3 Ways Accountants Excel as an Introvert (or anyone for that matter!)

Is it a fact that most accountants are introverts?

No. I couldn’t find any compelling evidence that points to a clear winner in the personality traits of accountants as being either extroverted or introverted.

There was an interesting survey done on Myers Briggs respondents that had “42 percent of all accounting students fit into just two types according to the "Accounting Editors' Journal." Twenty-five percent tested as type ESTJ or extroverted, sensing, thinking and judging. They tend to trust what they perceive with their senses rather than intuition or gut feelings. They rely on logical thought more than emotion, and they prefer to make judgments about what they experience rather than simply experiencing life without judging. Seventeen percent tested as ISTJ or introverted, sensing, thinking and judging.”

As a self-proclaimed introvert, I wanted to share some of my insights for those of you that are introverts… or work with someone who is. In my opinion, we can never learn too much about ourselves or the people around us. “With knowledge comes power” right?

As I see it, and have experienced it, there are three roadblocks that introverted accountants likely face:

Networking
Speaking up
Owning your gifts

If those are the roadblocks (issues), they’re really fairly self-explanatory. Let’s take a look at each of these in a bit more detail, in terms of how to maneuver the roadblocks with success.

Overcome the fear of Networking

Use social media as an avenue to connect: “Thanks to the technological advances of the 21st century, introverts have a higher chance of succeeding than ever. That is because tools such as social media are making communications easier than ever. Instead of having to speak face to face with colleagues and bosses, introvert can rely solely on social platforms to communicate their messages.”
Be a great listener. People like to talk, so let them talk, and build the connection that way.
Understand when you’re at your best. “For introverts, networking requires a little more cognitive effort: it’s fun, but you have to psych yourself up to be “on.” I don’t need to have the additional burden of doing it when I’m tired. I now stack the deck in my favor by refusing any meetings before 8 am or after 9 pm.”
Set limits. You don’t need to interact with everyone in the room. One or two meaningful connections can mean success for you. And once you have that, give yourself permission to leave the event if you’re still feeling uncomfortable. Follow up with those individuals within 24 hours and build on the hard work you’d achieved. In addition, keep the conversations as one-one by choosing someone who is standing alone, as it is easier for you to open up, rather than walking into a group of 3 or more people.

How to Speak up and be heard

Location, location, location. Again, in a room full of individuals, target smaller groups or a one on one conversation.
Build rapport through In depth connections. Small talk doesn’t work for you, so don’t force it.
Seek out assignments to show off — and stretch. By choosing an area of strength with the assignment or project, your confidence will obviously be higher. You are more apt to speak up when faced with challenges or needing to provide input.
Let go of the idea that you need to do a ton of talking. Your natural tendency is to have purposeful, insightful conversation. When you do talk, others listen intently, because they know you’re providing value. Be comfortable that quality trumps quantity everytime.
Prepare ahead of time when possible. Meetings with a table full of participants can be daunting. Give yourself time to prepare before it starts, knowing what you want to contribute and how it needs to be said.
Post mortem learning & follow up. After the meeting, if you found yourself holding back and reserving comment, get curious as to why you chose not to speak up… what was the personal roadblock that stopped you? And then find an opportunity to speak your peace to the right individuals. Next meeting, be conscious of the roadblock so it doesn’t get in your way again.
Lastly… be heard. Look people in the eye. Keep your voice at a constant pitch. Ask for their input into the topic you’re speaking on, and you’ll quickly learn if they’ve heard what you were intending on saying.

The positive side of being an introvert (a.k.a owning your gifts)

You may be healthier than your counterparts. Here are 5 health perks of being an introvert.
Great observers, often seeing things that others don’t. This allows you the ability to add significant value and insight…. If you speak up!!
Relied upon by leaders, friends and family as you’re often considered to be a steady, solid resource.
Thoughtful, open minded and empathetic. I would call these more feminine leadership traits, which allow you to be more accessible by your staff and peers.
Influential. “The truth is, influence is not about getting people to come to see things our way, but about learning from others and negotiating a shared solution. This approach is well suited to the introvert temperament.”
High self-awareness and self-reflective capabilities ensures that you know what you need and how to obtain it, in ways that can only serve you.
Creative. Yes, accountants can be creative in ways that are ethical! Use this left-brained approach to problem solve with great results.
Independent thinkers with non-impulsive decision making. You will take the right amount of time to make the best decision for yourself and the organization.
Brings an unorthodox perspective at times