My Survival Guide to Corporate America: Introverts Edition | by Paris Scott
If you have not had the chance to read part one yet, please pause and read How to Thrive as an Introvert in Corporate America first! Now that we know what steps we can take to thrive as introverts in this competitive world, let’s discuss healthy ways to manage our well-being.
In my current role, I have had the pleasure of doing two rotations with two different teams (one in retail and the other in travel) working as an account manager. My first manager was amazing. She is the perfect example of someone who has managed to thrive as an introvert. Admittedly most if not all of the traits I recommended to work on are a direct reflection of what I witnessed my manager to be good at. I’ll never forget her advice to me about finding my voice and speaking out more. I constantly witnessed her project her voice to rooms filled with clients while providing her POV with the utmost confidence, leading Google’s local women’s employee resource group, and acting as a reliable pillar for our team. In short, she is a perfect example of the type of employee I strive to be.
My second and current manager is a force to be reckoned with. A top-notch extrovert, she commands any room that she enters and speaks her mind unapologetically. Her ability to stay ahead of the curve, even after a decade of experience, truly inspires me. Observing her dedication and drive helped me to realize the importance of increasing my own visibility within my team. I can say that this has paid off well. Since I joined my team I have taken on more leadership roles that have had a tangible impact on my career and those that I’ve helped. I’ve received accolades in the form of peer bonuses (who doesn’t like extra money), being featured in the National Apprentice Week newsletter, and being trusted to present and demo products to our client partners. This all sounds like a lot, and it is, especially if you’re an introvert like me. However, there are a few things that I’ve done to help me cope with constantly pushing myself to perform well.
Find my top tips below:
Taking PTO
Having real off time is so important. By strategically planning your days off around holidays, you can extend your breaks and enjoy more time away from work. Also, it may be a good idea to take a random Tuesday or Wednesday off to break up the work week and it gives you something to look forward to.
Finding a quiet space
Working at Google is always interesting due to the industry always changing. One aspect of my job I didn’t expect to change constantly was my seating space. The ATL office has implemented a unique seating arrangement for select teams that encourages us to sit in a general area with no assigned spots. While this is great, the introvert in me does feel the need to find a small space elsewhere to sit and work sometimes. Having this private space allows me to focus on head-down work or to clear my mind.
Unplugging
If you couldn't tell by now, I take my off time very seriously. When I am off, I am completely off. I do not have my laptop open, I do not check emails, and I try my hardest to not even think about any work-related activities. Of course, modify this as needed depending on your job.
Saying No
When I first started at Google, I found myself saying yes to any and every project that was given to me. It was helpful at that time since I was new and needed the exposure. Now that I somewhat know what I’m doing, I can determine which projects are right for my career growth and which ones I should pass on.
Open dialogue
Thankfully, I feel comfortable letting my team know what I can and can’t handle and asking questions on topics I’m unsure of. As an apprentice, my job title works in my favor when I need a hand from others outside of my team and people are always willing to help out. I also am lucky in the aspect that the managers I have worked with are eager to teach.
By following the above-mentioned tips, I have found that I am able to perform at a high level while still remaining sane. I think that it is important that no matter how high any introvert intends to climb, we should always give ourselves the grace to remain true to who we are. If not, experiencing burnout will affect us sooner than expected. I encourage all of you who are reading to take at least one of these tips and implement it for the new year.
Paris Scott is a Digital Marketing Apprentice at Google and writes for the Apprentice Lens as part of the Blogging Team. She is based in Atlanta, GA, United States. Here's more about her:
“Hello! My name is Paris and I am a digital marketing apprentice at Google in Atlanta, GA. In my current role, I work with an ads sales team that assists 10+ clients. I look forward to continuing to write for the Apprentice Lens and being able to share my experiences so far. I truly appreciate the chance to express myself creatively since my current position doesn't leave much room for that. What inspires me most is music and my family. Thanks for reading.”