Have you ever thought to yourself “My most productive days are the ones where no one speaks to me”?
Or the opposite – “How come when I have a day all to myself with no meetings, it’s so hard to get anything done?”
You very likely know exactly where you are on the introversion/extroversion scale. (Or, at least, you think you do.)
But, did you know that you can use this knowledge to help you be more productive?
However, before we get into exactly how, let’s get clear on what introversion and extroversion really mean, because you may have been led to believe that “introverts are shy and extroverts are outgoing” and that simplistic dichotomy is more than a little misleading.
In reality:
- Extroverts gain energy and recharge by being around other people, tend to prefer groups, and have a preference for more stimulating environments while
- Introverts gain energy and recharge by being alone, tend to prefer 1:1 interaction or very small groups and have a preference for less stimulating environments
- And ambiverts (those lucky ducks!) fall somewhere in the middle and tend to be more adaptable.
Now, you might be thinking, what does my personality have to do with my productivity?
Well, a huge factor in productivity is energy management and where you fall on the introversion/extroversion spectrum helps you to define from where you derive your energy, and what drains your energy.
Practically speaking, knowing how you gain and lose energy can help you to figure out how to best plan your day for optimal energy and optimal productivity.
How? Let’s go into a few examples:
Extroverts
- Schedule meetings or collaborative work for times when you’re naturally low-energy (post-lunch crash?) so you can capitalize on the fact that other people will naturally energize you.
- Build in “social sprints” to your deep work days (such as short convos or coffee with colleagues you know energize you between long solo work blocks)
- Choose work environments that have more stimulus (coffee shops, coworking spaces) when you need to do solo work to maintain stimulation and energy levels..
Introverts
- Plan solo work sessions after high-stimulation activities (like meetings or presentations) to decompress.
- If you’re leading the meeting or presentation, ideally plan for times when you know you’ll be high energy/focused (since the interaction will likely be draining)
- Use headphones or a physical barrier (like working in a secluded spot, or closing a door) to minimize incoming stimulation that could drain your energy further.
Ambiverts
- Check in with yourself and ask yourself, “Do I need people or quiet right now?” and adjust activities accordingly.
- Use flexible environments: choose environments where it’s possible to move back and forth between solo spaces and populated spaces.
- Identify your personal overstimulation signs so you can adjust your environment as needed
Me? I’m an introvert. I need a lot of alone time and I work best in silence.
What about you?
And most importantly, what’s your next step to use this self-knowledge to better manage your energy, and your time?
We’re all different and we all need different things.
What works for some may not work for you. And vice versa.
BUT, once you know what works for you and your brain, you’ll have a lot more agency, and dare I say, control, over your ability to do more and stress less.
Understanding where you are on the introversion/extroversion spectrum and how that relates to energy is just one of the self-knowledge factors I help my clients apply to their own lives in Time Well Spent Coaching.