Equity Diversity Inclusion of Extroverts! #cindertoflame

Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is a human-centred initiative underway at all levels of government and across public and private service and industry sectors. It is a complex concept, encompassing many issues, requiring more than cursory acknowledgement or understanding. EDI applies to multiple facets of a healthy corporate culture for major innovation. I posit that personality - thinking, communication and performance styles, fits under the EDI umbrella. We will focus on extroverts in Corporations and their potential contribution to innovation.

I reviewed more than 10 years of performance reviews to reflect upon my professional growth. The reviewers had good intentions to help modulate my performance and I earnestly tried to implement their suggestions. However, a revelation unfolded: I’m an extrovert, often assessed through the lenses of introverts. My deceased father-in-law was a man without a university education who worked his way up from the mail room to become the president of a Corporation. He once told me: “A performance review is like a mirror and is a reflection of the person delivering the review.”

My proclivities to speak my ideas and talk too much, jump into conversations, and leap over the fire (see photo) require attention because they are not always well-received. “Take it down a few notches. Calm down. Take only one step at a time.” (I often feel misunderstood. I’m not anxious; rather, bubbling over with energetic enthusiasm!)

I participated in an education webinar where the presenter posed this question: “What drains your energy?” Anonymous responses were welcomed via Slido. Someone rapidly typed: “Extroverts.” Shocked, I couldn’t resist the impulse to candidly respond: “Introverts.”

I heard an account of an excellent, prospective candidate who was not hired because corporate leaders voiced intolerance for her high level of energy. (Is high energy a negative trait?) In my corporate experience, I’ve noticed a trend that favors introverts in senior levels of leadership, who attract and hire more introverts. - Would not EDI apply to personality too?

A healthy corporate culture for major innovation requires a balance of introverts and extroverts as they play different and complementary team roles throughout the innovation process. What happens when Corporations have a conscious (or unconscious) bias against extroverts? One of the Big Five personality traits associated with an inventive mindset is extraversion. Exclusion of extroverts negatively impacts corporate potential for innovation, along with fewer highly energetic and motivated people to carry novel work through to implementation.

EDI promotes a sense of "belonging". When my past directors granted me permission and latitude to be my best self, this enabled me to undertake innovative initiatives, drive them to completion, and promote wide spread across Canada and beyond.

Reflect upon the composition of your team and Corporation, is there a balanced mix of introverts and extroverts for robust networking, collaboration and partnerships? If you’re an introvert… Next time you meet an extrovert, will you evade or embrace them?

Launching Cinder to Flame consulting fits with my natural disposition as an extrovert. By the way, my husband of more than 30 years is an extreme introvert. - He granted permission to include this statement. - It suggests that extroverts and introverts can live and work together in harmony :-).

Cinder to Flame helps Corporations solve complex challenges with strategic services that energize people, fuel a healthy corporate culture and ignite major innovation.

Reach out, and let’s collaborate: https://www.cindertoflame.ca/contact

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