Leyāzon

First, I’d like to give a shout-out to all my fellow introverts. Introverting ain’t easy, but somebody’s got to do it. Somebody has to be the calm, cool, collected one in any given group of people. Somebody has to be the fly on the wall to see what’s [actually] happening in the room. Someone has to has to pull all the details together when there’s a good chance that others were too focused on putting their own two cents in to pay attention to everyone else’s ideas (hey, just saying!). Though as people, we [introverts] are typically attuned to much of what life contrives, oftentimes we don’t give voice to what we witness. We’re either holding on to the information for dear life so we can present it in a story that’s better than anyone else could have ever told; or we just completely didn’t think ‘hmm this information might help someone’. Either way, we’ve got to find a healthy balance between being observant and getting things out of our heads. If not, we risk the chance of coming off as the stand-offish, sometimey teammate. Have any of you ever felt you come off that way? I have. And here’s what I think might help in this situation.

1. Know your role

Make sure that there is a clear understanding between you and your team about collective goals and individual responsibilities. Knowing your role and how your role connects with the bigger picture will create structure and allow you to focus specifically on which aspect of the collective goal that you are responsible for. This is key. Sometimes we absorb so much of what’s happening around us that we become overstimulated and take in too much “information”. When you have a clear, precise understanding what your team expects from you, you’ll be able to weed out the rest of the noise, which will help you feel more confident in gathering and presenting your input.

2. Know your limit

During the conversation with your team about your role, it would be a good time to communicate your strengths and weaknesses, do’s and dont’s, and other what-have-you’s. If you can’t write more than 2,500 words in one week — let it be known! Being an overwhelmed introvert is not the move. Don’t feel pressured to take on more than what you are responsible for. If your team needs anything from you outside of your mutually agreed responsibilities, negotiate an additional agreement that suits your capacity. An optimal work environment breeds optimal work!

3. Know how and when to follow up

I know, I know. You may not be ready to share your progress yet, but you need to communicate with your team. If you find yourself in a pickle, it’s best your team knows sooner than later. However, if you followed steps 1 and 2, chances are you are in a better situation than if you were stressed and overwhelmed. Maybe you aren’t ready to share your rough draft (because you don’t need anyone’s feedback clouding your progress right now), but find an in between, such as providing an outline of your work and some of the details you’ve included so far. This way, your team can provide feedback if they want or need to without destroying your angle. If there isn’t already a reporting process within your team, create one for yourself. Hold yourself accountable. The more open and honest you are, the more your team can trust you.

These things may seem simple, but sometimes we get caught up in the everyday stuff that we let “little things” slide. Awareness is key! Keep going, introverts! Your brilliant mind is a force to be reckoned with — pace yourself when giving pieces of it!

Truly,
Ashley Z.