Are You An Introvert? Here’s Our Guide To Surviving Meetings

Being an introvert shouldn’t feel like a career or business suicide, in fact, you can survive and thrive in meetings. This is how

Contrary to what many believe introverts are not timid, antisocial beings who’d rather talk to stones than people. In fact, the world and even successful businesses were once and are still led by introverts. Think of Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, JK Rowling, Mahatma Gandhi, Warren Buffett and Emma Watson the next time you feel being introverted is a flawed personality. Unfortunately, the world of workplaces or businesses consists of meetings and a lot of them. If you dread being a part of meetings. This is how to survive and thrive in them:

Take note topics you are passionate about: depending on what the meeting entails engage in something regarding work that you are passionate about, whether it’s a new division or project that you are a part of.

Let others lead the meeting: A great quality that introverts have is that they are great listeners and prefer engaging in what they are sure about. Use that to your advantage and elaborate on what your team has said during the meeting.

Prepare: Always ask for an agenda so you can be well prepared for the meeting. Write down points you want to present at the meeting and relax.

Raise your hand: Sometimes meetings can drown out your voice, especially when they get heated. Instead of watching helplessly until the meeting adjourns raise your hand if you have something to say.

Challenge your fears: don’t bury great ideas because of fear of speaking up. Introverts naturally think before they speak but don’t use that as an excuse for not speaking up. You don’t know how thought provoking your points can be or far you can take your company with your ideas. If need be, pinch yourself into speaking up.

Are you an introvert? How do you speak up in meetings?