How to Engage Introverted Learners b y pa m e l a s l i m

Pamela Slim

Table of Contents Introduction

3

What is an introvert?

6 9 11 13

Effective techniques for overcoming training challenges Communication practices to bring out the natural strengths of introverts Conclusion

14 15

about pamela slim about gototraining

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

2

Introduction “We don’t see things the way they are — we see them as we are.” - Anaïs Nin, Author

Throughout the last eight years in my role as an author and business coach, I’ve designed and delivered a lot of online training. As a longtime training and development professional, I was confident in my ability to inspire, engage and motivate learners around the world. Or so I thought. I made sure my conference calls and webinars gave participants a chance to ask questions and get coached around specific strategies. I provided online forums to deepen connections between participants and improve understanding of the content being shared. But after running a number of classes with a very diverse audience, I began to notice a pattern: There was no interaction, or very little, among certain participants on the live calls. And in the group forums, certain people tended to dominate conversations, while others spoke up very little, if at all. At first I chalked it up to different levels of motivation. “They must not be very committed to the learning process or interested in the material,” I thought. On bad days, I assumed it was my own personality flaws. “They must not like me,” I thought. “I bet it was that bad pun I told on the webinar. I really should upgrade my humor for these smart students.” But from these same participants, I would often get very thoughtful, detailed emails between classes. They would ask if I could address their questions or concerns in class, with a request to not call them out by name or bring them in on discussions.

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

3

I would also notice a clear increase in emails and questions from these folks if I did not give enough notice or time to prepare for assignments. Posting materials an hour before the call frustrated and annoyed them. As an extrovert who thrives on group interaction and the rush of a last-minute deadline, I began to see that this style of instruction was extremely detrimental to a core group of my students. Last year, I began to work with best-selling author Susan Cain, who wrote the groundbreaking book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Susan is also the co-founder of Quiet Revolution LLC, whose mission is to “empower introverts, for the benefit of everyone.” Through our conversations and work on the Quiet Revolution, I realized that the apparent “lack of participation” from some participants was not due to motivation but rather my own misunderstanding of the unique strengths and communication preferences of introverted learners. Instead of finding elaborate ways to encourage them to participate in my extrovert-friendly instructional design, I needed to change the way I led my classes. The insight I gained from this experience has deepened my mastery as a teacher, increased the success of my programs and benefitted all of my students. I now know that online classes with introverts should have: •

Clear instructions, assignments and directions

•

Rich examples and stories in course materials

•

A pace that allows for reflection and processing of complex material

•

A distinct and engaging visual design for course materials

•

A variety of ways to contribute and connect

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

4

This ebook is made for leaders, managers and trainers who want to design and support training that meets the needs of introverted learners. There is no magic bullet, since people are complex with a range of different personality types and profiles. But knowing the learning preferences of your more introverted learners will lead to better engagement, retention and results. This ebook will help you: •

Understand the core components of training design that will appeal to introverts

•

Engage introverts in the learning process through effective techniques

•

Tweak your communication style to bring out everyone’s natural strengths

•

Avoid common training practices that instantly turn off introverted learners

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

5

What is an Introvert? “Introversion — along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness — is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology. Introverts living in the Extrovert Ideal are like women in a man’s world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are. Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we’ve turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform.” - S u s a n C a i n , Q u iet: T h e P o we r o f I n t r o v e r ts i n a W o r l d T h at C a n ’ t S t o p Ta l k i n g There are all kinds of formal definitions of “introvert,” which often reinforce an inaccurate and unflattering picture. The Merriam-Webster definition: Introvert (noun): a shy person; a quiet person who does not find it easy to talk to other people. Research at the Quiet Revolution has produced an alternate, and we believe, more accurate definition. The Quiet Revolution definition: Introverts gain energy in a quiet, more minimally stimulating environment. They tend to: • Enjoy quiet concentration • Listen more than they talk • Think before they speak • Approach risk more cautiously

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

6

What are the differences between introverts and extroverts?

I n t r over t s

Extrove rts

Focus on the meaning they make of events swirling around them

Plunge into the events themselves

Recharge their batteries by being alone

Recharge by socializing

Work more slowly and deliberately, focusing on one task at a time

Tend to tackle assignments quickly, make fast decisions and are comfortable multitasking and taking risks

Often feel they express themselves better in writing than speaking

Think on their feet and are rarely at a loss for words

People fall in a broad range of extroversion and introversion. Some people exhibit different characteristics in different situations, who we call “ambiverts.” However, the important thing is not to worry about rigid classifications or definitions but rather to appreciate that people have different, and equally important, ways of interacting in online learning environments.

How do you know if you are an introvert or an extrovert? There are many assessments available to test introversion and extroversion. One such assessment backed by research is called the Big Five Inventory. There’s an online version available that provides feedback.

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

7

Training designs that appeal to introverts Given some unique traits of introverts, there are a number of design principles that make them feel more engaged and supported in the online learning process. I have grouped them into the following six categories: 1. Design – Have a clean, uncluttered user interface and layout. Use colors that are not brash and flashy with images that are beautiful and calming. Synchronize voice, image and activity instructions so it does not feel like you have to do too many different things at once. 2. Preparation – Have a clear explanation of the learning process before it begins. Lay out the structure and expectations of the class, including expectations for class participation. Provide content well in advance and give students the option to submit their thoughts to the instructor before class begins. 3. Timing/Pace – Set a reasonable pace for content delivery. Where possible, let participants control the pace of their own learning. 4. Interaction – Avoid large group discussions where you call on people without advance notice. Make it acceptable to participate in a quiet way. Let students know they can listen and reflect on the content during class time and then provide ways to follow up with thoughts and feedback after class. 5. Personal boundaries – Sometimes sharing deeply personal thoughts or feelings in a group setting will not feel comfortable for your introverted learners. Provide small group breakout opportunities to encourage deeper interaction. 6. Consistency of relationships – Provide options to avoid the constant switching of team members in a learning environment. Introverts prefer to build deep relationships with fewer people, rather than superficial relationships with many people.

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

8

Effective techniques for overcoming training challenges There are some inherent challenges in online training classes, since you don’t have the benefit of seeing the body language or hearing the tone of all the students in your class. Many of the suggestions on the next page will help with overall class engagement, not just with introverts:

Ch a l l e nge

so lutio n • Seed discussions before class, during class and after class with

Managing interaction

open-ended questions • Provide clear assignments with deadlines • Tie to business objectives

Relevance

• Link with career and personal development • Use storytelling structures • Plant consistent questions in online forums • Choose a comment-thread feature when setting up forums to

Asynchronous conversation

create cohesion in asynchronous conversation • Provide clear assignments with deadlines

Maintaining motivation

• Send emails in between classes • Create and maintain consistent style guidelines • Choose colors that are “easy on the eyes” • Avoid bright or flashy colors

Design

• Look for online course layouts that are clean and uncluttered • Use crisp white backgrounds or warm sets for videos

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

9

Common training practices with extrovert bias

Co m m on T r ai ni ng Pract i ce

Introve rt-Fri e n d ly A lt e r n at i v e

Putting the student on the spot in a live call: “What do you think, Joe?”

Plant questions in the pre-course materials. Ask for volunteers before class starts.

Group brainstorming

Pose a question or problem and ask everyone to come up with a solution first. Share the documents with each other, and then come together as a group to discuss and refine ideas.

Doing timed activities with inadequate time for reflection: “OK, now think about your singular life purpose and get back to me in two minutes.”

Make the question more reasonable so someone can answer it in a short period of time. For example, “What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?” Or, give more time to answer the question: “Think about your singular life purpose and get back to me in three years.”

Delving into personal or too emotional territory: “So when you fail and your entire team is staring at you around the conference table, how do you feel, Susan?”

Pose a sensitive question and ask people to write down their answers. Ask for volunteers to share, but only if they feel comfortable.

Holding discussions in which a few participants monopolize the conversation completely as they think through their thoughts aloud.

Work from a set agenda and allow learners to respond in an online discussion board or forum as the instruction proceeds.

Centering the discussion on sometimes shallow, on-the-fly answers from learners

Allow learners to answer questions the night before. Then pull from the most studious and relevant responses.

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

10

Communication practices to bring out the natural strengths of introverts

“

I find online classes with group calls very

stressful. I find the idea of talking to a group of people I don’t know and can’t see to be

“There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” - S u s a n C a i n , Q u iet: T h e P o we r o f

extremely overwhelming. I usually just avoid

”

that aspect of any class.

I n t r o v e r ts i n a W o r l d T h at C a n ’ t S t o p Ta l k i n g

- Feedback from an introverted friend when asked about challenges of online learning

You will have the most success maintaining open and productive

environments

communication with participants in your course if you follow some general guidelines.

Class materials Introverts work best when they get the chance to review and digest materials at least a day or two before discussing it. Provide materials in advance and set up the context of the class discussion so introverts will have time to thoughtfully prepare.

Emails Even if you have a very sophisticated online learning environment, set up an email sequence that will remind participants to log in and complete

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

11

assignments. Email is still the most pervasive and accessible communication tool available. It is a great way to let your students know that you care about their progress in class and want to see them successfully complete it. Mix useful, informational emails with uplifting examples of people who finished the course and got great benefit from it.

Case studies and examples The best training is rich in examples and relevant stories. Provide opportunities for your participants to do appropriate projects, introduced by case studies. Need help with storytelling? Check out my ebook on using story in learning presentations to increase engagement.

Buddies or small study groups Many introverts enjoy interacting with others, just in pairs or very small groups. Facilitate the formation of study or project partners as part of the class design (not the whole thing) and make it an optional activity. If you notice that some students are not pairing up, check in with a private message to ask if that is their preference or if they would like some help finding a suitable partner.

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

12

Conclusion “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”” - H e n r y D av i d T h o r e a u, N at u r a l i s t, A u t h o r , P h i l o s o p h e r Adult learners thrive in an environment in which their life experiences, learning styles and communication preferences are respected. Introverts make up 30-40 percent of the general population. Designing online learning environments to be introvert friendly will strengthen and support your programs, your students and your workplaces. The greatest joy I receive as an instructor is watching my students make positive and lasting change in their lives and their organizations because of something I have taught them. That kind of impact is difficult to measure with traditional metrics, but it is the true test of your body of work, and legacy, as a teacher.

“When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there. ” - Jim Henson, Author, Puppeteer

I would love to hear examples of what you have done in your own courses or organizations to make your training more appealing and valuable to introverts. Send me an email at [email protected] and kindly put “Suggestions for introvert-friendly training” in the subject line. I will be sure to share them in upcoming webinars, white papers and blog posts.

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

13

About the Author Pamela Slim is an award-winning author, speaker and leader in the new world of work. She spent the first 10 years of her solo practice as a training and development consultant to large corporations such as Hewlett-Packard, Charles Schwab and Cisco Systems, where she worked with thousands of employees, managers and executives. In 2005, she started the Escape from Cubicle Nation blog, which is now one of the top career and business sites on the web. She has coached thousands of budding entrepreneurs in businesses ranging from martial arts studios to software startups. Her first book, Escape from Cubicle Nation, won Best Small Business/Entrepreneur Book of 2009 from 800-CEO-READ. Pam’s latest bestselling book is Body of Work: Finding the Thread That Ties Your Story Together. It addresses the key skills required to be successful in today’s uncertain work environment. Since July of 2013, Pam has partnered with bestselling author Susan Cain to build her new organization, Quiet Revolution. She is currently developing curriculum and teaching at the Quiet Leadership Institute, which equips companies with the tools needed to lead, manage and support the natural strengths of their introverted employees. A proud suburban mom in Mesa, Arizona, Pam enjoys the look on people’s faces when she tells them she is also a black belt in mixed martial arts. (It comes in handy when fighting for the last good bunch of kale at the grocery store.) Find Pam at pamelaslim.com. For more on Susan Cain’s Quiet Revolution, including free resources, tips and tools, go to quietrev.com.   P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

14

About gototraining

Citrix GoToTraining is the easy-to-use online training service that allows you to move your live instructor-led training programs online. Hold unlimited online training sessions — including HD video conferencing — with up to 200 attendees for one low flat fee. Learn more or start a free trial at www.gototraining.com.

P L AY B O O K F O R T R A I N E R S ©

Pamela Slim

15