The Idea Suite’s Innovation Intern Ayla Alam reveals some of what she learned throughout her time spent with the company.
As someone who’s always been the quiet person in the room, I never could have imagined that I would end up in an organization like The Idea Suite. An unconventional innovation agency teeming with energy, enthusiasm, and passion, we unlock the creative potential of people and businesses through innovation – which in a digital environment can be challenging, since that energy and enthusiasm needs to be transmitted through video calls rather than in person. For an introvert like me, joining this team has been a wild, challenging and ultimately extremely fulfilling ride.
So how have I managed to fit into a group of mostly extroverted, passionate, and energetic individuals you might ask? I’ve adopted a few tactics and made small changes that make it easier to leverage my introverted tendencies as strengths.
So here are 5 tools that helped me navigate a virtual environment as an introvert:
1. 1 on 1 coffee chats.
I can sometimes disappear in large groups. I tend to stay quiet and even if I have something to add to the conversation, I always seem to miss the right moment to say it! To someone who identifies as an introvert, it always feels as though extroverted folks are just better at making conversation. But there’s a way around it! I’ve found that arranging 1 on 1 meetings with my colleagues and supervisors is incredibly helpful. Not only is it less intimidating to have a conversation when there is only one other person there, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to express any interesting ideas or opinions that I may not have had the chance or the courage to say in larger meetings or to ask questions that I might otherwise feel uncomfortable raising.
2. “I’m not bored, I’m just listening!”
It is often easy to mistake my concentration (or “poker face”) as boredom – but that is usually not the case. Instead, I’m just listening and analyzing everything that’s being said. So how do I ensure that others don’t mistake my default way of being as a lack of interest? Small head nods, facial expressions, and short phrases are key here! When I hear someone say something interesting or agreeable, I make sure to nod or give a thumbs up to show my interest, or smile a little. Now that we’re in the virtual world, I make use of instant messaging chat functions and contribute supportive comments (“oh that sounds interesting” or “I really like that idea”). Taking part in the conversation in a way that’s relevant to the topic and that shows I’m truly listening and paying attention is a great way to stay engaged and to ensure everyone around me feels heard.
3. Quality over quantity.
Something that I’ve had to teach myself over the past four months is to remember that just because everyone else is saying something, it doesn’t always mean that I have to say something too. Saying more is, after all, not always better. As an introvert, the idea of speaking simply for the sake of hearing my own voice is something I would never consider doing! Instead, I’ve learned to make little things count, and to prioritize adding value over adding just another voice. I gather and process my thoughts, make some notes if needed and when I am ready, I unmute myself and try to add something substantial to the conversation. I find that when I organize my thoughts and write them down first, I am able to make more useful contributions, and to make use of my quiet nature as the gift that it can be.
4. Baby steps = progressive growth.
Make small, incremental changes. I’ve realized that I don’t have to change who I am and become a social butterfly overnight, or at all! That’s not how it works. Instead, I set up small, doable daily or weekly goals for myself – for example: “in today’s team meeting I’ll try to say at least 3 things” or “I will provide at least one idea in today’s brainstorming session”. It takes practice to get comfortable with larger groups, so I’ve found that smaller team meetings are a safe and sensible place to start. l also try to reach out and have a quick video call with my teammates instead of hiding behind emails or chats. This has made me more confident and comfortable with participating, even beyond those one-on-one interactions.
5. Trust yourself.
Lastly, and in my opinion perhaps most importantly, what I’ve learned here is to trust myself. It’s my first time working at a company like this so not everything I do is going to be perfect. Which is the whole point – no one is expecting perfection. No one is judging me as critically as I am judging myself. Everyone on my team is rooting for me. They want me to learn and grow from this experience. My team at The Idea Suite has helped me to take ownership and have confidence in my work and in all of the thought, time and effort that goes into it. I have learned to try to avoid comparing myself to others because everyone operates differently and has different strengths and areas of expertise. In the end, we all bring something different to the table, so the most important thing is to maintain a positive attitude, be yourself and enjoy the learning curve!
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