A Guide to Successful Communication: An Introvert in the Workplace

Introverts prefer being alone or in small groups, but we are all well aware that this is sometimes impossible in the workplace. Even though being surrounded by a larger group of people is not really your cup of tea, communication in the workplace is often imperative for success.Being an introvert is not a bad thing, and actually has the same amount of advantages as being an extrovert. However, while there is nothing wrong with wanting some alone time and needing time to process the information carefully, this can pose problems when it comes to communication.Fortunately, there are things that may be done to improve the communication success for an introvert. No, the idea is not to act like an extrovert or turn into one, but to leverage your own qualities and achieve the best possible impact. Here are some of the ways to do this:1. Become an Active ListenerListening is a quality everyone should adopt if they want to become successful. This is a key element of aproductive workplace, and an admirable trait you should adopt.Aim to become more active. Active listening involves hearing what others have to say, comprehending and interacting. You don't even have to become a part of the conversation at times, but you need to show engagement and interest in it. 'As an introvert, I found it very hard to get 'active in a conversation'. Everyone else just seemed to pop into it before I could even turn my thoughts into words, so I learned how to listen actively and just contribute.If you learn how to show interest by nodding or using different expressions, you can get out of many awkward situations.' – says Keith Jackson, content writer at Aussie Writings.2. You Don't Have to Speak All the TimeKnowing that you are an introvert makes you feel left out, and most introverts fall prey to this fear. In order to become more recognized or fight those distinctions with others, they start speaking more than they have to.Stop torturing yourself. You should be prepared for meetings and know the trends in the industry, but you don't have to be conversationally ready every single minute of every day! You can only join a conversation when you have something valuable to say. Being chatty for no reason is not a great way to be noticed.3. Prepare AheadAs we previously said, you should prepare ahead for meetings and some scheduled conversations. Introverts have a difficulty speaking up in front of others, and this is probably the reason why their ideas get lost along the way.Don't allow this to happen to you. Some of those ideas can one day make you more successful or earn you a promotion. If you have some thoughts, prepare ahead for the meeting and know what you will say.4. Face Your FearsWhatever fear you have, you know the best way to get over it – face it head on. As an introvert, you probably wish to avoid face-to-face interactions whenever possible. Well, if you want to succeed in the workplace, this is not recommended.If you can do something via the e-mail or the phone, go for it. However, some things must be done face to face. Therefore, face your discomfort head on and fight your fears the old way.5. Build Yourself an AllianceDid you know that over 50% of the US workforce identifies themselves as introverts?You are not the only introvert in the workplace. If you work with many people, know that a big number of them also struggle with communication. Of course, there will also be those competitive extroverts that seem to have it easy to climb the ladder of success, but there are always those that share your way of living.Build yourself an alliance with other introverts, and use this connection to learn how to handle your struggles. Building relationships with other introverts will allow you to see what others do to boost the communication, while creating a friendly environment in the workplace.These five tips and tricks should help you reach your potential sooner than you believe. If you learn to convert your introvert traits into tools for better communication, you are looking into a bright future in the workplace.About author: Olivia is an incurable optimist who always sees the glass as half-full. She likes nature, knows how to enjoy silence and is keen on writing for different websites. Meet her on Facebook and Twitter.