How can an introvert stand out in a workplace full of extroverts?

We had to do our own preformance plans at work and keep track of our own work that we did on a daily basis. Maybe even if you don’t you could do this on a regular basis and offer it to your manager and let he/she know you have been keeping track just because it gets so busy at work and offer to send it to her for a preformance stand point. Its something that will make your managers job easier when having to write up performance evaluations if you don’t have to do it. It also helps you keep track of how you are doing and where you need improvements on a personal level. I was never one with competing with others for recognition and never made a point of making things known of what I was doing but my input never went un-noticed by upper management since other departments would compliment my work without my knowledge. You don’t always have to toot your own horn to make yourself noticed in the workplace alot of time your great work speaks for itself.

It is harder. No doubt. But I believe that people eventually delineate what makes the workplace tick. Once the dust is settled from an extroverts outrageousness, often an introvert is there to solidly deliver results. A good manager of the greatest asset of a business, the employees, will wisely reward the introvert as well or better than an introvert.

I don’t know what kind of work you do, but here are some suggestions. You don’t need to announce your accomplishments to the whole office, but you do need to get credit for what you’ve done. The only ones that need to be aware are you and your boss.

If you are working at multiple locations, make sure you copy your boss on any communications with the site manager. When nearing completion of a project keep your boss informed and ask what will your next project or assignment be. If you run into any unanticipated complications, (especially if you solve the problem quickly) make sure you inform your boss and include either details or recommendations for solving the problem.

People know that quiet but proficient workers are reliable. If the boss knows, the office will know soon enough.

Send your manager an e-mail on Mondays detailing what you’re working on, and on Thursdays, detailing what you finished that week. Bullet points will do. List any issues that you anticipate needed help with, and meet on Friday to discuss those. It will escalate what you’re doing to the one person that really matters, and the e-mail trail will make it easy to update your resume.

Sometimes you have to brag.

Exceptional results that require few words.

There seem to be a few generalisations going on here. Being an introvert or an extrovert does not mean one is better than the other. They are just differences in personality types.

I don’t think stealing people’s contributions at work is about being an extrovert or an introvert. I also don’t think being extrovert or introvert is any guarantee of a higher or poorer standard of work. Stealing other people’s work is about workplace ethics. I am an extrovert and I can promise you I work damn hard but I don’t go around self-promoting constantly and certainly I don’t claim credit for the work others do. My work stands on its own merit. My boss knows what I am doing and I make sure he knows when I have a good idea. It is about communication.

I have seen plenty of introverts sneak off to the bosses office to claim work others have done. Similarly, I have worked with plenty of introverts who are crap (and great) at their jobs and plenty of extroverts who fit both categories too. Individuals have poor work ethics, whether they be an extrovert or introvert.

To prevent people stealing your work, make sure your boss is aware of the projects you are working on. Make sure you put your ideas for changes and improvements are put in writing to your boss or those who can get approval for those changes. Communicate your good ideas and good work. I agree with @mattbrowne though, exceptional results should require few words and if your boss is any good at their job, they should know what the people working for them are doing and their strengths and weaknesses.

A lot of sound advice here folks, thanks for your time. @BarnacleBill Really good advice for me particularly. Communicating the simple facts via written message is much easier for me than interrupting my boss’ intense schedule for a conversation. Plus, like you say, it’s more of me saying “here’s what I’m up to, here’s what I need from you, this is what I’ll do next”. As opposed to, LOOK WHAT I DID! – which is very uncomfortable for me for whatever reason.

@Bellatrix I definitely did not intend to suggest that one is better than the other. Not only are they differences in personality types, but more specifically differences in how people process information. How I wish I could process things verbally and immediately instead of analyzing things unnecessarily for hours on end. I really admire the extroverts I work with. Also, the extroverted minds at work are not stealing contributions. It’s more a matter of contributions being automatically attributed to them or assumed based on their outspoken ways. You’re so right when you say that it would benefit my situation to communicate my ideas and work on a regular basis. I have to learn how to do this without feeling like I’m bragging it up. That’s the hard part, for me.

@hopscotchy. One of the things I do is to copy my boss in on emails about things I think he might need to know. He has to explain what is happening to his bosses, he want to be able to go along to meetings and say “Oh xxx is doing this, and this will benefit us xxx”. Also while you don’t want to be jumping up and down every time you get an email saying you are wonderful, sharing the occasional email from a client who is so happy with you is good. I try to always make sure I include the names of those who have contributed too.

“Hi xxx, Just to keep you in the loop, I thought it would be a good idea to implement the following xxx. So and so has been working with me on this and so far the feedback from our students has been great. I will keep you informed of our progress”.

I think whether we be extroverts or introverts, we should make sure that we all have a voice. Perhaps this is something you could suggest for some staff training? How to make sure everyone gets a voice in your organisation/at meetings. All it needs is someone to say, did anyone else have anything to add… before the mouthy extroverts (holds hand up) move on to the next point completely overlooking the fact that Jim there didn’t get to say a word but undoubtedly has a lot to add on the topic.

I say do the work to your satisfaction and to hell with anybody else and if the boss wants to fire you then he’d damn well better have a good reason because once the brass looks into the progress reports (of the employees) the computer will trace and reveal the actual productivity that each employee does on a daily basis according to their recorded completions. And if you happen to be a multi-tasker, it will record that as well. Don’t think for a moment that management isn’t keeping tabs on you and others and if they aren’t then their not b’nessmen.