The Top Three Introverted Strengths Worksheet Thea Orozco
This worksheet is designed to help you understand how three of your many strengths are already present in your life, and how these strengths can be further incorporated into your life. This isn t a time to worry about the downsides to these strengths. There are downsides to everything. This is a time to focus on what s good about these strengths. There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. And even if you can t think of a response to any of these questions right off the bat, that doesn t mean these strengths do not exist in you. You may just want to keep these strengths in mind during the upcoming weeks and notice when you use them. -Thea With contributions by the following thought leaders: Patricia Weber, internationally recognized introvert authority, provides practical tools for the introvert to navigate the rules at work with ultimate success, through her books, teleclasses, speaking, coaching. Her most recent book is Communication Toolkit for Introverts: Find Your Voice in Everyday Business Situations. She blogs almost everything introvert at http://patricia-weber.com Brenda Knowles is best known for her blog, space2live and is the creator and personal coach of BrendaKnowles.com. She loves to coach and empower introverts and highly sensitive people as they go through transitions and navigate relationships. Contact her through brendaknowles.com or at space2live@yahoo.com. 2016 Introvertology 3
Accepting your strengths doesn't lead to pride, but instead to humility; you're less likely to resent what others have if you understand your own bounty. -Gina Barreca Strength 1: Not needing anyone else for your energy WORK A note from Patricia: In many workplaces with open spaces, you d think it might be difficult to get away on your own to recharge. We can create privacy both quickly and inexpensively. If we want to block out some noise around us, headphones are one option. When I was a sales manager, one of our salespeople found a novelty traffic-light for the desktop. He reminded all of us of the meaning of red, yellow and green. If you work from home, consider a sign like Busy at work, do not disturb, on your home-office. Use your creativity to bring more of your energy to any situation. Which work activities make you feel like you re in the flow? 2016 Introvertology 4
What are some of the compliments you have received about your work? How else does not needing anyone else for your energy benefit you at work? How can you create more opportunities or projects that allow you to use your personal strengths or where you feel like you re in the flow? 2016 Introvertology 5
RELATIONSHIPS A note from Brenda: Our ability to recharge on our own can sometimes challenge relationships. Partners need to be shown that our requests for solitude are not rejections of them but more of an honoring and renewing of ourselves. If we are respectful and tell our partners when we need alone time and when we will be available again, our fulfilled and recharged selves will have a lot more love and energy to offer the relationship. If you can be alone together with a partner in the same room doing quiet individual endeavors your energy levels will be replenished and you'll still feel close to your mate. Do you have an introverted partner, friend, or family member who also needs alone time? Do you have a partner, friend, or family member who enjoys doing a quiet activity by themselves? What do they do (reading, surfing the web, playing a quiet computer game, cooking, etc.)? 2016 Introvertology 6
How can you communicate to someone special in your life that you love them, and will be able to be more present and focused on them when your energy is replenished? LIFE How does not needing anyone else for your energy benefit your life outside of relationships and work? 2016 Introvertology 7
STRENGTHENING THE STRENGTH What is one way you can bring more of this strength into your life? 2016 Introvertology 8
My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title. -Layne Staley WORK Strength 2: Better able to learn about yourself A note from Patricia: Don t fall victim to myths that erode our inner confidence. Being able to enjoy our work and life is about feeling comfortable in our skin. We might often feel a pressure that we have to be more extroverted because others seem to be. But more peace, joy and success will be ours if we can contribute something unique our way. To strengthen our contribution to work, first, know what s true about yourself and lead with those strengths. What are three of your positive attributes? 2016 Introvertology 9
How do you use these positive in your work? Choose one attribute. What s one way you can use that attribute more often at work? 2016 Introvertology 10
RELATIONSHIPS The Top Three Introverted Strengths Worksheet A note from Brenda: Introverts have a keen interest in their inner worlds. Introspection and reflection feed us. Relationships are our best teachers. Our partners reflect ourselves to us our strengths and blind spots. These relationship-generated reflections provide the opportunity to turn over thoughts and ideas in our minds and ultimately foster personal growth. What are you like when you re around a friend, family, or partner and feel fully recharged? How can you be your best self when you re around a friend, family, or partner? 2016 Introvertology 11
LIFE How does knowing about yourself benefit your life outside of relationships and work? STRENGTHENING THE STRENGTH What s one thing you can do today to foster your personal growth? 2016 Introvertology 12
So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it. Jiddu Krishnamurti WORK Strength 3: You re more likely to listen than talk A note from Patricia: Here s the thing about us innies: listening is part of our introspective nature. Ask yourself what are you doing with the time you do listen? We want to listen to understand, not just respond. Dr. Ralph Nichols, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota, author of Are You Listening?, created a 10 Skills of Listening assessment. Search it out so you can see your strengths in depth. A key to listening is not to fall victim to any of our filters, so the meaning someone has is the meaning we take away. Why is it a benefit to be able to understand what your boss or client is truly saying? 2016 Introvertology 13
How can you show someone at work that you ve truly listened to them? RELATIONSHIPS A note from Brenda: As we mature, we hopefully learn the skill of listening to understand versus waiting for your turn to talk. Introverts already have the jump on this in that we are often strong observers and listeners in the first place. Listening allows our partners to feel heard and allows us to gain insight about our significant other we might miss if we were talking. Listening can feel like love. How can a relationship with a friend, partner, or family member benefit from you truly listening instead of just waiting to talk? How can you show a loved one that you ve truly listened to them? 2016 Introvertology 14
LIFE How does listening benefit your life outside of relationships and work? STRENGTHENING THE STRENGTH How can you bring more of this strength into your life? 2016 Introvertology 15
BEYOND THE WORKSHOP I don t know about you, but it s really easy for me to live through my dayto-day life and not stop to appreciate who I am and what I ve accomplished. If you d like, use the space below to make a quick note at the end of each day this week about how you used your strengths. 2016 Introvertology 16