Articles focused on introverts are among the most widely read on our site, no matter whether they include tips on how to better manage introverts or how to better manage our own introversion. The flurry of recommendations for introverts, however, hides the fact that even extroverts may face difficulties. The fact that extroverts are more open and sociable does not mean they are easy to manage. The Muse website recently pointed out that managers make mistakes when leading extroverts more often than they realize. Let's take a look at the most serious mistakes.
1. Take extroverts seriously
At first glance, they are funny people who like joking around. They do not hesitate to use humor to lighten up difficult situations. However, that does not mean you should see them as careless and not as serious workers. Managers should treat them with full respect.
2. Extroverts have an eye for detail
You should not think of extroverts in terms of black and white, i.e., "extroverts act first and think later, while introverts think first and then act". Many extroverts excel in planning and creating structures because they like things to be in order. Managers should not believe stereotypes and sweeping statements.
3. Extroverts need enough space to speak
Managers sometimes tend to look for ways to silence extroverts. However, they do not realize that it is not idle chatter, but the way extroverts think and solve problems. Five minutes of conversation with a colleague may be sufficient for an extrovert to come up with a solution which otherwise would have taken him at least an hour. This saves time for everybody.
4. Extroverts need more diverse working environments
Monotonous activity kills their creativity. The work and think best when they do not have to sit in one place all day or the whole week. It helps when they can move to another room, to their home office or somewhere else outside the company. It certainly does not mean that they want to avoid work.
5. Extroverts need some quiet time too
The fact that someone is an extrovert does not automatically mean he needs to be around people 24/7 and to constantly be sharing with others. Even extroverts sometimes need to relax in privacy and silence. Try to see your subordinates more as individuals, not just extroverts and introverts. Let them show you who they are and which work suits them best.
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