The Introvert Diaries #5
In which we go to work and break the office hierarchy
We started this diary in the introvert brain, moved on to the extrovert ideal, went to school, and (haven’t) found ourselves a date. All grown up, it’s time to find a job. We should probably network. Ugh.
Getting work
While it’s hard to get accurate numbers on this, roughly 70-80% of job positions are never publicly posted, but filled in through networking. Ha, and you thought merit or skill had anything to do with it. Even sectors that are sometimes legally required to post jobs publicly (academia happens to be one I have some limited experience with) often see this as a mere formality - there are plenty of tacit agreements going on behind the scenes.
It’s about who you know. In many cases, introverts will know fewer people. Uh oh.
But okay, let’s say we don’t mind not being a part of the ‘old boys network’ and we go after those 20-30% of genuinely open jobs. People skills, as you can imagine, figure prominently in a lot of job descriptions. Introverts have those; they just need longer to come out. Longer than a job interview, at least. Of course, this depends hugely on the type of job you’re applying for. Still, this bachelor thesis found that, even in jobs introverts choose to apply for:
… roughly 75% of the participants feel like introverts are more likely to be disadvantaged in the application process and slightly more than 50% replied that they would prefer to be extraverted, the other half responded that they prefer to stay the way they are, some people mentioning that they wish their skills would be appreciated more.
The reason behind this - and this is pure speculation on my part - is that ‘people skills’ has become a bit of an empty, ubiquitous placeholder on many job ads that is (incorrectly) considered to be the exclusive domain of extroverts. As a result, interviewers might (subconsciously) look for typical extrovert behavior to tick that pointless box.
Keeping work
You did it! You fought your natural tendencies to watch and learn first and bluffed your way through a good interview. You shone during the job-related test and landed the job. Surely, it’s smooth sailing from here?
Think again. This 2019 review of 97 meta-analyses found that:
Overall, extraversion shows effects... indicative of a small, persistent advantage at work.
It might be a small bias against introversion (its fancy name is perceived introversion mistreatment or PIM), but there's actually an entire framework for all the negative responses to introversion in the workplace. This is the case even in 'introvert' jobs such as writing, research, etc. Self-promotion, networking… You're generally seen as more successful if you engage a lot in these 'extrovert' activities.
Here’s an interesting Forbes article about a successful, extrovert woman with a lot of corporate experience who examines her own bias thanks to her more introverted son. The highlights:
I have to admit too that in my 18 years of corporate life as a manager, director, and Vice President, I see now that I mistook introversion as something else (and that “something else” was not a positive, in my mind). I didn’t recognize introversion for what it truly is, and I had a negative bias against it…
…I now see the keen power of minds, their intense creativity, and brilliant ideas, along with their ability to comfortably share power with others rather than needing to put their mark on other people’s ideas.
Leading the way
Anyway, we got the job and smashed a few biases. Time for promotion.
While the often-quoted claim that 96% of top executives are extroverted is probably overblown, most (65%) senior executives think introversion is a barrier to leadership. Makes sense to me. At a certain rung of the corporate ladder, it’s more about posturing than anything else. Introverts don’t really like that.
The executives are probably wrong, though. People who score high on introversion have a few traits that can make them excellent leaders.
A high introversion score often correlates with more gray matter and activity in the cerebral cortex. Need someone to plan and analyze? Grab yourself an introvert.
Introverts also tend to be more sensitive to dopamine. Or: they’re less likely to take stupid, unnecessary risks for a dopamine rush because they’re already ‘feeling’ it enough.
A small study also suggests that introverted supervisors are less likely to engage in negative gossip on the work floor. They are better at supporting others’ creativity and giving credit where it is due.
This article summarizes it neatly:
Introverted leaders are some of the best listeners of their employees, clients, and customers. They also think deeply about team goals and challenges to come up with thoughtful solutions and ideas. Introverts in leadership roles usually let others shine and acknowledge them for their accomplishments.
This does not mean that introversion is 'better'. It isn't. It's different. Different can be good. (Also, remember that introversion/extroversion is a sliding, context-dependent scale. Personality is an evolving constellation, after all.)
Tell me, are you an introvert and has this affected your work experience? Or are you more on the extroverted side of the spectrum and do you have introverted colleagues or bosses? What do you think about that?
Update: the polls in my previous feedback post were rather encouraging. TL;DR:
Science got the most votes in topic choice, followed by philosophy, psychology, and AI. I’ll keep mixing it up.
Length, structure, and frequency all got a thumbs up as well.
Finally, the one that pleased me most: an overwhelming majority enjoys the ‘voice’ in my writing. Thank goodness, I don’t think I can/want to suppress that. (It’s even hard to muzzle when I’m writing businessy stuff for the DayJob™.)
Thanks for voting, reading, and subscribing!