Over the past few weeks, I’ve come across several articles and blogs about being an introvert within a business environment. This topic resonates with me because I am an introvert and had frequently found myself challenged in the work place because of it. Note the past tense “had’. More on that later.
In the Hamilton Spectator, Jay Robb pens an article entitled How companies fail to listen to their quiet thinkers. The is actually a review for a book called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking written by Susan Cain.
While I have not yet read the book, the article provides highlights of it. It says that, to their detriment, typical business cultures tend to favour more outgoing people.
“It’s an omnipresent belief that the ideal self is gregarious, alpha and comfortable in the spotlight” says Susan Cain. “If you’re not an extrovert and want to get ahead, the message is clear. Fake it”.
More quotable quotes from Cain:
