
Two phrases that you have probably heard multiple times during Covid-19, or even said yourself are “I am an extrovert so…” or, “I am an introvert”. There is no doubt that our time of lockdown resulted in jokes and memes catch-phrasing it as the ‘time introverts have been waiting for!’ But now that restrictions are easing, and workplaces are gradually moving back to face-to-face contact, what can we actually conclude?
Firstly, lockdown may have actually resulted in introverts and extroverts becoming more similar in their perceived perception of social connectedness, and while extroverts may have “suffered” more, it is not as dire as the media would have us believe (Dunn & Lyubomirsky, 2020). This same study also found that surprisingly, the world has been rather resilient, with the majority of people only slightly reducing their levels of reported loneliness.
Secondly, if you are an extrovert, you may have taken this opportunity to reconnect virtually with many old friends and colleagues over social drinks or games nights. While for many this this been a necessary coping mechanism and a great opportunity to do so, don’t expect too much from your introverted friends. Christine Manby explains her experience of being an introvert in Covid-19 – the constant messages and emails from people checking in and wanting to schedule Zoom catch-ups, video calls which she felt were overwhelmingly intrusive, and little to no alone time if you are sharing a residence with others. This may result in higher levels of exhaustion as we come back to meeting face-to-face.
The solution? If you are an introvert, pace yourself, and if you are an extrovert, perhaps leave the video calling to your extroverted friends and use a phone call when talking or meeting with your introverted colleagues or friends (Rosenberg, 2020). If you are a leader, maybe allow your team to opt-in to virtual social events and catch ups, and ask your team whether they would prefer video–meetings or phone-meetings.
Covid-19 has allowed many introverts to thrive, especially introverted leaders as they are able to focus on thinking and inspiring their team. Extroverted leaders on the other hand, may have found this time more challenging, but also may have either subconsciously or deliberately used this time to adopt some of the helpful traits that come naturally to introverts. This could result in them coming out of lockdown more balanced and well-rounded in their leadership style. You might be interested in looking at this article by Krister Ungerbock for some take-away points for leaders.
References:
Dunn, E. & Lyubomirsky, S. (2020). Extroverts are faring surprisingly well during lockdown. The Washington Post, May 5, 2020.
Manby, C. (2020). The extroverts have arrived and destroyed my solitude. The Independent (London, England), p. The Independent (London, England), April 13, 2020.
Rosenberg, R. (2020). Viewpoint: Introverts and Extraverts in the Time of COVID-19. SHRM Better Workplaces Better World, April 29, 2020.