Think Differently About Introverts.

The word introvert has a negative connotation, like a word like ‘leper.’ Nobody wants to be near it. Add a tinge of anxiety and social awkwardness, and you have someone who causes avoidance behaviors, even among normies.

Today’s hiring practices are ‘mutating’ the work environment. One extrovert hires another extrovert, who hires another. Before you know it, there are all these extroverts in the room, but nobody’s listening, and more importantly, there’s no spark of magic or inspiration.

Life as an introvert is unpopular. We’re more reserved; our speech can take floundering, winding paths, small talk, and not knowing what to do with your hands or even where to look. Even I lol at introverted me. It is cringe-y – but at least I know! The positive traits are harder to spot. Many of us have intelligence, dedication, creativity, diligence, and the soul of an artist. Not trying to toot my horn, but my social-leper-ness is a drag.

Our inner non-conformity is what we quiet types try to hide. We pretend we’re like everyone else, but we are not, and our souls are exhausted. We are different. We work behind the scenes and harder than most because we’re not wasting time with idle chatter. We get down to business. We solve problems through quiet reflection. We scheme success. We create, connect, influence, and inspire. We love what we do when given the freedom to do it. And damn, we're good. We are musicians, painters, writers, creative thinkers, and visionaries. Our work, creations, concepts, and abstract thoughts represent who we are.

I’ve finally begun to understand that a turtle will never be a fish. Only a turtle can be a turtle, and a fish only be a fish, but we are all beautiful creatures. And this turtle just recently bombed a couple of interviews, but the flip side is that eventually, I’ll flip back over and keep making my way forward, but … the squirm has been real.

We think differently. ‘Think Differently’ is the slogan for Apple. It’s appealing, and we literally buy into it, but do we really? The outward behavior of an introvert lends itself well to the creative process, and our inward journey takes us to an entranced land of possibility. We observe and see the interconnectedness of life. When tapped, our rich mind can be a gold mine.

Introverts do best in a work environment where they can thrive. We shine when given flexibility, patience, kindness, autonomy, opportunity for advancement, empowerment, acceptance, responsiveness, and authentic interactions. See us for our talents, not for our limitations. Allow us to customize our roles and responsibilities to do what we’re good at and mitigate what we don’t. Please don’t feel uncomfortable around us; we’re awkward for the both of us. You be you. I’ll be me. No judgment. Just give us the who, what, when, where, and why, and as a turtle, I’d go and bury my head in the mud so I can quietly reflect, and you, as a fish, can chummy along with your little classmates.

Extroverts have their place in the world. They are unrivaled. We honor them for their ease of communication, savvy delivery, verbosity, and natural, carefree demeanor. “Wow, they have such talent,” the introvert always admires.

We applaud extroverts for so many things but don't count introverts out if you’re looking for high-performing employees during interviews. Most job openings specify ‘excellent verbal communication skills’ as a preferred requirement. Sometimes it is, but if the position requires innovative thinking, bold marketing strategies, and in-depth research, please value those traits.

Try giving job candidates an assignment rather than asking behavioral questions. Our work often speaks for itself. Let us show you how good we are.

And surprisingly, some introverts can manage people exceptionally well. They are called the ‘quiet leaders.’ They observe, listen, witness, and take it all in. They have well-thought-out decisions and genuinely appreciate their direct reports, value their input, and empower others, yet we still encourage excellence. And some introverts prefer not to manage people but still shouldn’t have a glass ceiling that keeps them in lower-to-mid management. They should be given opportunities for advancement, training, and leadership inclusion and be rewarded in both position and pay.

Challenge yourself to notice an introvert today. Ask yourself if you genuinely value them and treat them like your well-spoken extroverted co-workers or employees. Give them a nod and thank them for their contributions. Chances are, they’ll give you even more of themselves, and that’s where the genius happens. That’s when they get the big idea, the bold new concept, and the confidence to share it. If you value them, they’ll value you tenfold.

Now more than ever, and as we acquaint ourselves with artificial intelligence. It will always be just that – artificial – and no matter how much you don’t want to embrace it (like what we thought about the internet and social media when it first came out), it is here to stay. It is revolutionary, and we all should take advantage of it, but it’s important to know that setting your business apart will increasingly be important. Artificial intelligence leans more towards extroverted interaction because they quickly and easily spew out facts and data. But now, more than ever, making a meaningful connection with your audience is the name of the game. Diversity of thought comes from diverse people, and the only thing that will set your business apart is the ‘heart’ and ‘soul’ of your business. An introvert is all about the heart and soul.

To the Introverts, Misfits, and Quiet Heroes: Keep going. Believe in yourself. Don’t change. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. Accept everything that is you. You are given exceptional gifts. Hone these strengths and know your worth.

For Employers: Think differently. (Not sure if you can without us.) Just joking, but we are often the visionaries and have an intuitive pulse on the collective. We introverts have things in common with Einstein, Hemingway, and Ghandi; chances are they were as quirky as us. Emotional intelligence affects your bottom line. Listen to our words, but please allow us to finish our own sentences. The quiet ones in the room often have much more awareness and budding ideas than you might think.

I’ll leave you with this campaign text from 2011 when Steve Jobs returned to Apple to launch the ‘Think Differently’ campaign. Every time I read it, I feel inspired, and I hope you do too.

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes … the ones who see things differently – they’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. … You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things. … They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”