An introvert's guide to office parties
Excellent talking points and general tips to assist introverts in social gatherings.
Just adding, I disagree with item #3 where it is stated introverts process a greater volume of information. Not all introverts exhibit similar traits and it implies extroverts and people in between fail at acknowledging things other than being social.
Highly social people can often be excellent multitaskers, whereas introverts, lacking motivation to take action under certain challenging environments, constrain themselves and fall back to "observation". But add cell phone addiction into this mix and some self-diagnosed introverts are just not putting enough effort into social interactions, which is energy consuming and difficult for pretty much everyone.
Thanks for sharing.
Well put. That comment feels like a compliment to introverts. I totally identified with all of these points but that felt a little too self serving.
I think that may be a euphemism for "obsesses about human interactions and social gatherings which also includes self consciousness".
Without that, yeah it's a weird claim to make.
I'm an extrovert with social anxiety disorder, introverts definitely haven't cornered the market on obsessing about social interactions and self consciousness.
Nobody is claiming extroverts don't tho.
Only that introverts allegedly do it more.
I'm extro myself and its not like I'm on autopilot or have never been self conscious or never overanalyzed a situation that ended up interfering with my ability to just be in the moment.
I think that's part of the message: relax. Enjoy the moment and stay in it and take it for what it is instead of always trying to focus on the "safe" (or just familiar) place inside your mind to obsess and distract yourself and escape the unfamiliar or unpredictable situation at hand.
Completely agree. Was going to comment the same thing. Some of the smartest people I know are extroverted. I also know some not-so-bright introverts. I don’t know of any study analyzing this, but I don’t think there’s a correlation between being introverted and being able to process more information.
I'm really good at "Build an Escape Plan"..
The moment i enter a room full of people, i am already checkin' out the exits, and windows.
Eighteen steps? I stopped at step one. "Is it worth attending"? No. The answer is always no.
Not if you want to get any promotion in some places. I’ve been to more offices that nearly required them than ones that did not care. A lot of times, it is considered very rude to not attend an office party without a very good reason. It depends on the office.
In my own personal opinion why would you want to work at a place that is basing promotion and raises off social interactions? I show up to work to work, and to do a amazing job. It's something I take alot of pride in. And if they are going to base promotions of something other than that. I'll happily take my work somewhere else.
It really depends on where you work. My family and I work jobs that involve some interaction, so not being socially incompetent/unwilling to socialize is something the bosses look for.
In fields that involve solitude, then bosses need not look out for that sort of thing.
Yeah, every job I have worked and currently work invole moderate social interaction. Discussing new ideas to improve productivty, helping customers have a good buying experience, transferring data via voice are all great traits. And if I was boss something I would definitely look for considering the majority of jobs require some sort of social interaction. But this post revolves around office parties not the job as a whole. If my bosses thinking is "Damn that Captaincaff3ine for not coming to the Christmas party, guess whos not getting a raise when yearly reviews are done"? Then that is somewhere I don't work or holds any merit in my mind. I would rather have a boss think like this; "Damn that CaptainCaff3ine for not coming to my christmas party"! "But he is a hard worker and every customer leaves with a smile on their face, we are lucky to have him." Like I said, my own personal opinion is that it is toxic to work in a place that values the first thinking example listed above, rather than the actual work itself.
Edit: Words
Reading this gave me anxiety. It felt like I was preparing myself to go into a large social gathering.
More advice from Michael Scott:
It’s polite to arrive early, and smart. Only really good friends show up early. Ergo de facto, show up early, become a really good friend.
A little off topic, I currently work retail, I am an introvert...is this why I'm SO drained all the time? Because I have to talk to people for 8 hours a day?
I am so amazed by those first 5 qualities. I absolutely feel like this everyday and didn't realize how much of an introvert I am. I always thought I was more of a mix but man those hit home!
This is a guide for someone that is socially awkward. Not an introvert.
I thought the same thing. This is a ridiculous guide, to be honest. Making note of someone's eye color so that you have something to fixate on? That's serial killer behavior.
Absolutely love, love and love this. I've taken some notes for myself, and noted some I already do.
I think I'd like to get into the habit of noticing eye colour (not in a creepy way as someone else said, but just in a passing way lol). I think it's always good to increase your awareness of what's around you, and in noticing the qualities of others. I would also love to change my thoughts around small talk.
I have always turned down invitations to attend office parties and not thought twice about it, but as an entrepreneur, networking events to promote your business and build connections are important.
Real guide:
- Arrive late
- Drink quickly with a view to being wasted before talking to anyone
- Stand in a corner for a while
- Leave
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