Effective Strategies for Communicating with Extroverts

 

If you’re a person with introverted tendencies, working with extroverts can seem taxing and chaotic. But it doesn’t have to be. Once you understand the causes behind extroverted behavior, effective workplace communication with extroverts begins to seem like common sense.

People with extroverted behavior may be inclined to interact with others due to simple biology. Dopamine, a neurological chemical, plays a major role in the reward and pleasure centers of the brain and extroverts have a stronger dopamine response to reward than introverts. When extroverts interact with others, they are more energized and motivated by the possibility of reward.

Recognizing how this heightened dopamine response fuels extroverted personalities is vital to effective inter-office communication. Social interactions are filled with opportunities for reward, and extroverts are determined to make the most of them. Consequently, the more rewarding you make your conversation to an extrovert, the happier they’ll feel. Keeping that in mind, here are a few best-practice communication strategies guaranteed to light up an extrovert’s reward system and build healthy interpersonal communication, both in and outside of the office.

 

STAY POSITIVE

Extroverts typically find social situations to be more inherently interesting than introverts do. One study found that extroverts were more stimulated by pictures of people than introverted participants were, suggesting extroverts place greater significance on social interaction. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that an extrovert would be disappointed when an interaction doesn’t go particularly well. With that in mind, keep conversations with an extrovert positive to foster a strong working relationship. Let it be known that you appreciate your time with them, and they’ll likely look forward to talking with you again.

 

OFFER A RISK OR CHALLENGE

High-stakes, high-reward opportunities tend to go hand-in-hand with extroversion. Unpredictability isn’t necessarily viewed as a bad thing by extroverts, but rather a challenge to overcome.  An experiment involving a gambling task found that extroverts had a stronger neurological response to both surprise and positive results than introverts did. If you’re trying to convince an extrovert to take on a task or join you in an endeavor, frame it as an adventure or a big opportunity. Adding a little bit of a risk-factor is definitely a plus.

 

GIVE THEM TIME TO TALK

Extroverts like to talk. So naturally, when you communicate with an extrovert, it’s best not to cut them off. Give them the time to say what they want to say, and more likely than not, they’ll leave you plenty of time to talk once they’ve completed their thought. If not, don’t hesitate to politely let them know you’d like a chance to speak; extroverts are excited by many different aspects of social interactions, so they’ll be interested in hearing what you have to say, too.

GET TO KNOW THE UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL

The problem with the extrovert-introvert dichotomy is that it treats each group like two different species. In reality, extroversion and introversion exist on a spectrum, and most of us fall somewhere in the middle. When communicating, it’s important not to assume people are extroverted or introverted. Rather, get a sense for each person’s unique preferences and tendencies, and try to gauge how they’re feeling during your interaction. As with any type of interaction, awareness is key.

 

 

Your extroverted co-workers can add energy, creative ideas, and candidness to the workplace. By giving them the space to shine and respecting their needs, and can help your business reach its full potential. Remember, the most well-rounded, innovative workplaces embrace a variety of different people with different communication tendencies.

 

Do you have communication difficulties in YOUR office? Contact me and let’s talk.