1. Introverts Unite (Quietly)!
Finding Your Leadership Style in a
World That Values Extroversion

2. Presenters So… A little bit about us… Marcelle Holmes, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor
Wellness, Health & Counseling Services
University of California, Irvine
Denise Hayes, Ph.D.
Vice President of Student Affairs
Claremont University Consortium
Wanda Gibson, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Director
Career Development Office
Pomona College
So…
A little bit about us…

3. Learning Outcomes Participants will be able to:
Provide common definitions of the personality trait of ‘introversion’
List at least three ways an introverted style can be managed or developed at work

4. That Student Affairs Life

5. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

6. I prefer one-on-one conversations to group activities
I often prefer to express myself in writing
I enjoy solitude
I seem to care less than my peers about wealth, fame, and status
Am I An Introvert?

7. Am I An Introvert?
I dislike small talk, but I enjoy talking in depth about topics that matter to me
People tell me that I’m a good listener
I’m not a big risk taker
I like to celebrate birthdays on a small scale, with only one or two close friends or family members

8. Am I An Introvert? I often let calls go through to voicemail
I prefer not to show or discuss my work with others until it’s finished
I dislike conflict
I enjoy work that allows me to “dive in” with few interruptions

9. Am I An Introvert? People describe me as “soft- spoken” or “mellow”
I tend to think before I speak
I feel drained after being out and about, even if I’ve enjoyed myself
In classroom situations, I prefer lectures to seminars

10. ⅓ to ½ of the population is introverted!
Am I An Introvert?
I do my best work on my own
If I had to choose, I’d prefer a weekend with absolutely nothing to do to one with too many things scheduled
I don’t enjoy multitasking
I can concentrate easily
⅓ to ½ of the population is introverted!

11. Big 5 Personality Traits
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism

12. Myths and Realities
Source: Borges, Anna. (2015). 17 Graphs That Are Way Too Real For Introverts. BuzzFeed.

13. Source: Smart, Jamie. (2009). Find Chaffey. instagram.com/findchaffy.
Myths and Realities
Source: Smart, Jamie. (2009). Find Chaffey. instagram.com/findchaffy.

14. Why Are You Introverted? (And Can You Change?)
Temperament experiments by Jerome Kagan, Harvard University

15. Introversion as a Superpower!
Inherent characteristics of introverts include:
Careful observers
Reflective
“Looking before you leap” vs “taking the long shot”
Builds trust before sharing personal thoughts

16. Introversion as a Superpower
Management plans designed for extroverts have been found to be less productive
Open-plan offices have been found to reduce productivity and impair memory
Affiliated with high staff turnover
Successful management approaches geared toward introverts are more successful
Increased privacy and personal space contributed to more success
Control over work space to reduce interruptions is positively related to success and satisfaction

17. Capitalizing on Strengths
Looking before you leap, be reflective
Be empathic, caring, and cooperative
Good fit as supervisor for proactive employees
Seeking symbiotic introvert-extrovert relationships
Alertness
Sensitivity to nuance
Complex emotionality

18. Your Work as a Student Affairs Professional
Use strengths
Utilize multiple approaches to learning / outreach
Asking for agendas in advance
Take quiet breaks during the day
Examine the breadth and depth of networks

19. Communicating with Non-Introverts
Opportunity for staff to provide feedback
Share decision-making processes
Monitor frustrations resulting from avoidance of external processing
Increase tolerance for extroverted staff
Communicate interpersonal style from inclusive perspective
Communicate through nonverbal behaviors

20. Multiple Identities Introversion Gender Race / Ethnicity
Sexual Orientation

21. Your Turn
How can you manage either your own or someone else’s introversion at work?

22. Questions / Comments?