The Introvert’s Guide to Getting Promoted: Step Two

In yesterday’s post, The Introvert’s Guide to Getting Promoted: Step One, we talked about the importance of being highly visible in your organization, and how for introverts this may mean going outside your comfort zone in some ways in order to accomplish this.

But we also talked about how you can tailor networking situations and opportunities for visibility so that they are within your comfort zone as well. Today’s post aims to do the same…keep you in your comfort zone while showing the organization just how valuable you are…

STEP TWO: YOUR IDEAS ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE VISIBLE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION

Not just you – it’s critical that your ideas be visible in an organization.

Although this is a bit of a generalization, I always feel that I get a sense of who is naturally extroverted and who is naturally introverted when I’m in a meeting with a larger group of people.  Here’s why – extroverts are very comfortable “thinking out loud,” whereas we introverts prefer to mull things over in our minds before expressing our opinions.

As Wikipedia explains it, “People who prefer extraversion draw energy from action: they tend to act, then reflect, then act further. If they are inactive, their motivation tends to decline. To rebuild their energy, extraverts need breaks from time spent in reflection. Conversely, those who prefer introversion expend energy through action: they prefer to reflect, then act, then reflect again. To rebuild their energy, introverts need quiet time alone, away from activity.The extravert’s flow is directed outward toward people and objects, and the introvert’s is directed inward toward concepts and ideas.”

Want to really make me uncomfortable and hit me in my Achilles Heel? Then “put me on the spot” in a meeting with very senior level executives and ask me for my opinion with virtually no time to think about it.  You introverts know what I’m talking about!  Think about this the next time you are running a meeting – the introverts in the room may need more time to think about what you are asking than the extraverts.  Allow time to “circle back” and give people the opportunity to express their ideas after they’ve had time to reflect.

So, here’s what I did – within my comfort zone as an introvert – to ensure that even if I was not expressing my opinions and ideas in a public setting that they were still getting in front of decision makers and leaders in my organization – I hope these examples will be of value to you:

1. After having time to mull over questions and ideas that had been raised in critical meetings, I would send an email to everyone in the meeting and copy the appropriate higher-level executives with my thoughts about the ideas, any new suggestions or insights I might add, and what I felt were the pros and cons of various options for the business to consider. This way, my ideas and opinions were being clearly articulated and were also on record for others to refer to and consider.  Now, I am not implying that I didn’t participate during the meeting as well, but I didn’t hesitate to allow myself more time for consideration before taking an official stand on something or making a recommendation.  Don’t assume that if you do not express your ideas in a meeting that the opportunity is lost to you. Follow up, put your ideas and recommendations on paper and float them in the appropriate manner for your organization.
2. As a team leader, one of the challenges often faced is justifying the time needed from the members of your team – particularly if you are asking people across the organization or across divisions who don’t report to you to spend time working on your particular initiative.  I took the opportunity each month to send a letter to every single executive that my team members reported to, demonstrating the progress that the team was making and highlighting how their particular team member was positively impacting my team.  I talked about the value that each team member’s ideas were creating.  This did several things: it provided a bit of a pat on the back each month to my team members, my team members were being complimented publicly in front of their managers, and my team and its progress was continually on the radar of these executives.  I made sure to reinforce my ideas as well, as appropriate, and to always refer back to the team’s vision and mission. 🙂
3. Whenever asked to be part of a team outside of my organization, or to represent the business in some way on a particular team, I always said yes.  This made juggling business priorities more difficult for me, but also allowed me a myriad of opportunities to share my ideas, experiences and insights with others across the company and at varying levels of the organization while learning even more from them in the process.

As we discussed yesterday, great CEOs make talent management a priority in their companies, and this means leaders are constantly evaluating team members a few “layers down” for advancement opportunities. 

So, my inspiringly smart introverted friends make sure you get your ideas out across your company in a way that you’re most comfortable.  Don’t be afraid to let your ideas shine!

So, will these suggestions work for you? What other ideas can you suggest?  Please share your thoughts in the comments…I learn so much from my readers!

TOMORROW: STEP THREE of The Introvert’s Guide to Getting Promoted…This post was initially inspired by my friend Mack Collier’s “The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking” post, which in turn inspired my post titled, “You’re Just Not That Into Me: The Introvert’s Guide to Attending a Conference.”

UPDATE: My new eBook, “The Introvert’s Guide to Success in Business and Leadership” is NOW AVAILABLE! You may Download it at www.TheIntrovertsGuide.net for only $7.99 or BUY IT at Amazon for Kindle! 

This 60+ page eBook is for introverts who want to use their introversion to their advantage in business and leadership, and for extroverts who lead introverts and wish to be more effective leaders.

(I’d also be honored if you’d consider subscribing here!)

Photo is “an exercise in ideas on post it notes” by Dan Paluska