Our personality types say a lot about us and when we listen, it can help us be more productive.
At some point I’m sure you’ve described yourself in terms of being an extrovert or introvert. You may have said “I’m a people person”. Or you may often say “I need some alone time”. Are you and Extrovert or Introvert?
Extroverts get their energy from external things or people. They tend to be happier and more content when surrounded by others in a social setting. On the otherhand, Introverts get their energy from ideas or internal reflection. Introverts need alone time to recharge themselves, think about what’s happened and readjust after too much time socializing.
Not all extroverts are the life of the party and not all Introverts are shy quiet types. It is possible to have tendencies to both sides (like I do). I’ve consistently scored dead center on personality assessments with a slight tendency to Extroversion. So in my case, while I love being around others and reconnecting socially, I sometimes need to go off in a quiet corner and rejuvenate.
Knowing where your preferences are makes a difference at work. Think about it. Extroverts are more likely to want to hold meetings and have face to face contact to work on projects or solve problems. Introverts may prefer to work independently while they analyze the situation.
When you work with a team, try to understand their preference and make adjustments accordingly. Offer a balance of face to face and independent work time to accommodate everyone’s styles.
Stay tuned…next time we tackle whether you are Sensing vs. INtuitive.