Extroversion or introversion- why energy is everything.

Extroversion and Introversion- why energy is everything, and how to play to your team strengths.

When I deliver MBTI feedback to people, one of the most common misconceptions I hear is that extroverts are loud and introverts are quiet. It is this misconception that makes people sometimes wonder if they can be introverts in a bustling and loud workplace environment. An extroverted preference may be incorrectly perceived to be better suited to this. However, this is all missing the point entirely.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Is a tool used to help people understand how they relate to their outside world by exploring what environments they prefer to be in- where they may feel more energised. Based on psychologist Jung's theory, Myers and Briggs developed the type indicator based on opposite scales of 4 preferences. These are Extroversion/ Introversion, Sensing/ Intuition, Thinking/ Feeling, and Judging and Perceiving.

On the blog today, I’m going to focus on Extroversion and Introversion, the common misunderstandings, and how to make allowances for different preferences in yourself and your team.

The best way to understand the context of Extraversion and Introversion (E or I) in MBTI, is to relate to it in terms of energy. What situations energise you the most? Where do you gain energy and what may drain you? This does not mean you can’t be a sociable introvert, it means that you can be very social, but you just may need time to recharge. So the differences are….

Extroversion preference:

• Focus on the outside world.

• Gain energy by interacting with people.

• take action quickly.

• Communicate through talking; process ideas outwardly. Act before thinking it through.

Introversion preference:

• someone who prefers to focus on their inner thoughts and ideas, and who derives energy from their inner world:

• feel energized by reflecting on ideas and concepts in their inner world.

• naturally drawn to focus inward on their inner world- this may be through a mental practice, such as writing or another way to process ideas.

So, how can this impact you in your workplace? How does this dynamic influence team meetings? How can you preserve your energy to keep yourself functioning at your best?

Firstly, look at your team preferences in the global sense- what is the balance in your team? Is there a dominance of one preference, or a good mix? It’s important to consider dominance. If you are in a team that is heavily E dominant, when deciding and discussing ideas, you may need to allow time for your I’s to process and consider what is being discussed. Allowing time for reflection gets the best out of your I colleagues, because it is how they like to process information, through reflection and in their inner world. Moving at too quick a pace, and giving too much time for E’s to talk, can be draining for your Introvert colleagues, and this means you are not playing to the strengths equally in the team. It is important to factor in reflection time, float the conversation and give space for those that prefer to talk and act, but delay a decision time- allow your Introvert preferences to process, and you’ll find thoughts and considerations you would otherwise have missed. This can also decrease chances of frustration and conflict in your team dynamics. It’s actually very important to help your team to be their most energised, and not just work in the way you prefer, but consider everyone.

Did you know? Introversion is the more common preference! A lot of workplaces are set up for those preferring an Extroversion style- louder, open- plan, team interaction at the helm. I often wonder why this is, and welcome the more flexible approach to working styles and patterns. Allowing and trusting your team to work where they are best energised, means you get happier staff, who are less stressed, working in preference and performing at their best.

If you are working alone all day as an E, how do you think you may feel at the end of the day? If you are an I and you are delivering training to a large auditorium all day how might you feel on the way home? Chances are the answers to both of these are drained!!

The reason it’s helpful to understand this about yourself if you can then put things in place to protect your energy, recharge and get back to your status quo. For an I this may mean some quiet space, with a chance to read or reflect, or do your favourite hobby. For an E you might benefit from breaking up the quiet working with a call from a colleague, or schedule in a meeting or call to re-energise during the working day.

Simply by noticing where you get your energy, or what drains you, you can start to consciously feel better and play to your strengths. Try going a step further, and noticing this in your team- make a special effort to consider how your actions impact others and make allowances for other’s preferences. It really does make a difference!

Interested in completing your MBTI? I offer this service for an affordable fee. Contact me for more details.