“So Andrew, I’d like you to present your poster today at the lab meeting. Could you do that?” my boss said, moments after I had just walked into work in the morning.
“Oh. Yeah, of course,” I smiled, but in my head I was thinking something more like, “Damn, you serious, man?” He hadn’t given me any warning before today. It was about 8:30 am. The meeting was at 9:00. After thinking for a moment, though, I figured I shouldn’t be too surprised. In a couple days, I was going to the XVIth Conference on the Adrenal Cortex in Chicago--sounds epic, I know--where I was going to present a poster of the research I had been working on with my post-doc mentor. It was reasonable that I should get some practice before being torn apart by some hardcore adrenal gland researchers from all over the world, and I knew it was the best thing for me too. Yet, as someone who’s not the biggest fan of giving presentations in front of people, to be completely real, I was mainly just feeling nervous.
Presentations aren’t the only thing, either. I’d say that as a typical introvert, particularly in a professional setting, I’m not quite as comfortable with things like interviews or networking. When I’m talking with people in a professional environment, I just feel more pressure than if I were with my friends, or even if I were talking with strangers casually.
Unfortunately for people like me, everything we seem to hear about going out there and making yourself memorable, landing the job, working your way up--involves a lot of articulate talking, selling yourself, and coming off as really enthusiastic. Networking, too, people tell us, seems to be all about meeting and talking with a ton of strangers, and building a big network of connections. Just speaking in general, though it may not apply to everyone, introverts don’t tend to be very into these kinds of things. So based on what I've been taught, it sure sounds like we might have a disadvantage out in the working world.
Frankly, I think it’s true in some respects. If you aren’t a very good conversationalist and you’re at an interview, I’d say it’s harder to give an image of yourself as a capable and enthusiastic worker. Even if you are those things, it doesn’t do much good unless you can convince them that you are. And if you don’t like introducing yourself and keeping up small talk, networking might not come as easily.
But the professional world is what it is, and I’ve come to the idea that you can’t really change it--you have to adapt to it. Like with almost anything else, though, I believe improvement will come with practice--so for me, the idea is just to get more exposure to those kinds of interactions. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to throw yourself into situations that might not be the most comfortable for you, because you learn a bit more with every experience you go through. And slowly but surely, I think you can get used to it.
To be clear though, I’m not staying I think introverts are professionally disadvantaged. I think that reaching out professionally is a bit more complex than just how well you can talk. For instance, I’m generally much better with putting my thoughts into writing than I am with speaking. When I have the time to tweak my language, as I do with writing, I can express my ideas so much more accurately, and compellingly.
Overall, I’ve seen that introverts also tend to have some qualities that can help a lot in a professional environment. The most notable ones to me are being able to listen well, and being able to work well alone (not that extroverts can't do these things, too). So from my perspective, it’s not just about disadvantages. Introverts can definitely have their own edge, too. Simply put, different people have different strengths.
To sum it up, I don’t think one person can change the culture of the professional world and how it works, so in the end, you just have to learn to find your place in it. At the same time, oral presentations, networking, and interviews--which are central to professional communication--are all things that can be practiced and perfected. But people have different natural strengths, and I believe the best thing to do is to use your unique skills to the fullest extent possible. Personally, I’m a better writer than a speaker, so I really try to communicate strongly with people through my writing. For someone else, it’d be something different. Basically, my advice would be pretty simple--find out what you’ve got. Nurture it. Use it.
I totally agree with your post and I think it's relevant to college students who may not have as much experience networking. I agree that practicing is the one way to truly learn how to do something. Even if you are uncomfortable giving presentations or networking (etc..), you still try it because they are great learning experiences, and you can only get better! Sometimes it's better to be a good listener and ask other people questions, because people love talking about themselves!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Great post Andrew. I was once an introvert myself, and during that era I completely understand discomfort in interviews and presentations. Ultimately, practice and repetition were the only things that helped me overcome my nerves. As my piano teacher always said, "The only way to get to Carnegie Hall is to practice, practice, practice."
ReplyDelete--Jeff
I just wrote a really long comment that got deleted...boo! Here is a link, though, to the book and author I was talking about who writes about the power of introverts and the disadvantages of having a bias against their natural styles of working. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2013/09/24/the-science-of-introverts-and-the-workplace/
ReplyDeleteThis was great to hear from another student! As an introvert, I find myself shaking at the thought of speaking at a job interview or giving a presentation. I have to almost force myself to become a different person and really put myself out there to seem more outgoing. There are also some advantages of working in an office as an introvert. My boss has recognized my listening skills and my ability to work independently.
ReplyDeleteI've learned that once you bite the bullet and really put yourself out there—introvert or extravert— things like networking and giving oral presentations don't seem as intimidating. They're still nerve-wracking, once you've done it once or twice, they seem a lot less far-fetched. Since things like networking and presentations are huge forms of professional communication, it's inconceivable to think that you might not need these skills someday.