by Devyn Rae
“The new girl is so quiet.”
I stopped short before entering to the break room. That was me – I was “new girl.” I heard another co-worker give a small scoff before replying.
“I know the type; she just figures she’s better than everyone else.”
Now is probably not a good time to put away my lunch, I decided.
A tad wounded, I retreat to my desk and start to mentally gather myself for the Friday morning meeting. We all would be going around the room, replying to a topic for discussion – eventually, the spotlight would be on me.
My manager came to the front of our formed half circle we all started making a minute before 9 o’clock.
I gave a friendly smile back to the girl next to me. I feel pretty okay going into this, I mused.
He clears his throat. “Today, we will be doing something different. We will be playing charades!”
The Extrovert Ideal in the Work-Place
An introvert will feel drained by the typical activities put in place intended to collaborate and boost production, such as:
- Group discussions
- Competitive games
- Company events
You might have noticed how participating in these affairs has the opposite effect on your extroverted co-workers. They emerge energized, motivated – in managements’ eyes, more productive. The corporate world caters to the extrovert temperament because that has proven to work.
But things are finally changing. And you can change with them.
Why Workplace Autonomy Creates Better Job Satisfaction
What is Workplace Autonomy?
Workplace Autonomy means having a job where you can make at least some of the decisions that are related to yourself on your own. For most people (introverts and extroverts, alike) it is important to know what they are doing is their choice.
This means having control over things like the design of your workspace, how you approach a task, hours you work, or social environment. Studies show that when employees have influence in their day-to-day, they are not only more productive, but more satisfied at their job.
Devyn Rae | Blogger & Freelance Writer 