I found it necessary to speak louder and more frequently than I would normally do.
I observed how uneasy people feel about a pause in a conversation. Someone would often start talking without any particular substance just to fill the "awkward silence".
Somehow in this culture high performers are expected to be assertive and outgoing. The enthusiasm is expected not just at work but also during informal social events. Class Participation and Team Projects are important part of the grading process at business schools, while networking skills and etiquette at business dinners and cocktail receptions are often deemed important enough to be explicitly taught.
Over the years I watched how more and more organizations opted for open space office configuration for their employees. As much as I am a big fan of Agile and Scrum Team collaboration dynamics, I just don't find that à la "Wall Street trading floor" workplace setup conducive to any type of work requiring concentration and attention to detail.
Earlier this week I read the Forbes article titled "Research Shows There May Be A Hidden Dark Side To Working With Introverts". It mentioned Susan Cain's book "Quiet" and so I looked her up online. Susan's spirited presentation on this topic is amazing in terms of addressing this very close topic to me.
