Introverts and Extroverts in Business: How To Avoid Energy Drain

Unless you took some personality tests or Psych 101 in college, you probably think being an introvert means being a shy wallflower and that being an extrovert means you're super charming and great with people. Actually, that's simply the pop-culture stereotype. It's about energy. Your 'vert type isn't really about whether you are charming and outgoing or quiet and dull, it’s about whether you gain or lose energy around people.  Introverts are energized by solo time, which is an energy suck on extroverts. Social hours charge the extros’ batteries, but drain the batteries of intros. Thanks for the psychology lesson, but what’s the point?! The point is this: as a small business owner, you need to be aware of what nourishes you and what depletes you. You’ll get more mileage, and happiness, out of focusing the majority of your time on your strengths. What does this mean for intros? Put time into your online personality. Many successful introverts are people you might never guess because they look so visible and accessible online. It can be much more comfortable for an intro to be in her secluded office writing articles, creating websites, and even interacting in chat rooms and on social media sites like Biznik. This way, potential clients and colleagues get to know you without so much stress on your system. Play with your exit strategy for crowded live events. Things like huge happy hours, networking events and conferences can run intros down really fast. It's just TOO much stimulation. So try setting a time limit on how long you'll spend at these events. See when you hit your wall and then start making your future exits half an hour earlier than when you expect you'll turn into the pumpkin. You may feel you should spend more time at an event (this is work, after all), but let's be honest: if you're no longer at your best because you're worn down and overwhelmed, you don't really want to be meeting any new people and making that their first impression!  Make time for solitude and rejuvenation. If you have some new clients to meet or some big event you're heading to, try slotting in some time on the following day for a solo project. It might be just what the doctor ordered to sit and catch up on emails all day, or maybe reward yourself with an outdoor hike. Schedule more one-on-one time for first meetings. Intros benefit more from smaller groups and one-on-one interaction. Why not try doing research on those you'd like to meet, then reach out to setup coffee dates with those new folks. That way you can get to know each person in a more intimate and mellow atmosphere than at a big happy hour. So intros have their work cut out for them in business life and extros are the lucky ones, huh?  Well, people who get energized from being around others have some things a lot easier than introverts do. Our culture favors extroverts-–the man who can kiss a million babies and shake a million hands is the one who gets to be president. But trust me, the grass isn't really greener over on the extrovert side. There are many aspects of doing business that require hours of solitary work, too. Sitting down to balance books, plan for a meeting, or even drafting blog posts can be hell for the extrovert. Remember that we lose energy when we’re working solo. Without social contact to fuel their batteries, extroverts–-like me–-drain quickly. How can extroverts manage all the quiet time? Break up large, solitary tasks into smaller portions that you can complete more regularly.  For example, when I have a class to plan, I’m tempted to put it off until the day before I teach it. But if I focus on a different aspect of it for 20 minutes each day, in a week I’ll have completed the plan with little loss of energy. Find collaborators and partners.  In school, it was study dates that kept me sane. Now, it's finding partners for my projects, or even doing paperwork with someone else in the room. Being able to look up and interact, even for five minutes, gives me the energy to keep on keepin' on. Make sure to schedule face-time in your week. If you're an extro working from home, it's really crucial to get out of the house and socialize! I always plan networking events, coffee dates, and friend time into each week so I don't lose my mojo. Consider joining a coworking space like <a href="http://www.officenomads.com/">Office Nomads</a>. My job is one that requires a solitary office and privacy, so I've made a point of finding a solo office in a building full of small businesses. If all I needed was my laptop to do my job, you bet I'd be putting in time at Office Nomads with lots of other great Bizniks who I know are there daily! These are just some of my thoughts that may help intros and extros. I'd love to hear from you about what you've built into your life as a solopreneur that supports you in keeping the fires inside burning. Please comment and share your tips! 2008-10-29T07:52:32Z

2008-11-02T18:07:09Z

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introverts-and-extroverts-in-business-how-to-avoid-energy-drain

2008-11-02T18:07:00Z

As solopreneurs, we all have to find ways to keep fighting the good fight. So knowing your 'vert type and how to keep your battery charged is crucial to staying in business.

Introverts and Extroverts in Business: How To Avoid Energy Drain

2009-03-23T07:42:53Z