7 Accomplishments for Introverts in the Office - The Muse

7 Accomplishments for Introverts in the Office - The Muse7 Accomplishments for Introverts in the OfficeWhen youre an introvert, it can be easy to beat yourself up for leid being social enough, energetic enough, outspoken enough, or whatever else. With so many people talking about it being an extroverts world, you probably havent noticed how big of a deal it is when you do make an effort to get out of your comfort zone- which likely happens mora than you give yourself credit for. So, what if youre not the strongest voice in that big team project? Lets celebrate all your little victories that have you made you successful so far.Obstacle 1 Getting Noticed in a Group of ExtrovertsTheres nothing like a department-wide meeting, group project, or a large company lunch to make you feel like the quietest personality there. And I get it- when youre watching that one co-worker who always has the guts to speak whats on her mind (even if its a totally irrelevant or useless statement), you silentl y envy her confidence. There are a few times throughout the hour that you have a couple of things you want to add, but they dont seem that helpful or insightful. So, you keep them to yourself.Small Victory Making at Least One ContributionIts helpful to weigh your possible outcomes with this one. The fruchtwein exciting possibility is that your comments can fill the room with excitement- and you leave those meetings, working sessions, or events feeling nice and accomplished and special. The worst case scenario? Everyone takes in your thoughts and moves on.You dont have to be the person to respond to every single thing, and youre not a failure if you spend most of the event listening or taking notes. But you do owe it to yourself to believe in your ideas and to give them a chance to impress people. Committing to making one contribution in each meeting or event you attend will only make offering your ideas in the next one feel that much more doable- and thats worth being proud of, too. Obstacle 2 Making Office Small TalkIf youre mucksmuschenstill experiencing a lot of awkward silences during brief moments of chit-chat with co-workers youve known for months, fight the urge to beat yourself up about it. Not everyone naturally knows how to transition from photos of your colleagues new baby to last nights episode of Scandal. Small Victory Checking in With Co-workersHeres where being an introvert can be to your benefit Science says it means you listen well and have great emotional empathy.The easiest way to get to know your co-workers is to simply ask how theyre doing, and making that extra effort each day to check in with them and learn more about their personalities and interests will make you better at understanding and working with them. So what if youre not attending their birthday parties or wedding celebrations? You dont have to be BFFs before you can recognize that youve already branched out more than youre used to or normally would like to, and thats worth rec ognizing.Obstacle 3 Working on a Group ProjectIm not sure I know anyone who doesnt hate group projects. And for introverts, part of the problem is that in brainstorming sessions, it can feel like everyone is moving a million miles per hour with half-ideas instead of fully-formed plans. With so many strong personalities involved, it can be easy to feel drained instead of accomplished by the end of the working meeting. Small Victory Contributing to the Project on Your Own TermsSo maybe youre not giving the final presentation at the end, but its equally important if youre the one who takes on a more silent leadership role in the background. Remember when everyone had those haphazard ideas? You were the one who listened, organized and delegated the tasks necessary to stay on schedule.Heres one great lesson everyone could learn from group projects You dont need to have the spotlight to have been vital to the team. Obstacle 4 Celebrating Your AccomplishmentsHave you ever honigwein an intr overt who likes to brag about himself? Me neither. Sometimes, it can feel like your anfhrer is paying attention to your peers accomplishments way more than he is yours, or that Lisa from Sales is always receiving props for her cool ideas while yours are being left in the dust. Sure, you might be thinking, If my work was actually great, I wouldnt have to explain to people how awesome it is. I shouldnt have to tell people when Ive done a good job. And maybe thats true, but that doesnt mean you cant speed up the process a little.Small Victory Speaking Up and Taking Credit for Your RoleYou dont have to display every little accomplishment for the world on LinkedIn, but you can speak up when you were involved in bringing in new clients or played a key role in developing a new project. There are plenty of ways you can be confident and humble at the same time.Keep in mind Promotions arent the only sign of success in the office. And at the end of the day, you know what you were capable of to see something great through, and you shouldnt devalue your accomplishments just because others dont notice it.Obstacle 5 Pulling Off Big PresentationsYouve probably watched a lot of TED Talks in your spare time, so Ill save you the trouble No, your presentation does not have to be a 20-minute speech, with perfectly timed jokes throughout, that draws a standing ovation. Its OK to have jitters beforehand, and its OK if you feel like you stumbled somewhere in the middle. Small Victory Doing Your Research BeforehandTry to keep in mind that youre giving this presentation because youre informing people on something important- not because youre a semi-celebrity in your field. While it certainly helps to charm your audience, thats not the standard you should hold yourself to.The best way to impress your crowd is by being an expert on the topic youre presenting on, and good news- youre in control of all the research and information you dig up in preparation. Sure, the random questions at th e end might seem like the most stressful part, but theres no better opportunity to show off your knowledge on the subject. Just answering them with confidence is worth celebrating.Obstacle 6 Thinking on the SpotYoure in the middle of something at your desk, and someone comes up to you and asks your thoughts on a project hes working on. Hes stuck for ideas moving forward, and he wants to brainstorm with you. People around the office know you for having great ideas, so you feel pressed to come up with something good- and dont want to say anything until youve formulated that full thought.Small Victory Going With Your Gut for OnceWhats one of the scariest things you can do? Saying whats on your mind- before youve completely refined it. And thats worth being proud of in itself. Introverts tend to want to think before speaking. But, sometimes that can have the opposite effect, and you end up thinking yourself into utter silence. Next time youre put on the spot, take a chance on yourself a nd spitball a couple things as they come to mind. After all, no ones actually expecting you to come up with the next Facebook on your first try.Obstacle 7 Actively Shaping Your CareerSaying no to a colleague or being assertive to your boss about what you want more or less of at work are both very intimidating conversations to have, but absolutely essential ones to your happiness and fulfillment in your career. Sure, one extra task here or there wont hurt anyone, but they add up over time. Small Victory Being HonestObviously, you dont have to quit tomorrow, but you know what they say You are your own best advocate. Communicating with others about your needs and wants, especially in the office, is the only way youre going to get them. And by starting small, like saying no to an extra project or asking to try something new, youre standing up for yourself and prioritizing those tasks that matter most to you.Sure, your boss might still have you do a few projects you arent passionate abou t, but at least youll have been honest about your interests. And, chances are, he or she will remember that for next time. It can seem almost unfathomable to go from being that always-silent person in meetings to full-on running them, so lets celebrate the baby steps along the way.What little ways do you make an effort to step out of your comfort zone at work? Tweet me caroqliu and let me knowPhoto of happy person courtesy of Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images.