Being quiet usually makes them overlooked but while introverts aren’t loud and noisy, you never know what’s hiding behind the closed doors of their mind.
While this whole site is there to try to unpack the beautiful mind of an introvert, in this post we will focus more deeply on why you should give the benefit of the doubt to the next introverted candidate that sits on the other side of the table or digital interviews.
Here are a few reasons you should be hiring introverts and why they make great employees.
1. Many Introverts Are Intellectual And Creative Masterminds
We as introverts rarely follow mainstream standards and usually do things “our way” which naturally makes us think outside the box. And with a little personal space, you will see the creative process flourish.
Since most introverts read a lot you shouldn’t be surprised by the wealth of knowledge they bring to the table.
And this isn’t just the latest news stories, tweets, or Facebook posts. Introverts absorb knowledge from long-form content like books, white papers, or research studies.
2. Introverts Are Fantastic Listeners
When an introvert is present in a conversation, it creates a safe space for people to express themselves without judgment or interruption.
Introverts are also great at picking up on subtle nuances that may be missed by others. This allows them to provide valuable feedback on topics that require more than just surface-level understanding.
Introverts can be powerful allies in any conversation because they bring an element of depth and understanding that is hard to find elsewhere – making them fantastic listeners!
3. Introverts Make Great Teammates
As a team, an introverted employee is able to focus on tasks at hand and allow others on the same wavelength to do their work, as opposed to feeling like someone’s looking at their shoulder 24/7.
This can reduce stress resulting from interpersonal conflicts and can lead to higher levels of achievement.
While many extroverts enjoy the spotlight, people with introverted personalities are happy to be the backend players and let them enjoy the attention.
4. Introverts Can Work Independently
Those dreadful team assignments that take more time to gather the team together than to do it on your own? I’m sure this sound too familiar to you.
Not every task requires a team to be done. And some will take longer if multiple team members work on it.
So this is another situation where our dear introverts shine and show why they are perfectly capable to do the job.
Thankfully we are able to work in both environments, as part of a team and in the comfort of our own company. Our self-discipline doesn’t require micromanaging and someone looking over our shoulders all the time.
5. Less Workplace Drama
In the workplace today, conflict, and office politics can be as toxic as any interpersonal conflict — and they have the potential, if left to fester, to destroy your personal and professional relationships.
Introverts don’t like to chitchat around the water cooler and since we avoid most in-person interactions we will not participate in any office gossip or after-work socializing.
6. Introverts Are Great Leaders
If you hire an introvert, you will get a reliable person who will, given some time, understand a certain domain to the core and will be able to take ownership and responsibility when you put them in leadership positions.
Contrary to popular belief, introverts can make great leaders. While extroverts may be more suited for large public speaking engagements and networking events, introverts excel in one-on-one interactions and in creating an environment of trust and understanding.
Introverted leaders are often able to think more deeply about complex problems and come up with creative solutions.
As mentioned in our first list item, they also tend to be excellent listeners, which is essential for leading a team effectively.
With their natural ability to focus on the details, introverted leaders can help their teams stay on track while still allowing them the freedom to fully express themselves.
7. Introverted Candidates Will Be Better At Focusing On Tasks For Extended Periods Of Time
While plenty of people get bored sitting at the table for a longer period, introverts don’t mind the focus period that comes when they dive deep into a particular problem.
I can’t recall a meaningful work challenge that didn’t require a huge amount of attention and brain power.
Extroverts tend to be more impulsive, while introverts are more analytical and thoughtful. That’s why introverted candidates will be better at focusing on tasks for extended periods of time, like projects where there’s lots of thinking involved and little opportunity for interaction with others.
It’s no surprise, actually emerging evidence shows a recent Workplace Survey of some 240 introverts also concluded that, when it came to workload, introverted candidates handled the workloads far better than extrovert employees did.
8. They Stay Calm Under Pressure
As mentioned, you need to trust that an introverted professional will not let you down and will not let mistakes or shortcomings get the best of them.
The reason for this is simple: The left part of their brain takes over and calculates and rationalizes every situation so that the introverted temperaments don’t get overly emotional during stressful situations when deadlines get closer.
9. An Introverted Candidate Is Usually More Detail-Oriented And Thorough Than Extroverts
Introverted professionals like to be specific and don’t appreciate when people talk or act in relative terms.
Vague and not enough defined goals are better than nothing but that’s not a way of working for our introverts.
When an introvert says a task is done, you can be sure they checked all the items on the to-do list. They like a clear definition of done which is measurable and quantifiable.
Let’s say you want to publish a blog or social media post, or a whole book. Wouldn’t you want someone like this to proofread the text?
10. Introverts Tend To Take Criticism Well
Not sure who said it but many introverts strongly believe that “Feedback is a gift” and you can decide what to do with it on your own.
But you can be sure that an introvert will not go into endless back and forth with you when you have an opinion about their work. Moreover, you don’t have to dance around the issue, be direct and precise.
On the other hand, they most likely will overthink every word when they’re alone with their own thoughts.
11. Fewer, Shorter Meetings
Couldn’t this be an email?
Jokes aside, since introverts avoid in-person interactions they will be very respectful of their own and other people’s time and will not request meetings just for the sake of meeting someone.
And if a meeting is truly necessary, they will follow the guidelines of Jeff Bezos and schedule adequate time, inviting the minimum of people required.
They will get well prepared, and if possible send an agenda with the required materials upfront.
Some people are even OK with 15-minute meetings instead of the traditional 30-60 mins. Skip the small talk, straight to the point, and be productive.
Adopt The Hiring Process To Capture Introvert Talent
Unfortunately, it’s become standard for human resources to have multiple interviews within your interview process. These back-to-back interviews can be exhausting both for hiring managers and for introvert talent.
You should adjust your interview process from the initial screening process to the many job candidates you interview. Have more introvert-inclusive criteria and not only support an extrovert-biased world.
Among many “creative ideas”, one hiring manager had chosen to organize a group interview which inevitably wasn’t a success story and instead lost talent. Job candidates will thank you for making an introvert-friendly interview process.
In Conclusion, Make Yourself A Favor And Hire Introverts
I get it, introverts aren’t everybody’s first choice when making hiring decisions but leading great teams includes hiring a diverse workforce after all.
So there you have it, more than enough reasons you should hire an introvert. As a decision maker, I’m sure you will think of introverted candidates as a long-term investment that will pay dividends in the long run.