Career Tips for Introverts

People who prefer introversion tend to focus on the inner world. They gain energy through reflecting on information, ideas and/or concepts. When circumstances require an excessive amount of attention spent in the outside world, they find the need to retreat to a more private setting as if to recharge their drained batteries.

Because introverts learn and work best by having time to relate, understand, and process information on their own and they often prefer to work “behind-the-scenes” without taking much credit, they don't always get the recognition they truly deserve. Depending upon the type of hospital or clinic introverts work at, they may have a hard time gaining visibility in front of the boss or speaking up to ask for that raise unless someone else is championing that cause for them.

Pyschology Today recently published a piece on easy steps introverts can take to improve their chances at getting the promotion, salary increase, or step up the career ladder they desire. Here are the tips from the article How Introverts Get Promoted at Work written by Nancy Ancowitz, author of Self-Promotion for Introverts:

1. Speak up about your accomplishments! It may be tough for you as an introvert, but it's up to you to promote yourself--after all, if you don't speak up for yourself, who will?

2. Think about the changes you could make in your new position. Think about why and how you would do things differently at a higher position and what strengths you bring to the table.

3. Take credit for your ideas and successes. While you don't need to brag about all of the wonderful things you've done, you should be proud of what you've accomplished. Be strategic and make sure that the folks at the top (or in the position to help you move up the ladder) know about your contributions.

4. Find yourself a "champion." Do you have a great boss or manager who loves you? Find someone who is invested in your career to help you gain visibility and push for your promotion when the time comes.

5. Plan out what you will say ahead of time when you have the career talk with your boss. Think about how you can impact the practice in a positive way if you're granted a promotion and prepare what you'll say in advance, rather than "winging" it.

6. Ask yourself if the timing makes sense. Are all salaries frozen? Is your boss interviewing for a new job elsewhere? Figure out if you should approach your boss now, or wait until things settle down to ask for that step up.

7. Figure out who could take over your former role. In order for you to move up, someone else will have to fulfill your current duties. Find someone that you think is trainable and let your boss know they'd be a perfect fit--so that he/she doesn't have to worry about the transition.

8. Schedule a time to talk to your boss. Remain calm and confident and ask your boss for suggestions about how you can get to the next level--don't make it "all or nothing."

9. Figure out what skill sets you may be missing. If your boss is looking for someone with more training in a specific area, make sure to become educated in those and demonstrate that you are working towards becoming an expert in those areas.

10. Don't be afraid to admit you're in the wrong place. If you've got a boss who is a bully or an organization where only people in the "in crowd" get promoted, then it might be time for you to evaluate whether or not you want to remain at your current clinic. If you're at a dead-end, it may be time to put your feelers out and evaluate what opportunities exist at other practices.

If you're not sure whether you're an "I" or an "E" then you can take the MBTI assessment by clicking here and read our learning module about the different MBTI personality types on Exploring Your MBTI Preferences by Dr. Jeff Thoren.

Resources

1. Psychology Today, How Introverts Get Promoted at Work