Agile Introverts, any Oxymoron? - March 7, 2017

@ChrisSeanAgile

CHRIS EDWARDS, P.ENG.

Agile introverts, an oxymoron?

@ChrisSeanAgile

50.7% of Americans are introverted

http://introvertzone.com/ratio-of-introverts

@ChrisSeanAgile

What is an introvert?

@ChrisSeanAgile C S&

My view of introverts• Shy• Don’t like people• Likes to spend time alone


Myers-briggs Introvert• “I like getting my energy from dealing with

the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. “






Open office plans• “Open-plan offices have been found to

reduce productivity and impair memory”


Open office plans• “They make people sick, hostile,

unmotivated, and insecure”





• Extroverts are more prone to risky reward-seeking behaviour

• Introverts work more slowly and deliberately


• Extroverts tend to be assertive, dominant, and comfortable with conflict

• Introverts prefer deep-interesting conversations


• Extroverts have many superficial friendships

• Introverts will have a small number of meaningful relationships


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Jerome Kagan – development of children


Infants were played tape recording of voices and balloons popping, saw colorful

mobiles dance, inhaled scent of alcohol from cotton swab


“They had wildly varying reactions to the new stimuli”


“20 % cried lustily and pumped their arms and legs. Kagan called this group ‘high-

reactive’”


“40 % stayed quiet and placid. This group Kagan called ‘low-reactive’”


“40 % fell between these two extremes”


The children returned to Kagan’s lab at the age of four, seven, and eleven.


The ‘low-reactive’ were “more likely to have become relaxed and confident types”


The ‘high-reactive’ were “more likely to have developed serious, careful

personalities”


‘high-reactive’ kids “seem to see a feel things more”


Hans eysenck


Hypothesis: Human beings seek “just right” levels of stimulation


Introverts and extroverts were asked to play a challenging word game


Players wore headphones that emitted random bursts of noise


Players could adjust the volume to a level that they considered “just right”


• Introverts on avg: 55 dB• Extroverts on avg: 72 db


Both groups were “equally aroused” and played equally well


When introverts were asked to play at 72 dB, they were over-aroused, and

underperformed


https://www.infoq.com/articles/neuroscience-agile-leadership


‘Under stress, the PFC shuts down and the limbic takes over. ’ – Jenni Jepsen

@ChrisSeanAgile C S&https://www.infoq.com/articles/neuroscience-agile-leadership



“Introversion/Extroversion is only 40-50% heritable”


Energy source — You get more energy from being alone than being with people


Shyness —How outgoing are you?


Lower “reward-sensitivity” — Less likely to be motivated by seeking rewards and more

likely to be able to delay gratification


You’re “high-reactive” — meaning neurologically more sensitive to your

environment


Self-monitoring — Do you alter your behaviour based on those around you?


Dimensions of introversion

Introvert Extrovert


Dimensions of introversionBeingAlone

Being inCrowdsEnergy Source

Shy GregariousShyness

Deliberate Seeks RewardsReward Seeking

HighReactive

LowReactive

Response to Stimuli

HighSelf-Monitor

LowSelf-Monitor

Self-Monitoring




Aaron grifith – introvert mobber• Mobbing isn’t easy

as an introvert. • Relationships are

important. • Safety is key.



Commonalities?• KINDESS• CONSIDERATION• RESPECT


https://rework.withgoogle.com/blog/five-keys-to-a-successful-google-team/


• ‘‘a sense of confidence that the team will not embarrass, reject or punish someone for speaking up.” Amy Edmonson

Psychological safety


http://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/leadership/

Simon Sinek’s “Circle of Safety”

SAFEDANGER DANGER

DANGERDANGER



@ChrisSeanAgile

[email protected]

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Agile Introverts, any Oxymoron? - March 7, 2017