Leading Introverts
Not everyone is a “people person.”
I came across this image while taking my morning scroll, and it resonated. Not for the deception part of it, of course, but for the reason behind it.
Some people are introverts. They really don’t want to be on the collaborative projects. They are uncomfortable with the social aspects of the workplace.
As leaders, we can strive to give the introverts on our team the best of both worlds.
Give them assignments, tasks, or “chunks” of a larger project that require solo work. Ideally, make this the majority of what they do; aim for about 80%. When they are working on these solo tasks, don’t interrupt their process—it knocks down the elaborate scaffold of thought they are using to process complex ideas. Consider setting a daily check-in with each individual at the same time each day (first thing, before going to lunch, or before leaving) so they can keep you in the loop on what they have done, what they plan to do, and any questions they might have. The structure of daily repetition will prime them to communicate more effectively at that time.
Gently grow their comfort and competence at collaborative work. Pair them with one other person on a project, rather than putting them on a larger team. Keep these projects as a smaller part of their billable time (maybe 20%, if we’re aiming for 80% for the solo work), at least at the start. If they are working with someone who has expertise, they can use the project to gain valuable experience and knowledge. As they grow in their familiarity with the other person, they often become more comfortable working with them, and they can be paired again on later projects. Over time, the percentage of work they can do with these partners can expand, because you have helped them build up their “tolerance” for social interactions.
Introverts tend to find social interactions emotionally and mentally draining. It’s like running an additional app in their brain. If you are pushing them into largely collaborative projects, you are siphoning off their energy into the “peopling” side, which leaves less energy and focus that they can dedicate to the work.
(image source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10102149402524009&set=gm.1537350400769237&idorvanity=400135894490699)