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Navigating the necessity of teamwork and collaboration in the workplace…
Several comic cartoon strips say something along the concept of “There is no I in team, but there’s a me in it!” As introverts, I think we can relate to the “ME in team”. For most of us, we’re at our best working with “me, myself, and I”. We often choose occupations that allow us to work independently. Collaboration can sound like consternation to our ears. And yet, many a workplace requires us to do team projects together with other employees, at least some of the time.
How to we rejoin civilization without looking like a hermit? Especially when all the extroverts are making much slower progress because they’re talking so much, and we are either feeling completely disoriented and panicked, or chafing at the bit and getting frustrated that it’s taking so long!
Follow the Leader
This is pretty straightforward and absolutely comes easy for us. We don’t like the spotlight. Being in charge is uncomfortable. And we appreciate clear, concise instructions and like to know exactly what our duties are.
If you are not 100% sure what you are doing, or how you are supposed to do it, it’s more than worth it to ask. The social anxiety of that feat pales in comparison to the awful feeling of not knowing what is going on or what you have to do.
That being said, it is much more than just knowing what is expected of you to contribute to the task. It’s also following the vibe of the group.
Be Patient
One thing I learned very quickly was how much I needed to exercise extreme levels of patience, first and foremost. One thing to remember is to walk into the group project knowing you will feel you could do it much faster alone. But you ready yourself to slow down, be patient and go at the group’s pace.
Extroverts get sidetracked from getting caught up in socializing when they work together. But for them, it’s not just about getting things accomplished as fast and as efficiently as possible. It’s also about building relationships with their fellow employees and making a team building event out of the work. The proverb that “patience is a virtue”, really is when working with extroverts.
I learned the hard way that one can make themselves appear to be unpleasant and unlikable very fast if one tries to get the socialites to work like introverts do.
Apparently in my beginning experiences as an employee in the work force, I came across as rude and impatient. I most definitely was the latter of the two. They felt I was trying to rush, and push people to focus on the task at hand and quit talking! And of course, when everyone treated me like a real dull drag and didn’t listen, I got quite exasperated.
It took a long time to adapt to the fact that I needed to use patience and decrease my speed. It took even longer for me to be able to like the camaraderie and conversations while working. But, in the end, some of my fondest memories are ones just like that, and being able to enjoy those opportunities for group work is totally rewarding.
It pays to adapt to each individual setting and blend in with the group. As you get involved, you will also have the chance to observe and notice the types of relationships that are present and see how everyone interacts together.
Pick a Pal
This second thing, is something that was extremely helpful for me, and was a frequent lifesaver. Whenever the employees would have to get together as a group, I would observe people as the person in charge was briefing us on the task instructions. I would figure out who appeared the most introverted and, as the project started, I would walk up and introduce myself and see if he/she was interested in having a work partner. More often than not, a look of extraordinary relief would cross their face, as they were feeling just as unsure and awkward as I. We understood each other’s predicament very well.
Being able to tag team the challenge of group jobs when you have a buddy makes the going so much easier. It can also contribute to the confidences of both of you, and increase the level of participation you can put forth.
More often than not, my job partner would be a “home base” for the both of us to branch out and exercise our personalities, skills, and talents for the good of the group. We would develop rapport with everyone else, and gain some awesome work relationships out of it as well. Not to mention that we would become good friends nine times out of ten.
Summary of the ME in Team
As introverts, even if you planned on avoiding team projects, you have probably realized it’s inevitability in the workplace. If you feel completely lost, here are some simple guidelines to help you navigate. 1) Make sure you have solid understanding of your role or part in the work needed done. Get detailed clarification, if necessary. 2) Pick up on the vibe of the group and blend in. 3) Find a fellow introvert and team up. Two are better than one. And your level of comfort and confidence will abound.
For the previous articles in the series “Navigating the Obstacles of an Extroverted Society, see my “Psychology” page at https://www.thoughtspirations.com/psychology/ .
If you would like to learn more on thriving as an introvert in today’s society, visit https://www.quietrev.com/. Or click the button below to read the amazing book by the author on the preceding companion website.
This was article four in the series
