Managing Up

4The Outie

“It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much.”

—Yogi Berra

 

Real‐Life Story

Tim, who works in the medical supply industry, thought his boss, Carl, was cray‐cray. And flaky. And unfocused. Carl just talked way too much. To make matters worse, Carl would often contradict himself midsentence. Tim found himself confused, impatient, and frustrated. He had a hard time understanding what Carl wanted and began to resent the time that Carl wasted every day prattling on and on. But the part that really bothered Tim was that he couldn't get a word in edgewise. Carl never paused long enough for Tim to contribute, and by the time he did pause Tim was checked out. It was all he could do not to scream, “Shut up, already!” whenever Carl got on a tear.

 

Does this sound familiar? If so, you are probably working for an extrovert. And if you are an introvert who works for an extreme extrovert, this story may have sent a shiver down your spine. Tim's challenge was that he was an introvert trying to work for an extreme extrovert. For Tim, the experience was grueling and arduous.

The Extrovert (Outie) Boss can be both a blessing and a curse. She is talkative and readily shares information. He enjoys team meetings and likes to have brainstorming sessions. She has a proclivity to move into action very quickly. He asks you about your weekend and readily tells you about his. An extrovert's door is often open and he or she enjoys discussing projects ...