5 Reasons Introverts Need to Be Part of Your Creative Process

Over my career, I’ve had the good fortune to be part of MANY meetings. Ok, maybe “good fortune” isn’t quite right…I’ve been forced to be part of many meetings. Through the years, people have commented on how quiet I am. They’ve said they wish I would speak up more and share what I’m thinking. If you’re an introvert, I’d guess you’ve heard the same things.

Because of that perception, leaders can start leaving introverts out of future meetings. And, as AWESOME as that may sound to us, it’s really not the right move. Leaving introverts out doesn’t make the time together more valuable, and it doesn’t lead to a better result.

The easiest meeting to leave introverts out of is a creative one. I remember being asked to serve on a committee to choose a new marketing firm for an organization I worked for. It was a big task. An important task. A highly creative task. I was honored to be asked. We reviewed print materials, websites and campaigns. We talked through branding, colors and marketing philosophies. We sat through pitch after pitch from great companies from all over the country. It was a great process to be part of…but, as an introvert, it would have been an easy one to be left out of.

What I’ve found is that there are some clear reasons to include introverts, especially in creative meetings. Here are 5 of them:

Why Introverts Make Creative Meetings Better

1. Introverts keep the meeting moving forward.

We’re usually the agenda keepers. We notice when a conversation has wandered off on a tangent. We tend to see processes clearly and understand what it takes to get everyone from step A to step B in the most efficient way.

2. Introverts don’t get distracted by the hype of an idea.

I’ve seen it a lot. An idea gets presented, a couple of people get overly excited about it, and the group can’t move past it. The conversation stalls. Sometimes an off-topic idea ends up winning, or the best idea never even gets a chance. Introverts don’t tend to get caught up in the excitement, and we can help the group move on to more (and better) ideas.

3. Introverts are good at summarizing.

We tend to sit back and listen. We take in information and don’t feel the need to speak first. In fact, we’d prefer not to! We’re puzzle people. We can take a lot of random pieces and put them together into a good plan…or at least a good next step. We collect, process and analyze information like ninjas.

4. Introverts say what they mean and mean what they say.

When I communicate, I carefully think through what I’m going to say. People sometimes get impatient waiting on my response. But, I want what I say to be accurate and meaningful. I’ve worked with plenty of folks who think out loud, so the first thing they say may not be what they really mean. You can count on an introvert for meaningful input every time they speak.

5. Introverts help include everyone.

I’m usually very aware of who is dominating the conversation, and it’s often worse in creative meetings. The people who see themselves as the most creative can assume they have the best ideas. Because I don’t always speak up right away, I know what it’s like to walk out of a meeting without sharing my ideas. So, I notice the people who haven’t said anything. Introverts can help you spot those people and invite them in. (Here are 3 keys to getting introverts to participate in meetings.)

Have you found these things to be true? What other reasons would you add? Add them in the comments below…