Rethinking Stereotypes: A New Look at Introverts and Extraverts in the Workplace

I’ll admit my bias about personality types in the workplace. I’ve never felt that common notions about Introverts preferring to work alone or Extraverts wanting to work with lots of people completely matched reality. Stereotypes can be misleading, and I worry that skewed assumptions about personality types can harm people if, for example, they’re kept in or from certain job roles.

What’s the solution? Knowledge and reason, of course – what else would you expect an Architect (INTJ) like me to say? So we composed our “Social Contact” survey (go take it and see how you compare!) to better understand how social contact affects Introverts and Extraverts, and here, I’ll share some of the work-related results. What motivates people and helps them do their best? Are the stereotypes true?

The data surprised me, confirming certain things while also shaking up many assumptions. I invite you to rethink your views as we look at some of the results of this survey – especially if you’re in charge of other people at work.

Face Time

In the chart above, the biggest differences between Extraverts and Introverts are at the extremes – those who say they spend more than five hours or less than one hour with others. It’s also notable that the most likely answer for either personality type is more than five hours. Most working environments are social places with a lot of necessary interaction, but what’s the cause of the differential between the types?

Are Extraverts more likely to be around people for longer because they like it, or because they’re more likely to be given job roles that require it? Do Introverts avoid roles that feature more social contact, or are they not presented with as many opportunities of this sort because of how they’re perceived? Well, let’s consider how both groups feel about the situation.

The Right Amount

It’s unsurprising that when asked if they’d prefer to spend more or less time with people at work or if things are about right, just over half of Introverts say less. What I find more fascinating is that around 40 percent of Introverts say the amount of time is about right. Apparently, those Introverts are happy with the amount of social contact they have at work, even though it’s likely to be significant, as we saw in the previous question.

Perhaps more interestingly, nearly 60 percent of Extraverts say their level of social contact at work is about right, and only about a quarter want more. That tends to go against the common idea that these personality types are always craving more social contact. Many of them apparently like things as they are, and in fact, nearly 20 percent would like to see people less. Expecting Extraverts to have boundless tolerance for social interaction might not be the healthiest approach in the workplace. But how does social contact affect both personality types?

Social Stress

When asked if interacting with people at work causes them moderate to significant stress, about 7 in 10 Introverts say yes, compared to 3 in 10 Extraverts. That confirms the general theory about these personalities, and it especially makes sense because we specify higher degrees of stress. Introverts generally experience more energy drain from social contact, although many see the rewards as being worth the cost (which is perhaps why all Introverts aren’t unemployed recluses, eh?).

Extraverts, on the other hand, are relatively unlikely to feel significant stress from social contact. They usually perceive a high benefit-to-cost ratio when interacting with people, perhaps more like an energy exchange than a drain. Let’s get into some more detail – we ask all respondents who agree to the above question to answer a couple more questions about the stress they experience.

Effects of Social Stress

All but two of the response rates seem reasonably similar, but Introverts are notably more likely to say anxiety, and Extraverts are more likely to say loss of focus. I think that’s interesting because of how differently it could affect workplace behavior. A person might be more likely to make mistakes or forget things when they lose focus, while an anxious person might hesitate to act or experience more negative emotions.

It’s important to recognize the different kinds of stress that social interaction can cause on the job. Awareness can help people address problems and stay happy and productive – the more accurate the understanding, the more effective the approach. Let’s see how these personality types feel about social stress in the workplace.

Perspective on Social Stress

When asked to describe their overall perspective on the stress of interacting with people at work, roughly 20 percent of Introverts and 10 percent of Extraverts say it’s completely bothersome. That’s not many of either. I think this backs up the idea that, some relative sensitivities aside, any personality type can adapt to and perform well in social environments, if motivated to.

The most likely response is that it’s bothersome but necessary, with roughly half of both personality types saying so. (Necessity is a great motivator, eh?) But Extraverts are about twice as likely as Introverts to say that it’s bothersome but beneficial. Extraverts are more prone to seeing workplace social stress in a positive light, perhaps as being a facet of progress. (It might also tire them less than it does Introverts.) Let’s look at a stronger measure of preference versus need.

Voluntary Social Interaction

The chart above demonstrates how Introverts can be less social than Extraverts, overall. Yet it’s far from true that Introverts prefer to work alone – less than half say they prefer only required interactions. A slight majority of Introverts actively pursue at least some discretionary social contact on the job. Overall, they’re more likely to favor quieter workdays than Extraverts but not necessarily to prefer working in solitude.

And in turn, while Extraverts are much more likely than Introverts to seek many social interactions per day, less than a third of them say that. Most Extraverts seem to prefer a few interactions per day or week – they don’t seek all they can get. That conflicts with the idea that Extraverts always want to be social. Most have their own happy balance – just like Introverts.

It seems to me that, overall, most Extraverts and Introverts enjoy social contact at work, albeit to differing degrees. Why? Perhaps because it can have genuine benefits that help them have a better workday.

Social Contact Benefits

Whether it’s all-too-common boredom on the job or more acute issues like doubt or worry, a significant majority of both Introverts and Extraverts say social contact helps them relieve negative feelings. Extraverts are somewhat more likely to perceive this benefit than Introverts, but the difference is far from what stereotypes suggest. Each personality type has distinct social preferences and limits, but both seem to realize benefits through social contact at the workplace.

But since we’re talking about the workplace, feeling good isn’t the only important factor. Keeping people happy and healthy on the job tends to be good for the bottom line, but productivity matters. It is work, after all. Regardless of what Introverted and Extraverted personality types prefer, what kind of social contact helps them do their best? Let’s see what people say about this.

Doing Their Best Work

Wow, I find it fascinating that both personality types are most likely to say they prefer working with a few people they like. Only a minority of Introverts report doing their best work by themselves, and a meager minority of Extraverts report being at their best when working with lots of people. Does that bust common stereotypes? I think it at least contradicts a lot of prevalent assumptions, including some that are used (or misused?) in employee evaluations, hiring, and management.

To achieve the greatest motivation and productivity, most people of any personality type seem to thrive on some amount of social contact. Most Introverts aren’t antisocial, nor are most Extraverts hypersocial. Both personality types have distinct social tendencies, but not in any way that should hinder their career paths. They’re both likely to be engaged, capable, and happy relating with others in the workplace.

Reflections

Thanks for letting me share this information with you – and if you’re a “person in charge” at work, I hope our research helps you find a more balanced perspective on those whose lives you can affect. Oversimplified personality stereotypes are limiting – if not outright inaccurate. Mentoring and motivating people can reach a new level when based on a deeper understanding of what truly helps them happily achieve their greatest potential in the workplace.

Do you have a story about Introversion or Extraversion in the workplace? Share it with us in the comments below!