What it's like Being an Introvert in the Business World
- brittanyklose
- Sep 16, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 19, 2020
When you hear the word “business” what are the first few things to pop into your mind? Money? Line charts showing the stock market? Elon Musk maybe? Or perhaps people in fancy suits saying “it’s not personal, it’s just business.” When I was ten and thought of business, I pictured a big man sitting in a large brown leather chair behind a grand mahogany desk. He answered the phone, first ring, and told James he better close that Cah-gillion dollar deal by 6 or he’s fired. I suppose when I heard the word I only imagined what it would be like to have all the power at the very top; never considering the amount of work or hurdles one might face to get there. How does one get to the top? Great question, I hope you weren’t planning on finding the answer here. Sorry, but I’m not Elon Musk, nor am I Bill Gates. Though I do have one thing in common with both of them. I am also an introvert. Do you ever think of the words introvert and business as going together?
What is an introvert? Well picture the most interesting, social, assertive, enthusiastic person you know. Now picture the complete opposite of all of that and there you are, introverts! Just kidding -kind of- it’s not quite that simple. Believe it or not, not all of us introverts are the same. I know what you’re thinking “yeah yeah no one is the same, everyone is special in their own way blah blah.” And no that’s not what I was thinking because I’m not here to lie to you. I don’t believe everyone is special. In fact I believe very few people are. And yet in every business class I’ve taken in college it’s something I was told I had to be.
You know how it is. Companies get thousands of applications everyday, bosses and workers talk to hundreds of people everyday. What makes you better than all the rest? Why should they take the time to talk to you? You must find what makes you stand out, what makes you unique among everyone else. You have to build a network. You have to go do things and talk to people and be interesting and captivating. Otherwise what value could you possibly have in this business world? I wonder if professors consider how that might make us students feel. It can’t just be me, can it? Am I the only one who goes home stressed out because I don’t know how to dazzle people in a minute with my specialness?
I don’t know about the other business majors but I don’t really want to attend loud crowded events, and make pointless small talk with a bunch of people in hopes one day they might help me climb up the corporate ladder. If I'm going to talk to someone I don't want it to be me persuading a stranger I have value. I want to have a real conversation about something meaningful that sticks with both of us for a few days after. If no one wants to have that type of conversation with me then I feel there’s really no need for me to speak. And yes this way of thinking has backfired against me many times. People have told me their first impression of me was that I was rude, because I didn’t say anything and kept to myself. If only the people at the networking events could read my mind. They would realize I actually have plenty to say, it’s just not always easy for me to say it out loud to others.
Some of my professors have tried comforting people like me saying “I know some of you are introverts and this will be hard, but some of the smartest most successful business people are introverts.” Oh wow it’s all good then. Oh wait, no it’s actually not. Yeah if I was Bill Gates or J.K. Rolling it wouldn’t matter if I was an introvert, or had three eyes for that matter. Right now though, I’m just another introvert in the big business world trying to find my way.
I loved this post and found it very relatable. I also feel a little bad because I am one of those professors that preaches the necessity of networking and making yourself stand out. But I truly believe that everyone is special and that students need encouragement to find out what makes them special. You shouldn't stress about not knowing why that is yet. It might take a lifetime to find out. But I promise you that many people will know along the way and perhaps even before you do. I hope that they tell you, but they might not.
As for speaking out at networking events and in business meetings, I do believe it is a game that introverts need…
I just read this post after reading your second one! Personally I am definitely more of an extrovert, but I still thought this was interesting to hear about. I have a few friends who are more introverted and your blog has made me start thinking about them more and what’s going through their heads!
@AAnkathi, I am so glad to hear this blog resonated with you so much! I will do my best to continue providing the best content I can!
Thank you for the feedback, @KhawlahAlsaiari! Not everyone is special, but the different people who make up any one business make that company unique. I totally agree everyone should try to make an effort to evaluate the people around them. You never know what someone is capable of. Extroverts and introverts can both have great things to contribute. People who are more extroverted are usually awesome at starting the conversation and getting the ball rolling, and people who are more introverted are awesome at processing the information and analyzing further implications. I think the main idea here is not to dismiss anyone too early even if they seem to be off in their own world. If anything ask what they…
@StephanieDevore, thank you so much for saying this! A lot of people think they are either an extrovert or an introvert, when the reality is most of us are somewhere in between these two extremes. You don't have to be super perky and cocky to be an extrovert, nor does not being that automatically make you an introvert. I'm so happy this post is making people think deeper into it. I would love to hear more about how certain situations have impacted you! Feel free to reach out to me or continue commenting here.