Don’t ignore your introverted coworker—they may be quiet, but they make themselves known in other ways.
As an introvert in my mid-twenties, I’ve learned that we live in a world where extroverts rule. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. Rather, I am talking about the fact that we are outnumbered: for every one introvert there are three extroverts. (In my humble opinion… no wonder we feel so exhausted.)
I have been working since I was 17 years old and since then I have had about 10 jobs. This statement should shock any bona fide introvert. After all, who wants to change jobs so often? We don’t like change! With each new job, we may have to learn a whole new set of skills, meet new faces (who we’ll likely see more than our own family), engage in the dreaded small talk, introduce ourselves (again… and again… and again), and so on.
(Some) Advantages of frequent job changes
I’ll admit, it wasn’t a desire for excitement that changed jobs so often in my late teens/early 20s. It helped me step out of my comfort zone and I learned some interesting skills along the way and met some amazing people.
But the number one thing I’ve learned is how much I, as an introvert, love working with other introverts. I love my extroverts too, but there’s something about working with other introverts it brings a kind of peace to my soul – and I think extroverts can feel this too.
However, introverts make great coworkers.
5 Reasons Why Introverts Make Great Coworkers
1. They look inward and want really gives everything to every project.
To paraphrase Jane Austen, this is a universally acknowledged truth introverts are deep thinkers. When it comes to our ideas, other people, or even life itself, we like to take time to think. It’s important to have time to turn things over and over again in our brains to understand the different sides of our circumstances.
This is also true in the workplace. Personally, I like to take the time to understand what is going on with the client before jumping into a project that meets their needs. I like to dig, research and understand exactly what is needed and expected before I throw out my computer and start working. Like most introverts, we like to take time to think and understand before going full speed ahead. This is it one of our many introverted strengths.
If you’re an extrovert working with an introvert, you might see this too. Got a problem that needs solving? Need some good advice on a project your boss asked you to work on? See your own office introvert – it may take some time to get back to you, but you can be sure that there will be time really think about your problem and how they can best help you.
2. They know when to contribute… when they are fully prepared.
What introverts, contrary to popular opinion, do it like people. We love to talk and share. And we also like to be appreciated for our ideas. Even though we’re not always “on” or usually the first to raise our hands, we are do it they like to contribute. Like anyone else, it’s important to feel valued.
It also means that we take interaction and socialization in doses. We would like to have time to discuss work projects and casesbut also know when to take a break and retreat to our office to recharge. This gives us time to think about what we want to say. If we do that, we’ll probably have something valuable to contribute, and a lot of it! (And we’ll do a bunch of rehearsals and write everything down!)
It’s all yours office introvert you won’t be one of those co-workers who can’t seem to leave you alone to get the job done. While we enjoy bouncing ideas off each other and discussing the latest Netflix release, we also understand that there’s time to chat and time to get work done—none of which we risk.
Do you ever struggle to know what to say?
Someone asks, “Why are you so quiet?” A co-worker corners me when you are exhausted. A friend strives to plan you don’t have the energy for it.
Later he thinks I wish I had said something.
I’ve been there too. That’s why I created it Confident introverted scripts.
That’s over 150 ready-to-use phrases time spent alone, protection of boundaries, energies, social life, etc. The guide is provided by feedback from therapists and introverted colleagues to make sure it really helps when your mind goes blank.
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3. They are consistent in their routine.
Most introverts have a love-hate relationship with spontaneity (mostly hate it) – we have a similar relationship with socialization. It can be fun to replace exercise, cooking dinner, and walking the dog on your after-hours checklist for a fun night out. Even if it’s a weeknight, we understand that breaks in the routine are good.
But in most cases, habits are important. We are satisfied with the six steps evening routine and quiet time. We like to know what to expect because we know we’ll have plenty of time to calm our minds and process the day before heading into the night.
This also applies to our working habits. Every morning I wake up at about the same time, leave the house at about the same time, and go home at about the same time to get home at about the same time. I hate calling in sick, and I rarely take an afternoon off because I’m so swept away by my routine, the Earth might as well have a different trajectory.
And you can count on us in the office too – you’ll see our consistency in our work and how we get it done. One thing is for sure: you can count on us.
While not all introverts are as particular about time management as I am, I’ve worked with them enough to know that they are very consistent. While life happens (kids get sick, family emergencies happen, etc.), mostly we show up. What are designersafter all, and this is a perfect example of that.
4. Excellent students, both personally and professionally.
Most of my close friends, family, and c-workers have told me that I am an excellent student. I don’t say this to brag; this is just one of the many introvert characteristics that show up! It’s a superpowerfor sure!
Because introverts like to process and reflect, they are often on the watcher side – and that’s totally fine with us! In fact, it’s really beautiful. If you need someone to listen to you about a situation, or maybe you need to bounce ideas off someone who will listen objectively, your office introvert is your best bet.
Not only will they listen to the problems you’re facing, but given enough time, they’ll most likely offer some advice or words of wisdom. And when it comes to work projects, you can expect them to go all out. This way, they will be as prepared as possible when the project starts and ends.
5. They are detail-oriented and thorough.
Introverts are not really risk takers by nature, which has its pros and cons. But in the world of corporate work, introverts mostly need to spend time working through the project and solving the problem. We like to make sure everything is as it should be before we present something to our supervisor, client, etc.
Likewise, if you need someone to go over some work you’ve done or need help finalizing something, ask your office introvert. We are detail oriented and value our opinion; so asking for our help is something we are proud of.
Like all people, every introvert is different. However, in my experience working in multiple workplaces over the years, this is the consistency I have seen with most of my introverted coworkers.
Don’t overlook the office introvert—they may be quiet, but their presence is visible
I recently recognized these qualities in one of my current coworkers and began to realize how much I value her. It allowed me to work in a quiet environment and provided me with someone to discuss projects with if I needed help. With the exception of a few days since I started working for this company, he has appeared every single day, making the work week much smoother.
If you happen to work with an introvert, it’s important to recognize their talents and appreciate them for what they are and what they bring to the (office) table. Because we’re often thought of as quiet, it’s easy to overlook.
Still, as you’ll discover, we may be quiet, but we’re certainly not invisible. 
