely on your weaknesses. That way, you’ll feel more confident and competent in your career. Focus on the Your Job’s Function It’s easy to get overwhelmed when looking at a list of daily tasks and seeing so many that rely on extroversion. Thus, you should try to avoid approaching your job that way. Instead, you should think about your job in its ultimate outcome â€" how you are impacting your employer, your clients or your community. For example, if you are pursuing a graduate degree in the mental health counseling field, you might be exhausted by the idea of talking to clients day-in and day-out and trying to empathize with their problems, needs and emotional states. However, if you pivot your thoughts toward what you will be accomplishing with your clients â€" e.g. overcoming mental illness, establishing healthier behaviors, improving the lives of individuals and their communities â€" you might find that the job becomes not just acceptable but exhilarating. By reframing how you think about your job, you might be less intimidated by its requirements. Practice (or Fake) Extroversion When You Can Your personality is not stationary. It is possible to change not just your skills but also how you think about them â€" it just needs practice. Practicing extroversion consists of forcing yourself to smile more, holding conversations with different types of people, noticing your body language and tone of voice and generally being more aware of how you communicate. You can practice your extroversion almost any time: alone at home, out and about with friends and even at work with coworkers and clients. As long as you give yourself time to recharge between extrovert practices, you should find the extra work rewarding in your career. Be as Prepared for Work as You Can Be Talking on the fly is not typically an introvert’s strength. Thus, you should try to avoid spontaneous communication as much as possible, instead preparing for your extroverted work as much as you can. If you are a teacher, this means you need to have lesson plans in place well ahead of schedule. If you are in sales or some other business field, you might need to rehearse presentations in advance. It also helps to get to work early and settle into your job before everyone else gets there, so you have time to get into your extroverted work mindset.