This follows my last blog post about the four challenges introverts face.
Apart from working with extrovert clients, mostly senior leaders, I too am largely an extrovert and have been assessed by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as an ENTJ.
Here are the four biggest challenges that I’ve found extroverted leaders experience:
- Talking Too Much
With an external frame of reference, extroverts express themselves readily, often even thinking aloud to others.
This can prevent them from gaining the valuable input available from others. It can prevent them from listening. It can make them appear to be directive and domineering.
This can result in bare compliance and disengagement.
I have helped my extroverted clients (and myself) deal with this challenge by encouraging them to listen first, become comfortable with a bit of silence and seek the opinion of others.
Have you experienced this challenge? How did you deal with it?
- Recognising the Value of Others
Even though extroverts need and value being with others, it is often difficult for them to remember to acknowledge others’ contribution to the situation, as the extrovert leader is often busy expressing the next step to take.
I’ve helped my clients by encouraging them to recognise the achievements of others, particularly during review stages of a project. By building recognition into the review process they then find it more easy and more natural to express recognition.
What have you done to ensure you give appropriate acknowledgement and recognition?
- Engaging with Introverts
I’ve witnessed and experienced the frustration of introvert/extrovert interaction.
I discovered that for myself I need to become more like an introvert at times, so that I can relate better with them, pace them and experience their point of view.
I also recognise that despite what the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator may label me as, I contain all traits within me, as does everyone else. It’s just that certain characteristics are dominant.
Recognising that we have all traits within us helps me to appreciate those that are in others and has helped my clients too.
By walking in their shoes, acknowledging that their traits are in us too to some extent, we can achieve better interaction and engagement with each other.
What’s been your experience?
- Going Inside One’s Self
That external frame of reference often keeps an extrovert from self reflection and looking within. We extroverts need to remind ourselves that all of us (introverts as well) have the ability to resolve our issues, firstly by recognising them, secondly by learning what we need to, and thirdly be choosing the best action.
Smart operators, whether introvert or extrovert, will get information and choices from both external and internal sources.
How do you deal with being an extrovert?
