8 ms·

Why introverts excelled at working from home

GianFabien 5y ago
I don't think that it is so much about being an introvert. Instead, when working remotely it is possible to configure your work environment to block interruptions. Then when you are in the zone you remain productive and don't get interrupted constantly and thus get more done. I have also noticed that extrovert managers hate it when you ask them to send an email. Their strategy is to talk and then when it suits them deny what they had said. Since you don't have it in writing, it is your word against theirs and they are the boss, so they insist that you are mistaken.
- aix1 5y ago
  With all due respect, the second paragraph is a bit of an overgeneralisation. (Speaking as an introvert myself.)
  - fdewnijfwg 5y ago
    Well, the phenomenon is real enough, but I'd go as far as to say that's just lousy managers, rather than extrovert ones.
  - bradknowles 5y ago
    I have personally experienced managers who say one thing to my face, and then put something else in my records. If thyroid cancer is what it took to get me out of what he turned into a hellhole, then I’ll take it.
throw3838 5y ago
Excelled? Maybe we are not miserable people who need constant support from others. We really do not care about your family situation or hobbies. It is easy to do productive work, when you do not have to be unpaid therapist for your work colleagues!
- alisonkisk 5y ago
- dookahku 5y ago
  Why are you so angry?
  - throw3838 5y ago
    Person does not get the attention it needs, so it must mean other person is angry...
- loudtieblahblah 5y ago
  I'm as introverted as the next dork but when introverts get their ass on their shoulders and define themselves not so much in what they like but why they think extroverts are lesser people.. I don't say hey... Dudes introverted like me! I relate! Instead I see a small, insecure person that can't understand people are different. Because people like a different level of social connection doesn't mean they're miserable or that you are their unpaid therapist. You sound like a scifi geek who's still grumbling at 30 years old that your dad made you try out for the football team when you were 13.
  - throw3838 5y ago
    Is there something wrong about being small and insecure? Extroverts are not uber or lesser, they are not even different, they are just people. My social obligation to my work colleagues ends at remembering their names! I do not even care if they are intro or extroverts.
    - loudtieblahblah 5y ago
      Nothing wrong with being insecure. But most of us try to work on those aspects of ourselves rather than own it and just be an aggressive prick to others..
loudtieblahblah 5y ago
I may be introverted but a good case of anxiety/depression made me realize how much we need people.. But professionally speaking - I'm just happier at home. - I jog in the AM rather than sit in traffic. - I eat healthy lunches. Sometimes I sauna during my break (nearby). I've used my lunch break for spots of yard work or scheduling a repair man to come by. - I eat dinner on time (before 6pm) - I see more of my kid when he's off school. And he does t have to go to a daycare the 1.5 hours he's home that I'm still working - I get to listen to my records every day. No headphones. I can get little chores done when stuck on teams call that doesn't really apply to me but I'm expected to be there. Dishes, put away laundry, etc..
- water8 5y ago
  Totally agree. It’s wonderful to be able to “take a break” from a professional task by taking care of a personal task of a different nature. For example, being able to do the laundry while you take a moment to think about the tradeoffs of a design decision
ladyattis 5y ago
I would say this is obvious because even if you're at your desk and have everything setup just perfect to not get distracted there's always someone else making small talk which is okay in my view but it's distracting. Plus, being in a room full of people for me just makes me nervous even with my anti-anxiety medication. I just prefer to be left alone and not roped into two hour long meetings because one executive wanted to go on a tangent for what should've been a separate meeting/discussion.
gercott 5y ago
I think one of the biggest factor is that it really boosts your productivity and there's no toxic culture that is happening.
- joelbondurant2 5y ago
thenerdhead 5y ago
I hope this experiment showed corporate America that most line & middle managers are in fact quite useless. Now it's time for the leaders to recognize that those who get shit done should be rewarded equally for it. Everyone has experienced this new world of working and seen first hand who these unsung heroes are keeping the lights on, and they aren't the loudest in the room taking credit for everyone else's work.
lariati 5y ago
I suspect in reality all these narratives are basically fiction. We know we are really bad at tracking knowledge work productivity but we will make up narratives based off bad data. I imagine the real story is that the productive people are just as but not more productive at home vs the office and the slackers are walking their dog more instead of walking around the office. "Office slackers waste time in different ways working from home, everything else basically the same"

I don't think that it is so much about being an introvert. Instead, when working remotely it is possible to configure your work environment to block interruptions. Then when you are in the zone you remain productive and don't get interrupted constantly and thus get more done. I have also noticed that extrovert managers hate it when you ask them to send an email. Their strategy is to talk and then when it suits them deny what they had said. Since you don't have it in writing, it is your word against theirs and they are the boss, so they insist that you are mistaken.

aix1 5y ago
With all due respect, the second paragraph is a bit of an overgeneralisation. (Speaking as an introvert myself.)
- fdewnijfwg 5y ago
  Well, the phenomenon is real enough, but I'd go as far as to say that's just lousy managers, rather than extrovert ones.
- bradknowles 5y ago
  I have personally experienced managers who say one thing to my face, and then put something else in my records. If thyroid cancer is what it took to get me out of what he turned into a hellhole, then I’ll take it.

throw3838 5y ago

Excelled? Maybe we are not miserable people who need constant support from others. We really do not care about your family situation or hobbies. It is easy to do productive work, when you do not have to be unpaid therapist for your work colleagues!

alisonkisk 5y ago
dookahku 5y ago
Why are you so angry?
- throw3838 5y ago
  Person does not get the attention it needs, so it must mean other person is angry...
loudtieblahblah 5y ago
I'm as introverted as the next dork but when introverts get their ass on their shoulders and define themselves not so much in what they like but why they think extroverts are lesser people.. I don't say hey... Dudes introverted like me! I relate! Instead I see a small, insecure person that can't understand people are different. Because people like a different level of social connection doesn't mean they're miserable or that you are their unpaid therapist. You sound like a scifi geek who's still grumbling at 30 years old that your dad made you try out for the football team when you were 13.
- throw3838 5y ago
  Is there something wrong about being small and insecure? Extroverts are not uber or lesser, they are not even different, they are just people. My social obligation to my work colleagues ends at remembering their names! I do not even care if they are intro or extroverts.
  - loudtieblahblah 5y ago
    Nothing wrong with being insecure. But most of us try to work on those aspects of ourselves rather than own it and just be an aggressive prick to others..

loudtieblahblah 5y ago

I may be introverted but a good case of anxiety/depression made me realize how much we need people.. But professionally speaking - I'm just happier at home. - I jog in the AM rather than sit in traffic. - I eat healthy lunches. Sometimes I sauna during my break (nearby). I've used my lunch break for spots of yard work or scheduling a repair man to come by. - I eat dinner on time (before 6pm) - I see more of my kid when he's off school. And he does t have to go to a daycare the 1.5 hours he's home that I'm still working - I get to listen to my records every day. No headphones. I can get little chores done when stuck on teams call that doesn't really apply to me but I'm expected to be there. Dishes, put away laundry, etc..

water8 5y ago
Totally agree. It’s wonderful to be able to “take a break” from a professional task by taking care of a personal task of a different nature. For example, being able to do the laundry while you take a moment to think about the tradeoffs of a design decision

ladyattis 5y ago

I would say this is obvious because even if you're at your desk and have everything setup just perfect to not get distracted there's always someone else making small talk which is okay in my view but it's distracting. Plus, being in a room full of people for me just makes me nervous even with my anti-anxiety medication. I just prefer to be left alone and not roped into two hour long meetings because one executive wanted to go on a tangent for what should've been a separate meeting/discussion.

gercott 5y ago

I think one of the biggest factor is that it really boosts your productivity and there's no toxic culture that is happening.

joelbondurant2 5y ago

thenerdhead 5y ago

I hope this experiment showed corporate America that most line & middle managers are in fact quite useless. Now it's time for the leaders to recognize that those who get shit done should be rewarded equally for it. Everyone has experienced this new world of working and seen first hand who these unsung heroes are keeping the lights on, and they aren't the loudest in the room taking credit for everyone else's work.

lariati 5y ago

I suspect in reality all these narratives are basically fiction. We know we are really bad at tracking knowledge work productivity but we will make up narratives based off bad data. I imagine the real story is that the productive people are just as but not more productive at home vs the office and the slackers are walking their dog more instead of walking around the office. "Office slackers waste time in different ways working from home, everything else basically the same"