How to thrive at work as an introvert

A couple of years ago I read Susan Cain’s bestselling book Quiet and I can say without exaggeration, that it completely changed my life. 

I finally understood why I found busy open plan offices exhausting, why high pressure ’brainstorming’ sessions just left me tongue-tied, and I felt worn out after lots of social interaction.

Introversion has been greatly misunderstood over the years and introverts are often labelled as being shy or unsociable, which is simply not the case. The main difference between extroverts and introverts is how they manage their energy. Extroverts feel energised when they are around lots of people, whilst introverts simply need more downtime on their own to recharge. 

Since learning more about introvert characteristics, I’ve met more and more coaching clients who also see those traits in themselves and are looking for ways to adapt their work lives and social lives to fit them better. 

Often career advice is geared towards extroverted personalities, such as constantly promoting yourself and speaking up in meetings. But if that doesn’t feel right for you, here are some suggestions for how to navigate the world of work whilst making the most of your valuable introverted traits:

1. Manage your energy. If you work in a busy, open plan office, then use your breaks to get some quiet time for yourself. I would often head outside at lunchtime to a local park or walk around the neighbourhood near my office in order to re-charge. This wasn’t about being unsociable or avoiding my colleagues, but knowing that I needed that downtime to gather my thoughts.  

2. Introverts are very focused and great problem solvers. They often come up with great creative ideas when they are given a chance to go away, process the information on their own and come back with solutions. On the spot ‘brainstorming’ meetings won’t allow you to shine, so ask if you can take a brief and then feed back to the project leader afterwards and present your ideas via email or in person.

3. Don’t overcommit. If you’re being asked to attend a work event or networking event, space it out so that you have some recuperation time the next day. Don’t fill up your diary just because you feel guilty or obliged to, because you’ll end up feeling overwhelmed and burned out. 

4. Consider working for yourself. Introverts are well suited to being self employed because you can work at your own pace, work independently and set your own deadlines. You can also choose who you work with, and how you work with them e.g remotely from your respective homes, or perhaps together in a co-working space but only two or three days a week. It’s entirely up to you!

Think you might be an introvert but you’re not 100% sure? Take Susan Cain’s free test and find out.

Want to talk about finding a career which is a perfect fit, whether you’re an introvert or extrovert? Then book your introductory 45min coaching session here for just £97.

8 common mistakes you should avoid when trying to change career

Do you feel like you’ve tried everything when it comes to changing career?

A common story I hear from my clients is that they have been trying to tackle their career crisis alone, usually for months or possibly years. They feel like they’ve gone down one dead end after another and just can’t understand why the road ahead isn’t getting any clearer.

So I thought it would helpful to share some of the most common mistakes I see people making and why they often end up getting frustrated and sticking with the status quo…

#1: Job hopping:

This is where you end up moving from job to job without really getting to the bottom of what makes you truly happy at work and gives you a sense of purpose. The problem with this approach is that the novelty of a new role wears off after a few weeks or months, and then you find yourself facing exactly the same issues as before but just in a different setting.

#2: The research trap:

 Do you have huge piles of self help or business books by your bed? Do you make endless lists of possible job or business ideas? Do you love doing personality quizzes, tests and assessments? It’s easy to end up down a rabbit hole of research because it feels like you’re doing something proactive to try and change your situation. However you run the risk of being an eternal student if you don’t ever put what you’ve learned into action. The trick is to figure out how to actually turn all that knowledge into a real new career.  

#3: Not thinking about the lifestyle you want to lead:

Sometimes we can get carried away with a dream career idea without considering what lifestyle might go along with it. Some industries rely mainly on freelance workers, so is that lack of security something you would feel comfortable with? If you go for that big promotion, the role might require a lot of work travel away from your family. Does that fit in with your values? It’s worth learning more about the day to day reality of a new career before jumping in. 

#4: Relying on job ads:

Are you signed up to multiple job alerts? Do you trawl the online jobs boards most days, praying for your dream job to magically appear? The issue with this approach is that if you haven’t got a clear idea of what your dream job actually is, what work environment would suit you or what your unique skills and strengths are, then it’s incredibly hard to spot that mythical ‘unicorn’ job and you can wind up feeling downhearted and hopeless.    

#5: Worrying about everyone else:

It’s really common for clients say to me “I have to check with my partner first”, or “my parents are worried about me” or “my friends think I should do X”. They worry about the impact of their career choices on everyone else which in turn holds them back. The key thing to remember here is that others look at life through their own lens, which has been influenced by their own beliefs and life experiences. They will only see what’s possible based on what they were taught, and that has nothing to do with you and your own journey. You’re the only one who knows what you really want and what you’re capable of. 

#6: Following your ‘passion’: 

This is career advice that we hear ALL THE TIME but it’s incomplete. For a start, you might have several ‘passions’ and struggle to find a perfect career that includes them all. And passion alone won’t pay your bills, so you will need to figure out how to monetise it and test your idea first to see if there is a market for it. 

#7: Getting addicted to ‘quick fixes’:

I get it, I really do. When I was stuck in my last corporate job and feeling really stressed, I’d try to make myself feel better by spending any spare cash on distractions like shopping or holidays. However the temporary high would never last long and I’d soon be back to square one again. The problem with this approach is that it doesn’t ever tackle to the root of the problem which is of course, your job.

#8: Overthinking it:

Sometimes the prospect of making a big career change or starting a business can feel so overwhelming that we do nothing at all, and we get stuck in ‘analysis paralysis’. I’m a big fan of getting back in touch with your intuition and sense of play and just following your curiosity. Heard about an evening class that sounds interesting? Sign up. See a book title that grabs your attention? Read it. Have a childhood hobby that you haven’t done for years ? Set aside an hour in your diary and just dabble again. These small steps will reconnect you with yourself and the things that truly fill you with joy.  

So do any of these sound familiar? Let me know in the comments which one resonates with you the most.

And if you’ve tried any of these and you’ve been left feeling frustrated then don’t worry, because there is another way.

A way to help you identify a fulfilling new career or business path that plays to your strengths, fits with your values, covers your income requirements and allows you a better work/life balance. Click here to learn more about my coaching programmes.

I’ll speak to you soon, 
Juliette

How does online coaching actually work?

When I tell people what I do for a living, they’re often surprised to hear that I work with clients either on Skype or over the phone.

I have clients from all over the UK, and they love the fact that we can connect no matter where they live and from the comfort of their own homes or offices. 

However it can initially seem a bit alien if you’re not used to working this way, so let me take you through some of the benefits of online coaching compared to face to face coaching:

Convenience

• You don’t have to spend time travelling to a hired room somewhere close to your home or office.

• You can dial in for a session from wherever you are, whether that’s from your bedroom or kitchen, a meeting room in your office at lunchtime, or even when you’re travelling abroad.

Flexibility

• By working with a coach online, you have much greater choice over who is the best fit for you and who you click with. You’re not limited by the availability of local coaches in your area.

• I know you’re busy and will be juggling many things in your life. You will have a preference about which days/time of day works best for you, so I use a simple online booking calendar which allows you to see my availability, choose a slot which suits you, sends you an appointment reminder and also allows you to easily re-arrange if necessary (with 24hrs notice).

Familiarity

• Many of us are used to talking to friends, family or colleagues via Skype or FaceTime, and so working with a coach online or over the phone isn’t any different in terms of the technology.

• As your Coach, I have extensive training in how to use active listening skills to deeply and empathetically understand the issues you’re dealing with, even when we’re on the phone or on Skype. In fact many clients tell me that they find it easier to open up when we work online, because they are in their own environment with comfort and privacy.

Cost

• I don’t have to pass on expensive room hire fees or my travel costs to the cost of my coaching sessions, which saves you money!

So as we get more used to communicating and learning online, whether it's attending online events or taking part in online courses, then inevitably online coaching and counselling will become more common place and open it up to far more people than ever before. 

Sound interesting?

Great! If you’d like to book an introductory 45min coaching session for just £97 then you can learn more here. It gives you the perfect opportunity to experience coaching and see immediate results, without having to commit to a longer programme straight away.