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Introversion in the workplace- are introverts discriminated against?

seventwofour said:
I'm pretty introverted. I find it best to figure out what times are the best to turn it on and not waste your energy on petty stuff.
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This is a good approach. You can't be in a cocoon and expect to advance. It just doesn't work that way.

ITK said:
People talk too much at work in general. Shut up people!
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While I agree, there's a difference between yammering on about your bro-times and collaborating on projects, cross-department interaction, etc.

CarlSpackler88 said:
If you don't like interacting with co-workers become a shepherd. It's simple. It's a all a game folks. Play the game.
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Bingo.
 
ITK said:
People talk too much at work in general. Shut up people!
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And right on cue, my extremely extroverted co-worker just came in to my office and blabbered on about her new furniture for 15 minutes. How productive!

But I understand you need to strike a balance. You don't want to seem disengaged or unapproachable. At the same time a whole lot of people just like to bullshit. They seem to come in waves...
 
The worst is when management purposefully hires a lot of outgoing people who fit well into a team environment. The introverts are not only disliked and shunned by the majority, they are also left to do most of the work while everyone else socializes.

Selfish Herd Theory is always at work. Move toward the center of aggregation as the outliers are the ones who are eaten/fired.
 
seventwofour said:
I'm pretty introverted. I find it best to figure out what times are the best to turn it on and not waste your energy on petty stuff.
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I like this too. As Bob Fly used to say, you should never be the only person who says nothing in a meeting.
 
I wish I were more successful as an extrovert in new situations; very little downside to a little extroversion in the business world.
 
I am the exact opposite of you. I am extroverted and very engaged with my coworkers, and I get good marks on reviews for it. Just luck I guess, I've always been comfortable in social situations and working in groups and assimilating into social and vocational organizational structures. My brother, exactly the opposite. Not so much an introvert, but prefers to work alone and is not terribly social.

I think that you will find that there are some things you can do to at least make it easier for you to improve in that area. Read Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." It was assigned reading for a sales job I had and I thought it was interesting. (Not saying you don't have friends the title is misleading - just saying it contains tips on how to develop that side of your professional life.)
 
I love when someone says, "Wow did you see Bob the other night? I had no idea he knew how to open his mouth!" :rolleyes:
 
freakadeac said:
I love when someone says, "Wow did you see Bob the other night? I had no idea he knew how to open his mouth!" :rolleyes:
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TwinPeaksBob.jpg
 
freakadeac said:
The worst is when management purposefully hires a lot of outgoing people who fit well into a team environment. The introverts are not only disliked and shunned by the majority, they are also left to do most of the work while everyone else socializes.

Selfish Herd Theory is always at work. Move toward the center of aggregation as the outliers are the ones who are eaten/fired.
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Don't sprain anything patting yourself on the back like that.

In all seriousness, generalizations like this are silly and you're misusing the word "introvert". There's a difference between an introvert and someone who never says a word in the office - in meetings, one-on-ones, conference calls, etc. You can speak up without being the person who just likes to hear their own voice. Maybe you'll be surprised how many people agree with what you're saying.
 
There's a difference between "not liking" to interact with people, and not having it come natural to you. Extroverts are not able to grasp that, naturally.
 
I work with a pretty strong introvert. I think the key for us has been allowing her time for herself and for contemplation when possible but also pushing a bit. No one is always able to live in their comfort zone. She has said that she appreciate our understanding but also appreciates when we challenge her a bit.
 
Yes....figure out the rules of the game, then play it.

And when you are frustrated, just bite your lip, go home and take it out on your wife like the rest of us.
 
Every job is a sales job.

Every organization is a political organization.
 
The title of the thread/question being asked is kind of bothering me. Can you be discriminated against for a character trait that you have control over?
You can receive negative feedback based on your personality, and introverts very well may receive more negative feedback depending on the work environment, but then it's on you as an employee to change that aspect of your work persona to fit into what the team/management/job requires. Similarly, an extrovert may be asked to tone it back. That's not discrimination. You might not like what they're asking you to do or expecting you tot do because it's uncomfortable, but it's nothing you can't reasonably change.
 
lbE08 said:
The title of the thread/question being asked is kind of bothering me. Can you be discriminated against for a character trait that you have control over?You can receive negative feedback based on your personality, and introverts very well may receive more negative feedback depending on the work environment, but then it's on you as an employee to change that aspect of your work persona to fit into what the team/management/job requires. Similarly, an extrovert may be asked to tone it back. That's not discrimination. You might not like what they're asking you to do or expecting you tot do because it's uncomfortable, but it's nothing you can't reasonably change.
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Can you be discriminated on for your religion?
 
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TBDeac said:
Can you be descriminated on for your religion?
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I guess so, but religion is protected and if someone points it out in a review as something holding you back, you could sue them... right? I honestly have no idea- but I'd think religion's protected status differentiates it from introversion/extroversion
Being told you need to interact more, etc, is just performance review.
 
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