The office environment is not a place for the introverted, the hesitant, and thoughtful. At least, that’s how it often feels. Introverts are those that draw energy from solitude, able to talk to others but not buoyed by the interactions. Hesitant individuals are interrupted and talked over, riders to ideas forced upon them by those who fill spaces with the noise of unnecessary talk and demand immediate action. Thoughtful participants of meetings and other gatherings are not given time to digest discourse and details, forced to act before full understanding is accomplished. These are the sins and trials of the contemplatively quiet.

But is it so wrong to be one of these individuals? They have intelligence and contributions waiting to be uncovered. Their mannerisms and demeanor may be misinterpreted while they seek opportunity to unlock thought and expression. It’s unfortunate that only certain people were given the personalities to rule the world, regardless of ability. The world rewards those that are heard, and there is such a general din of commotion that people claw over one another to try force their voices above the haze and be heard.

I am not one of the dominant personalities, instead often waiting to be acknowledged before speaking. My Myers-Briggs classification is a strong INFJ, so even after numerous assessment completions spread across years and experiences, I always come up INFJ. Now, the validity of such an assessment can be questioned up and down from sunrise to sunset. Take the assessment enough, individuals can quickly discern how to game the questions to receive a desired personality classification. While I recognize which questions tilt toward which personalities, I still try to answer honestly and find truth in my personality’s description, both the strengths and weaknesses.

I am a reserved individual able to cultivate trust and see the positives in others while being susceptible to strong emotional responses and being taken advantage of by others. Self-awareness and a degree of emotional intelligence is necessary to recognize personal flaws but find power in my strengths. It’s not impossible to be successful as an introvert in an extrovert’s world, but challenges abound. Leadership isn’t solely about being heard but exists upon relationships, trust, and ability. For those folks possessing non-dominant personalities, we just hope the world pauses long enough to let our positive qualities surface.