The corporate world seems to favour extroverts. However, if you only hear from the extroverts, you are likely missing out on important information.
Extroverts do their best thinking by vocalizing their thoughts. When they speak extroverts tend to care less about ‘getting it right.’ It’s just how they think through a problem.
Introverts do their best thinking without talking. They prefer having time to think before speaking. When they talk introverts tend to be more thoughtful, and tend to care more about having something thoughtful to say.
The first to speak
The problem in the difference between introverts and extroverts is when mindsets get anchored. It is human nature for your mindset to become anchored on the first thing you hear. (see my post about anchoring).
Given extroverts are often the first to speak in a meeting the ideas and direction of a conversation can become locked on their words.
Remember, though; extroverts do their best thinking out loud. What might seem like fact, may only be tossing around ideas.
Let all voices be heard
Leaders create the conditions for all voices to be heard.
Sometimes, the best insights come from the people talking the least. For me, the best way to hear all voices is to start by hearing no voices.
Some of my favourite approaches are:
- Silent brainstorming – before sharing have everyone write down their ideas without talking
- Fist-of-five – a silent approach to checking in with how aligned everyone is to the conversation/direction
- Thumb voting – another silent approach to removing any bias in decisions
I do not like the approach of asking the quiet people what they think. It is often too late by the time you ask this question. Most times, asking the quiet people happens after a period of talking and debate. By the time you ask this question, the team’s mindset is already anchored.
“If you see someone talked over help them.” – Janet Gregory
Leaders create the conditions for all voices to be heard.
You’ve got this.
Thanks Mike. I am an introvert and have found this to be true but had not been able to put it into words like you have. I was in a meeting recently where the group was thinking about going in one direction and by the time I could get a word in everyone was getting into that mindset. Because of some experience I’d had with the subject, I had a different perspective and I felt very strongly about going in a different direction. I spoke up and we ended up going with what I said. While I do think we all need to be responsible for speaking up, it does help when “Leaders create the conditions for all voices to be heard,” as you said.