From boosting your leadership presence to protecting your mental health, now is as perfect a time as any to learn how to truly thrive as an introvert in the remote or hybrid workplace – and you won’t have to turn your camera on for this one…
Listen to your body
Us introverts tend to live in our head and lockdown life means the part of our body below the neck can be neglected a little. It’s not uncommon for me to concentrate on one task for hours at a time. It was only until my back started to pain me that I gave in and rolled out the yoga mat. You only have the one body, and it needs to be listened to in all situations – no exceptions.
Practice name-calling
Remote video calls can be a hotbed of competitive peacocking where confident speakers can hog the mic without pause for breath. If you wish to raise a point and struggle to find a polite way to cut in, simply say the name of the person speaking (or thank the person who last spoke) to interject instead of saying “sorry” to introduce yourself. You’ll be amazed at its effectiveness.
The home is your oyster
Use your would-be commute time to focus your attention on wellbeing and development building practices such as exercise, meditation and listening to personal development podcasts. During the mornings of the first country-wide lockdown in 2020, I dusted off my Spanish exercise books, picked up running again and completed a free online Harvard University course.
The pen is mightier than your thoughts
Extroverts are naturally more adept than introverts at self-promotion – I’ll give them that. The result can be costly for introverts who are actively applying for roles or seeking new business. My tip here is to publish ‘think piece’ articles on credible sites like LinkedIn and Medium on a subject matter of expertise. Share widely with connections, welcoming comments, to position yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
Be seen and heard
As the remote working weeks and months continue, you may develop anxieties related to being isolated or unseen. You’re not alone. A 2018 survey from Indeed found that 37% of employees at companies with a remote working culture believe that this work style hinders visibility. This means you have to be more intentional about putting yourself out there, promoting your achievements, and sharing what your team is doing with the rest of the company. Scheduling regular check-ins with influential colleagues in your team or wider organisation can help to ensure you maintain visibility and stay front of mind to those calling the shots.
Richard Etienne will be leading our acclaimed virtual masterclass, How to succeed as an introvert: An evening class for professionals in January. Tickets are available now. Richard also writes e-books on self-promotion for introverts, available to download for free from his website.
