KU Libraries Support Staff Development Workshop

1. KU Libraries Support Staff Development Workshop Thursday, March 22, 2012 Kansas Union

2. Introversion/ExtraversionbyKathleen Ames-Oliver (KU HREO)

3. Introvert/Extravert Discussion Led by Kathleen Ames-Oliver

4. Participants were asked to complete the quiz: Are you an Introvert or an Extravert?

5. Dividing the Introverts & Extraverts Discussion of issues facing the libraries’ numerous Introverts Topics included space accommodations and adapting in an extraverted world

6. Dividing the Introverts & Extraverts The Libraries’ Ambiverts Ambiverts are people who have aspects of both Introverts & Extraverts

7. Only 2 extraverted participants Billie and Victoria offer the extraverted perspective

8. Requests & Offers Activity Introvert/Extravert Groups brainstorming

9. Requests Introverts asked of Extraverts • Time and space to be alone. • Try to understand us. We’re not being mean if we want to be alone. • Help us adapt to be more like extraverts. • Accept us; quit trying to change us. • Listen and do not react until we have a chance to express our views. • Show more respect of our opinions and don’t be so dominating. • Don’t bait us just to hear us speak. • Don’t judge us for not thinking your way. • Be quiet. • Respect emotional space. • Ask if now is a good time to talk. • Try to make conversations more meaningful and purposeful. • Try to listen and pay attention.

10. Requests Extraverts asked of Introverts • Be willing to smile and say hello. Engage us. • Be willing to make the first move occasionally. • Single word answers are not sufficient. Explain and speak more. • There’s a feeling that introverts don’t like face-to-face or phone conversations and instead prefer email. Be willing to speak face-to-face. • When in a meeting, we need you to participate and share your opinions. Don’t be quiet and complain about it later.

11. Requests/Offers Activity Introvert/Extravert Groups brainstorming session

12. Offers Introverts Made to Extraverts • We’ll take advantage of alternatives to communicate in meetings. • We’re willing to smile and say good morning. • We’re willing to call instead of emailing. • We’ll ask your preference for communication style. • We’re happy to participate in meetings as introverts. We may not speak passionately but we do have a voice to offer. • We will let you talk out your ideas. • Provide an agenda ahead of time to provide a safe environment for us to share our ideas. • We’ll make an effort to initiate and engage contact.

13. Offers Extraverts Made to Introverts • We’ll ask when it’s a good time to talk and not rush you. • We’ll try not to interrupt. • We’ll offer other options for participating in meetings. We’ll send an agenda and offer a handout for you to send in anonymously later.

14. We will all try to create safe environments for meetings and discussions in the library. The Result of the Request/Offer Activity?

15. Role Playing Activity An Introvert & an Extravert Exchange Roles

16. What staff learned

17. What staff learned

18. Future directions