It should come as no surprise that introverts work differently than extroverts. But as a team leader, are you doing what you can to encourage an inclusive environment that allows your co-workers to be as effective and creative as possible?
This challenge can be even more difficult when your teams are remote.
“Because of our body language cues being so invisible in digital communication, we have to value people’s time, make sure we’re starting and ending meetings on time and acknowledging how we engage introverts versus extroverts,” says Erica Dhawan, author of Digital Body Language.
Watch the video to learn ways to help create a work environment that encourages all your team members to contribute meaningfully.
TRANSCRIPT:
- [Presenter] Your team members all have their own work styles and personalities.
- [Erica Dhawan] What we’ve seen in the research on digital body language is that introverts really like to engage in different ways than extroverts.
- [Erica Dhawan] Introverts really prefer, for example, agendas 48 hours in advance of meetings, so they understand: What will we be talking about? What questions do I need to be prepared for and can process and think about before a meeting?
- [Erica Dhawan] They also really like tools like the virtual chat function, where they don’t to focus on their charisma or their body language in a video meeting, and they can really just focus on written communication.
- [Erica Dhawan] Extroverts really prefer those video meetings. They like breakout rooms. They want to make sure they have time to share.
- [Erica Dhawan] So having a moderator to manage air timing, perhaps giving everyone two to three minutes, is a great way to make sure you can hear from extroverts, but pass the megaphone along.
- [Erica Dhawan] Give people that space to hold their horses, to avoid a culture of quick response times that cause anxiety. Instead, foster a culture of thoughtfulness and substance.
- [Presenter] For more ways to get inspired, visit staplesworklifemag.com.
