Susan Cain’s book, “QUIET – The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking” has definitely got Justees chewing the fat. According to Cain, it’s time for the world to sit up and take notice of introverts who have traditionally been overlooked and undervalued.
At Just::, we don’t discriminate on the basis of intro/extraversion. We attract and we hire a wide range of communicators. Across the agency we currently have a 60/40 split of extraverts to introverts. This compares favorably with the two thirds/one third cultural mix of society (representing the client partners, medical and political stakeholders and consumers that we communicate with).
Yes, we know we work in communications (that’s talking right, and introverts aren’t naturally chatty?). And yes, we value the charismatic energy, natural gregariousness and leadership qualities more commonly associated with extraversion.
But we also believe that effective communications, especially in the highly regulated environment in which we operate, requires deep thought, complex problem solving and active listening, qualities more commonly associated with introversion.
We want a good cultural mix because we believe this dynamic generates fresh perspectives, fuels productivity and leads to more creative work. “Collective creativity” – delivered at Just:: HQ via Invent workshops – is great for engaging the more extraverted members of our teams and helping people to build on each other’s ideas. It can deliver fantastic results. But so too can giving more introverted team members the time and space for “solo invention”. In fact, the seeds of some of our most creative ideas have been germinated during time working from home (WFH) – specific uninterrupted “time out” to focus on a specific proposal or client project.
We invest heavily in supporting Justees with different communications preferences to understand each other’s styles, to flex our behaviours to get the best out of each other and to collaborate effectively. Our HR Director, Alex, is an occupational psychologist. He’s done loads of research into using communications styles to better understand and communicate across teams. He’s also directed loads of bespoke training via Just:: Drama School to upskill us all on it. This has helped us to establish working practices that make everyone feel comfortable and confident giving their best input.
And having really “lived” our value of embracing different working styles at Just::, here’s something we (Em – classic introvert; Gem – classic extravert) can really agree on – Be explicit about the way you work, ask for what you need to work effectively and flex your style and approach to better accommodate others. You and your work will be all the richer for it.
For more information on the introvert / extravert debate, check out out Susan Cain’s TED Talk and Daily Mail article.
Written by Emma and Gemma