In my over 20 years of experience as a leadership coach and human resources manager in different companies, I have coached hundreds of people who are introverted skeptics, a hybrid personality type that can be at the expense of. both an obstacle and an asset in the workplace. As introverts, these people prefer calm to focus, are thoughtful and comfortable on their own, dislike working in groups, take their time to make decisions, and feel exhausted after being in a crowd. As skeptics, they do not take the information literally. They question and challenge, value evidence and clues, seek out problems to be solved and strive to resolve them.
Introverted skeptics tend to care deeply about the work they do and come up with thoughtful, well-reasoned solutions. They are often creative and have strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to view a problem from multiple angles, connect the dots, and identify opportunities, risks, and ideas that are missed by others.
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The challenges facing introverted skeptics
If you are an introverted skeptic, you may find yourself in difficulty because you do not voluntarily engage collaborators in your work or seek the advice of your colleagues – which can negatively affect the quality of your work or to how others perceive it. You can be underestimated and overlooked because you don’t share your work and get support for your ideas as you go. You can also get frustrated when people don’t accept your solutions and recommendations – which have been carefully crafted, but which may seem out of scope when ultimately revealed to your stakeholders.
I often hear introverted skeptics express their frustration this way: “I’m not seen as a significant contributor, because I’m called negative or because I don’t speak enough in meetings. Of course, I don’t speak. no. No one is listening. I do a great job and spend a lot of time doing things right, but I am not recognized for the extras that I contribute. Meanwhile, the people who brag about the slightest work and who constantly shop get the promotions. “
As an introverted skeptic, you tend to work in solitude, immerse yourself in the challenge at hand, and build a block-by-block solution. It is likely that you will find this type of work exhilarating and that the collective work is tiring. So you may be reluctant to submit updates or request feedback on your work until you address all issues and questions. Like many of us, you are inclined to spend more time on the tasks you love and less on the things you dislike.
However, career success often requires going through the steps you tend to avoid when it comes to showing off your work and praising your own efforts.
During coaching sessions, introverted skeptics often identify their communication style as an underlying cause of difficulties at work. The good news is that there are three easy and possible steps to repeat that will help you show your work well and grow professionally.
1. Engage stakeholders
With each new business, determine who may be ultimately affected by the work you do, who will have meaningful ideas or perspectives, and whose approval or help is needed. Determine which relationships need to be managed – up, down, and sideways.
Commit to providing regular updates, even if there isn’t much to report. This will allow you to keep your work in the minds of the stakeholders, to involve them in the project and to foster understanding and buy-in.
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2. Give your work a voice
Before you start working, share your thoughts and your proposed course of action. It can be a simple email addressed to the people directly concerned or, for large-scale or complex projects, it can be a group call or a presentation to the management of your organization. Ask for information regarding your approach, timing, and other considerations.
Here is the end result: your work has no voice. It depends on you to share its value. Think of it as a set of uninterpreted data that needs to be organized into a story to be understood and appreciated. If you keep this story to yourself, no one will see the value you create and your work will not be able to reach its full potential.
3. Listen with an open mind
Be sincere when asking for and evaluating contributions. Don’t let your skepticism shut you down and learn to value different perspectives. Incorporating good ideas into your work, and even just a few of them, will allow your colleagues to get involved in the project and ultimately improve the end result.
On the other hand, a job done in isolation, even if it is excellent, will have less impact and contribute less to strengthening your reputation. Share your work, share the results, learn from the process and share them too.
With these simple steps, you empower people to see what you are doing, understand why you are doing it, and help you succeed. Your work will be aligned with other efforts and the overall strategy of the organization, allowing it to have more impact. Presenting your work will highlight your initiative and talent, strengthen your reputation as a collaborator and increase appreciation for your contributions.
Beki Fraser is a certified business and leadership coach who worked for 15 years as a human resources manager for different companies. She holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management. For more information, see his site web.
Original version : Beki Fraser /Insider
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