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SessionNotesFive004

E/I, E/I, E/I Oh!

Here are the notes resulting from the activities that generated flip chart notes:

ACTIVITY 1:

Split into a group of introverts, a group of extroverts, and a group of E/I�s (people who see themselves as some of both) and discuss:

What do you see as your strengths as an introvert/extrovert/a group of E/I�s? What do you see as the strengths of the other?

INTROVERTS see their strengths as follows:

-Ideas are tested before they are expressed.(br> -If I say it, I�m willing to stand by it.
-We are a calming influence.
-Less constrained by outer world in formation of ideas.
-Think faster, get to answer faster.
-Choose carefully who to speak to.
-Think things through before making a decision (can test outcomes internally).
-Easily amused � little external stimulation required. (Boredom is not an issue.)
-Don�t interrupt as much.

INTROVERTS see the strengths of extroverts as follows:

-A lot of interaction enables consensus building.
-We know what you�re thinking.
-Spontaneous.
-Can dominate/take control if they want (leadership.
-Make acquaintances (friends?) more easily, large support group.
-Thinking with more people leads to more brains thinking together, if they listen to each other.

EXTROVERTS see their strengths as follows:

-Like to interact
-We speak up and encourage others to do so.
-More fun at a party
-Enjoy being in teams
-Ability to meet strangers
-Tend to rise faster in organizations

EXTROVERTS see the strengths of introverts as follows:

-Not stymied by being alone. Can still make progress.
-They get listened to on the rare occasions they open their mouths.
-Appear wise

E/I�s (people who see themselves as some of both) see their strengths as follows:

- Awareness of introversion needs (for Is trending to Es)
- Ability to adapt behavior to fit the situation
- The way we�re perceiving can shift from internal to the external loop and vice versa.

E/I�s (people who see themselves as some of both)see the strengths of extroverts as follows:

-Visibility
-Action
-�I blaze the path�

E/I�s (people who see themselves as some of both) see the strengths of introverts as follows:

-Thoughtful
-Reflective
-�You pave the road�

ACTIVITY 2a:

EXTROVERTS were invited into the fishbowl to discuss these two questions:

- What frustrates, annoys or upsets you about introverts?
- What would you like introverts to understand about how to work well with you?

(People who see themselves as some of both were asked to join with one or the other, whichever seemed to draw them more).

RESPONSES included:

-Introverts are differential
-We need feedback
-More verbal and physical cues from introverts
-Don�t know what the silence means
-Feedback � and frequently: Nod, leaning forward, throw something
-In phone meetings, poll for response, allocate time to discuss �unresolved� issues
-Introverts go �off-line� � talk to me!
-No energy coming back
-Won�t step in and �take the keyboard� in pair programming
-I�m frustrated because I frustrate them.
-One-word answers.

ACTIVITY 2b:

INTROVERTS were invited into the fishbowl to discuss these two questions:

- What frustrates, annoys or upsets you about extroverts?
- What would you like extroverts to understand about how to work well with you?

RESPONSES included:

-Gentle interventions � pressure leads to failure (usually)
-Give us information ahead of time.
-Extroverts don�t receive the input we give them.
-When you reach a conclusion or decision, let us know!
-Concise, well-crafted agenda
- Polling at meetings (open consensus-building � introduce idea before meeting starts
- Encourage people to get their voices out at the beginning.
- Give introverts permission to express �imperfect� thoughts (�minute mumble�) � writing is good.
- Let us know when you�ve made a decision.
- Tell us when you are thinking out loud and when you have stopped thinking out loud.
- What works is: time, be quiet out loud and internally, find common interests, check-in with the introverts.
- Give us recognition when an idea originated with us.
- Warn us when you are going to transition to something else.

We all communicate important things in the way that is most natural to us and use less natural ways for less important things.

So Extraverts communicate important things face to face and other things in writing, while Introverts communicate important things in writing and other things face to face. When you are deciding how important something is, consider the type of the person communicating, not your own.