Introverts & Extroverts in User Experience

Introverts & Extroverts

Mike Townson

miketownson.com - @miketownson - slideshare.net/MikeTownson | January 24, 2014 I&E

in User Experience

Who is this guy?

miketownson.com - @miketownson - slideshare.net/MikeTownson | January 24, 2014 I&E

http://www.slideshare.net/MikeTownson


Mike TownsonUX Designer

I work at projekt202 and focus on software research and design

I&Emiketownson.com - @miketownson - slideshare.net/MikeTownson | January 24, 2014



AUSTIN DALLAS SEATTLE




I am an Extrovert!

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I am married to an introvert

I work with introverts

There are introverts in my family

I used to think they were just wEiRd.

miketownson.com - @miketownson - slideshare.net/MikeTownson | January 24, 2014



What’s an extrovert?




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FERRIS BUELLERmiketownson.com - @miketownson - slideshare.net/MikeTownson | January 24, 2014



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BIGBIRD




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STEVEJOBS




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Extroverts according to Myers-Briggs“I like getting my energy from active

involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. I’m excited when I’m

around people and I like to energize other people. I like moving into action and making things happen. I generally feel at

home in the world.”

http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/extraversion-or-introversion.asp






What’s an introvert?




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CAMERON FRYE


http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0005863/?ref_=tt_cl_t2






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BURTmiketownson.com - @miketownson - slideshare.net/MikeTownson | January 24, 2014



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STEVEWOZNIACKmiketownson.com - @miketownson - slideshare.net/MikeTownson | January 24, 2014



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Introverts according to Myers-Briggs“I like getting my energy from dealing with

the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel

comfortable with.”







Can you be a little of both?




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YUPmiketownson.com - @miketownson - slideshare.net/MikeTownson | January 24, 2014



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Not everyone is just one or the other.Most of us are a little bit of both.

By now you probably know what you are.

But if not...




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Find your personality: bit.ly/1hVmWth


http://d.pr/vyhn

http://d.pr/vyhn



Why is this important?




This is the core of who we design for and the people we work with.




In Our Work Space


Extroverts work well in an energetic environment.

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Introverts work well in a quiet & comfortable space.

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Extroverts work well in an energetic environment.

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Introverts work well in a quiet & comfortable space.

But, we all work in the same space...

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How can we have a more friendly work environment for all personality types?

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•Quiet time blocks•Check with someone over IM/email

before coming over to talk with them.

•Huddle rooms for quick conversations

•Phone “booths” for conference calls

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Quiet Time Blocks (suggestions)

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Allows heads-down work to be done from 8am-lunch time:•No large gathering in main room •No NERF gun shooting•No victory yells•No distractions from getting some

serious shit done.

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Check with someone before disturbing them

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Contacting someone over a non-disruptive media (that can be ignored if need be) is a way to see if someone is “deep” in thought/work and needs that time to not be disturbed.

Pro tip: Obviously if there is a fire you should let them know too...

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Use huddle rooms

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Moving your conversations to a room is always better than crowding your team member’s desk.

It also keeps you from doing the awkward chair-scoot or getting your picture posted on:hoveringartdirectors.tumblr.com

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Don’t be them: HoveringArtDirectors.tumblr.com




Phone calls in the office

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Nothing is more distracting than a phone call in the middle of a work area.

I know, because I used to do it to my introvert co-workers all the time...

...so I got shot in the head a lot.

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How To Manage

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the I & E


Extroverts will most likely let you know when something is wrong, or if something is bothering them. Being vocal and open is just part of being an extrovert.

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Managing a mixed teamWorkspaces

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Introverts sometimes need to be asked about issues. Managers should be more aware of issues and check in with introverts to gather intel on how projects and general work-life is going.

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Managing a mixed teamWorkspaces

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Extroverts can overpower a room so make sure everyone gets the time to have input on a problem or help with a solution.

Not everyone will want to speak at that time, especially an introvert. Make some time to circle back with the ones that didn’t give input at the time.

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“Hey! Over here!!”

Managing a large mixed teamWorkspaces

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Planning project schedules

Make an effort to build in project time to take into account the differences in need of an extrovert vs. introvert.*

Think about what an introvert might need and what an extrovert might need in order to do the job to the best of their abilities.

*This is not easy...duh. That’s why you’re a bad ass.

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Let’s not alienate the ideas from people who need more time.

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In an industry that relies on fast ideas, sometimes those are not the best.

Our introvert co-workers need time to compile data and make an educated decision before submitting an idea.

TL;DRBrainstorms are great, just leave time afterwards for refinement.

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NOT EVERYONE

ANYONEIS DATA




Designing For Them


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Let’s do some User Research

When conducting user research, personality types are sometimes left out of defining factors on why people like or dislike something.

Make sure you are not just thinking of where and why people are using a product, but the emotional want/need for it.

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Designing for someone you’re not.

As an extreme extrovert, it’s hard for me to design for an introvert, so I use data and research to sanity check my decisions.

The world is extrovert driven. It’s not fair, but it is. If we are to be truly empathetic to the user, we should think about introverts more.

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Contextual Inquires can help.

Extroverts are going to tell you what they want. Just because they are speaking up doesn’t mean it is right.

Observe users in their environment to find out what they really need.

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You know what they say...

If Henry Ford had asked customers what they wanted, they’d said “A faster horse”.

http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/Horse-Buggy.jpg

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Examples of introvert friendly software

• Instant Messenger

•Spotify

•LinkedIn

•Evernote

•Match.com

•World Of Warcraft (any mmorpg)

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Examples of extrovert friendly software

•Skype (video conference)

• Instagram

•SnapChat

•Meetup.com

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Networking

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(no, not the kind you need ethernet for.)


Extroverts live for networking:•Small talk•Swapping stories•Talking about yourself•Talking about ANYTHING•Keeping up with your contacts•Remembering names & aspirations

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Having a strong networkWorkspaces

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You can decide if it is important to you. Let’s say it is:•Use tools that make it easy•Get help from more extroverted friends•Practice makes perfect

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How can an introvert network?Workspaces

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I usually don’t add people on LinkedIn unless I know them, but I will if they send me an email explaining why they think it’s important to connect.

I have an extremely well connected friend @nathansmith who has many times helped connect me to someone.

The Twitter community is awesome like that.

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Use ToolsWorkspaces

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I naturally want to “hook people up” with someone I think they will like.

So ask the friends who like to put themselves out there for help. They won’t mind.

Kinda like how I want everyone to listen to the band “The Shouting Matches”

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Use Extrovert FriendsWorkspaces

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LISTEN TO THEM

Spotify Link: spoti.fi/1dysMdX


http://d.pr/ZvCW

http://d.pr/ZvCW



Like leveling up your WOW character, talking to people takes practice.

Things to work on (for everyone):•Remembering names•What they do•Basic topic of conversation•Follow up later

Sounds silly, but remembering these go really far.

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Practice Makes PerfectWorkspaces

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It comes naturally for me and I still suck sometimes.

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No...it’s not easy. PRACTICE!

http://theoatmeal.com/pl/brain/name

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As an extrovert, I wanted to learn more about my introvert friends and became

fascinated by our differences.




“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” Gandhi, Mahatma




Questions?

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Extroverts:

Yell them out really loud while waving

your hands in the air.

Introverts:

Tweet or email me.




Technology

Introverts & Extroverts in User Experience