Why Working From Home Could Be The Introvert’s Secret Weapon

Anyone that has worked in an office (remember those?) will know there are certain people who always speak up in meetings. The ones ignoring their colleagues’ wistful glances towards the door and saying things like: ‘I’m just blue-skying here, guys.’ Extroverts may not always be the most popular team members (shout out to the amateur bakers), but it turns out that they may have an easier time at work. At least, that was certainly the case before Covid-19. Last year research from the University of Toronto (led by postdoc Michael Wilmot) revealed they tend to have not one, but four advantages over their quieter peers.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: How To Work From Home, From Productivity To Personal Hygiene

Extroverts are typically more talkative, outgoing and enjoy change, while introverts can be more reserved and take longer to get to know. The study found that extroverts have three types of advantage: motivational, emotional and interpersonal. In a nutshell, they tend to be more driven, positive and have an easier time interacting with other people. They feel as relaxed having gossipy Love Island chat as they do bigging themselves up in an interview. These three things combined make them perform better on the job, as well as the fourth advantage – being perceived as better performers and therefore raking in more of the big bucks (while we’re currently lacking specific data on their respective salaries, Michael Wilmot estimates it could make a 12-18 per cent difference in salary and promotion likelihood in favour of extroverts).

Introverts can achieve exactly the same as extroverts, however — it’s just about knowing how to harness your strengths. For every in-your-face Taylor Swift or Katy Perry there’s a shy and quirky Sia or Billie Eilish doing things her own way. As Susan Cain says in her bestselling book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That can’t Stop Talking: “there’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” Rebecca Holman, Grazia’s Digital Lifestyle Director and author of Beta: Quiet Girls Can Run the World, agrees: “I can’t think of a single job that an introvert couldn’t do just as well as an extrovert. It’s just a matter of managing your energy and finding coping mechanisms.”

If anyone knows about working from home in the long-term, it’s the self-employed. And let me tell you, introverts – it’s your time to shine. Yes, you might get lost in a big Zoom meeting, but a predominantly email-focused workload should give you space to compose your thoughts in peace, and carefully consider what you want to say. While opportunities to mentally and emotionally recharge in your own home – even in bed if you so desire – without facing a chat-filled lunch, could help you nail whatever the afternoon has in store.

READ MORE: Clever Hacks To Make Your Home Office As Efficient As Your Usual Workspace

So basically, don’t sweat the science. Being quiet is a good thing — and extroverts don’t always have the upper hand. “It’s important to note that extraversion, albeit advantageous, is not the sole predictor of career success,” says Michael. You might discover your extrovert work-wife is finding it just as hard to get promoted. “You might be worried about being too quiet, but an extrovert might be concerned about being too outspoken,” says Rebecca.

It’s also arguable that women shouldn’t be putting themselves into a box at all. ‘Too chatty’ or ‘too timid’ are criticisms rarely levelled at men. “Women have to work harder to have a place at the table, no matter where they are on the spectrum,” says Rebecca, “there’s more space for men and their variety of different personality types.” So be proud of your own unique blend of traits and use them to your advantage – whether outgoing or shy.

Four ways to be a successful introvert

1. Remember your strengths

Don’t let anyone else convince you you’re not a wonderful team member. While your own list of talents may vary, according to Susan Cain, introverts are generally creative, intuitive, are artistic or musical, love being in nature and are sensitive to the world around them.

2. Don’t try to be something you’re not

“Your extraversion level is a deep level disposition characteristic that is not easy to change,” says Michael. It’s a very fundamental part of who you are. “Attempting to be different than you are or ‘trying harder’ is neither good nor sustainable advice.” Feeling misaligned day in, day out could have a “detrimental effect on your psychological well-being, and require recovery time”, ie you’ll be knackered come the weekend and probably want to lie down in a dark room!

3. Embrace being less goal-focused

The study suggests that everyone is motivated by the same things, including power, recognition and financial rewards — but extroverts tend to want them more. That might be a good thing when it comes to pay day, but equally having a less bloody-minded approach to those ‘goals’ could make your life more balanced. It means more energy for other things outside of work, whether that’s a creative side-hustle, or great friendships. And the best part is it’s not one or the other: a Californian study found that those with creative hobbies were not only better able to relax after work, but were also able to bring that creativity to their job. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/joop.12064

4. Get to know yourself

Play to your strengths where you can, practice areas that you find harder and find out what works for you. Rebecca Holman has got her routine honed: “Public speaking is a big part of my job, so I make sure I’m totally over-prepared. I practise everything. I’ll never be incredible, but I can do it because it doesn’t scare me anymore.” You’re the expert in how you work best, so talk to your team about how to maximise your productivity.

Four introverts who bucked the trend

Adele Doesn’t let her fear of getting on stage hold her back from incredible performances.

Michele Obama Former FLOTUS Michelle wrote in her memoir Becoming that she skipped an inaugural ball to head to bed.

Nigella Lawson Nigella has described her younger self as: ‘a quiet teenager, introverted, full of angst.’

Anna Wintour She might be able to shut down conversations with a single glare, but Anna hates parties as much as the next quiet gal, and notoriously leaves after 20 minutes.

Lizzy Dening is the founder of [Out Of Office](https://outoffice.substack.com/ack.com/ ) – a free career newsletter for self-employed women.