An introverts guide to confrontation - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / An introvert’s guide to confrontation - Introvert Whisperer An introvert’s guide to confrontation Confrontation is probably in the top three of most introverts’ lists of ‘Things I really, really don’t like to do’. After all, confrontation is just a group meeting with added anger and intensity, right? Well, only if you’re doing it wrong. In fact, facing up to conflict can play to an introvert’s strengths and free up precious emotional energy to focus on more productive tasks. Bottling up a sense of anger or injustice, on the other hand, is likely to have damaging effects on your nervous system. And you don’t want to be that quiet guy in the office who explodes every so often. Get it out of your system, clear the air, and you’re more likely to be able to get on with your own thing without worrying whether your colleagues are correctly attending to theirs. The trick to confrontation as an introvert is twofold. On the first hand, you need to prepare your case by researching and thinking through the background to the area of conflict, defining your boundaries for yourself and a resolution or range of solutions with which you’ll be satisfied. This will make you more confident and more adept at dealing with the second part: remaining open, listening to the other guy, and responding in real time. Take it as an opportunity to learn, and remember that your voice will be heard more clearly by someone who in turn believes that they are being listened to. Listening may also help you to get outside your head and remain objective and practical about what has happened and what’s being said. That way, you can focus your criticisms on tangible mistakes, offences, and solutions, rather than verbally linking his offence to his character (i.e. ‘you’re late because you’re lazy’). Such statements are insensitive, unprofessional â€" and ineffective. This new infographic breaks down the ideal confrontation process into steps so you can be assured you’re arming yourself the best you can before you step outside your safety zone. Make yourself comfortable with confrontation, and you have one less thing to worry about each time you reach the office.