Empowering introverts in the workplace: A manager’s guide

As a team leader, it's essential to empower every person on your team to perform at their best.

With the rise of knowledge work, people are spending an increasing amount of time deep in thought, working independently, and stepping away from the group dynamics  of office meetings and casual chatter. Even extroverts benefit from moments of solitude to concentrate and deliver their best work.

For leaders, one of the most impactful actions you can take is to support your team in a way that makes them feel valued and comfortable. This includes creating a space where introverts—those who may not naturally gravitate toward the spotlight—can thrive without feeling pressured to speak up or conform to more extroverted behaviors.

Embrace introversion as a strength

Few people are pure introverts or extroverts; most of us are a blend of both. However, in an office setting, it’s easy to emphasize extroverted traits like networking and speaking up in meetings.

Introverts bring unique strengths to the table. For instance, research shows that introverts possess high levels of emotional intelligence. Research has also found that introverts “take a longer time to process information than extroverts.” The reason for this trend is that “they take extra time to understand ideas before moving to new ones.”

It’s no surprise, then, that many of the world’s top performing CEOs self-identify as introverts. Cognitive persistence and the ability to think deeply through challenges are key qualities for leaders at any level. However, as a manager, your goal is to help all team members—not just the quietest among them—feel confident in sharing their ideas and contributing to the group’s overall performance.

Creating space for introverts to thrive

To help introverts shine in team settings, it’s important to create an environment that allows for reflection and thought. Avoid forcing them to act like extroverts, which may push them further into silence or discomfort. Here are some strategies to support introverts while leveraging their natural strengths:

1. Respect their need for space
Introverts tend to feel energized by solitude and drained by prolonged social interactions. Give them the room to process information on their terms. Beth Buelow, author of The Introvert Entrepreneur, emphasizes that introverts often have a higher impact when they do speak because they choose their words carefully. They’re more likely to contribute meaningful insights when they’ve had time to think, rather than being rushed into conversation.

2. Keep meetings small and purposeful
While introverts appreciate social interactions, they tend to thrive in smaller, more intimate settings where conversations feel meaningful and focused. Large meetings can feel overwhelming and may stifle their willingness to contribute. Consider hosting smaller group meetings of five to ten people, where communication flows more naturally, and all voices are heard.

3. Encourage asynchronous communication
Introverts often excel at deep, focused work and may find real-time discussions distracting or stressful. By incorporating asynchronous communication tools like Slack, Asana, or Teams, you allow introverts to share their thoughts and ideas in their own time, without the pressure of immediate responses. This approach also reduces the need for unnecessary meetings and encourages thoughtful, deliberate collaboration.

4. Ask thoughtful, specific questions
Instead of posing broad questions like, “What do you think?” which can be overwhelming, try asking more specific and focused questions, such as:

• “Can you walk us through how you approached solving X problem?”

• “Could you elaborate on your response to the Y challenge that you shared on Slack?”

By giving introverts a heads-up that you’ll be asking them specific questions in a meeting, you provide them with the time to prepare their answers, boosting their confidence and ensuring their contributions are well thought out.

A final thought: The power of silence

Silence, listening, and observation hold immense power in leadership and team dynamics. Introverts, in particular, excel in these areas, offering deep insights that others may miss. The human brain contains more than 80 billion neurons—about as many stars as there are in the Milky Way Galaxy. If you take the time to listen to the quietest people in the room, you may uncover some of the most valuable wisdom your team has to offer.