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/ 24 November 2015

Five tips for supporting the introvert

Man relaxing lying on floor with headphones on

Often, paid workers or team leaders are extroverts, and it’s an easy mistake to make in thinking that everyone else is too, but that’s not the case! This blog came about through my own experience, working as an introvert in what is often the very extrovert world of youth work. It is important to recognise that we need all sorts to work with young people, and that young people relate differently to different people. Giving space for this enables a variety of young people to access your provision and enjoy the benefits of it.

I’m not talking about being ‘shy’ or about ‘shyness’, which is a different characteristic; shyness is a term extroverts tend to use to explain or rationalise introverts. Rather, introverts are people who get their energy from spending time on their own. They may not always be shy but they often find spending time with others to be tiring or energy sapping. So, here are five tips for working with introverted volunteers.

1. Recognise their brilliance

This requires you to know them (or at least understand how they prefer to function). So, before they start, it is important to conduct some sort of interview that helps you to find out how they work as people. How are they going to interact with the young people? I think it is fine to ask them directly whether they think they are an extrovert or introvert. But you could, alternatively, ask them where they get energy from, how they recharge, is it on their own or with others?

2. Provide conversation starters

Starting conversations is hard for introverts, so, if you are in charge, introduce them to some young people. Don’t just leave them at that point, rather give them some topics to discuss, stuff you know they might enjoy talking to young people about. But remember, it is really tiring for introverts to ‘make’ conversation, they might take time in the sessions to recharge by taking themselves away and doing something else, observing, joining in with football or just remaining silent – that’s also ok!

3. Assign a specific activity

This is linked to the point above, by giving them something to do you can help them to ‘break the ice’ so that they are not just hanging around, feeling awkward, waiting for something to happen. Ask them to give out the juice or do a survey, make cookies with young people, anything!

4. Provide space to reflect

Introverts might not be happy to process their reflections immediately after a session in a group. Apart from anything, by this point they will tired after having devoted so much energy to interacting with young people. They’ll need some time to ponder and think about things. Come back to them later on in the week when they have had space to think, and they’ll probably have some key insights for you!

5. Play to their strengths

They may prefer the inner world of the mind, and enjoy thinking and exploring their thoughts and feelings; concepts and ideas can be interesting to them. Are their activities with young people that do this and, if so, could you get your volunteer to engage in them by, for example setting up a politics, theology or reading group? Is there a particular interest that your volunteer has that they could work with young people on?

Celebrate the fact that an introvert has put themselves forward as a volunteer. Encourage them and work with them and their amazing strengths! Now, who wants to come up with a ‘Top five tips for working with extroverts’?!

James Fawcett is part of Concrete Youth and works with the Diocese, providing support for youth work. Follow @concreteythw for regular updates.


About James Fawcett

James Fawcett is part of CONCRETE and has worked with the children and youth team to support churches.

Read more from James Fawcett

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