Extroversion
What is extroversion?
Extroversion means that if you had to describe your perfect work environment, there wouldn’t be a cubicle or office in sight. And you certainly wouldn’t want to work from home all by yourself. The thought alone makes you feel cut off and isolated.
That’s because you enjoy social contact in your work, and you feel your most productive and energized when you work with others. Simply put, you like to be surrounded by people so you can enjoy positive interactions and share ideas.
You thrive in open office spaces where you can physically see the people around you. The more people you can have in your immediate workspace, the better.
We call it: Group Environment
Level of motivation and preference for engaging with and having contact with others within your immediate work space.
I’m re-energized by being around people who mean a lot to me.
Leaders who show extroversion
Jennifer Lopez
As a superstar actress, singer, dancer, and businesswoman, Jennifer Lopez is used to massive crowds. That’s why it comes as little surprise that she thrives when she has people around her. In fact, she’s admitted that she doesn’t like being alone.
“I’m one of those people who does not like to be alone,” she said during an American Idol panel. “I have no shame saying that at this point in my life. I think we have to own who we are.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
According. to Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. was "the type of person that people really gravitated towards and they seemed to like him personally, as well as his leadership."
His reported charisma drew in followers and his love of crowds and public speaking undoubtedly helped him spread his message of anti-racism and justice.
George W. Bush
George W. Bush was known for his Texas values and his friendly, sociable, and energetic personality, which earned him two terms as the President of the United States.
And while any political figure is going to be controversial, it’s safe to say that Bush was an extravert through and through. It’s been reported that he loved being out on the campaign trail, as he loved the energy being around so many different people and crowds afforded him.
The benefits of extroversion
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Likability
Because you enjoy working in a group environment and engaging in social interactions, you’re likely perceived as a highly likable and personable colleague.
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Open office
The reality of the workplace is that most of us don’t get to work in isolation, especially as many workplaces have moved to an open office layout. You’re equipped to thrive in this type of environment.
Growth
As businesses grow, their teams get bigger. In your eyes, that’s probably not a burden or a problem—it’s an opportunity to have even more people around you.
The blind spots of extroversion
Loneliness
You can’t always have people around. In situations where you do need to work on your own, you’ll probably deal with feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Remote work
Similarly, you’ll struggle if you work for a company that offers remote work options. Even if you choose to stay in the office, you’ll likely have less people around you as others take advantage of those flexible arrangements.
Interruption
Social interactions re-energize you, but the same can’t be said for all of your coworkers. You’ll need to be careful not to distract others when they’re working.
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How to boost your extroversion
1) Take out your earbuds.
We get it—you’re used to putting in your earbuds to zone in on your work. But, that sends a subtle signal to your colleagues that you want to work alone without any social interaction.
Take them out. It’s a small change, but it can let your coworkers know that you enjoy working side-by-side with them and welcome friendly exchanges throughout your day.
2) Switch up your work location.
Perhaps you currently work in an open office setting, but you typically opt to find a quiet corner where you won’t be bothered by other people.
Change things up by grabbing a more centrally-located spot where you can see your team buzzing around you. It’ll get you more used to working in a group environment.
3) Find a work buddy.
Heading to a coffee shop or a conference room to get some work done? Grab a colleague to come with you so you can co-work in a shared space.
It’s a great way to get yourself a little more comfortable with working in a group environment, as you only have one person in your immediate space (and not your entire team).
4) Give yourself time to recharge.
If you consider yourself to be particularly introverted, working toward extroversion can be somewhat exhausting. Give yourself adequate time to recharge on your own.
After you worked in that centrally-located spot, give yourself thirty minutes in a quiet space where you can take a break. If you try to take on too much of a group environment at once, you’ll burn yourself out—and then likely start to resent it.
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