Each month, our team picks a book that we agree as a team gets at the values we hold near and dear as an organization. Then, each Wednesday, our team meets during lunch to discuss everyone’s key takeaways, relate it back to our business model, and how we can use what we learn to be even better – for ourselves and our members. We just can’t keep quiet about this month’s pick…
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking is a New York Times bestseller by Susan Cain, which “shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so.”
Before tackling this book, it’s important to first have a basic understanding of what being an introvert means. Being an introvert does not mean you are unfriendly, antisocial, or don’t like people. It’s all about how you respond to social stimulation, where you draw your energy from and what type of environment you work best in. Extroverted people, for example, draw their energy from their surroundings. They absorb the “good vibes” of the people around them and need a lot of social interaction. Introverts on the other hand, make their own energy and rather than getting it from other people around them, give a lot of their energy to others during social contact. So, they simply need more personal time to recharge.
Here is a great info graphic explaining the differences between the two:
For our team, the most important takeaway while reading the book was that everyone is different and it’s important to respect those differences and make sure we are creating an environment where everyone can be comfortable and let their creativity flow in a way that works best for them. Here at Republic, we have an open-floor office. Even the lead-team sits out on the floor with everybody else. It’s great for group discussions, teamwork, and collaboration. However, there are people that prefer to work in solitude or with less distractions, which is why we give employees the freedom to work remotely and encourage them to take advantage of our many private conference rooms when they want.
Almost half of the global population are introverts – our coworkers, our teammates, our spouses, our relatives, our friends – and it’s important to let them be heard and not discredit them for their potential to be leaders. Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, and Gandhi were all introverts – just to mention a few. Culturally, we need a better understanding and acceptance of the power of solitude. We need to utilize each others’ strengths and make the best possible service and product that we can for ourselves and our members.
We encourage everyone to read this book and be yourself. What inspires you and where are you most creative? Let us know in the comments. Stop by next month too for a new book and new insights from our team. You can also check out last month’s pick, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
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