Introverted at an extroverted workplace - Nashipai's story

Kelly Nashipai, a 24-year-old event planner was not always introverted as a child.

But growing up, with time, she actually preferred her alone time.

“In high school, people called me quiet and shy. Teachers insisted that I was in a shell and that I needed to come out. That really made me uncomfortable,” she told the Star.

“As an adult, I am exactly the same way, only this time; I have learned to embrace my introverted side.”

Event planning is one of those careers that being an extrovert is a no brainier.

While extroverts do make up a large portion of wedding and event planners, introverts, according to Nashipai may have a hard time navigating the field at first.

“I have also learnt that introverts are not necessarily shy, and being the quiet one isn’t a bad thing, as long as you get the job done,” she said.

“At my workplace, am surrounded by many extroverts than introverts, I don’t feel like keeping up with them, but sometimes I feel like I have no choice.”

Nashipai said she had to learn how to embrace and appreciate her quiet personality and accepted that we can’t all be the same.

“Sometimes extroverts can be brutal, they can choose to embarrass you or say out loud, ‘Why are you so quiet! Or Are you okay? Which sometimes can be intimidating, I have learned, I also have value and I stand up for myself in certain cases,” she says.

She advised introverts to prepare themselves mentally before interacting with intimidating persons and always offer the right body language.

"Showing confidence is key. Fake it till you make it," Nashipai says.

“Engaging with other introverts in the office, my whole mindset changed. I learnt that when introverts embrace their positive qualities, it actually becomes their strengths,” she said.

Maintain eye contact and focus on how the other person is feeling, with time you get to gain some confidence.

“I stopped wasting my energy on things I don’t want to do. And this belief that extroverts have better personality types, is not a fact. I believe if we can change the way we think about our personalities, our lives can also change,” she said.

Although it’s not an easy way to navigate that in this chaotic world as an introvert, once you ease the negative self-talk and listen to your needs, it will be beneficial in knowing who you truly are just like Nashipai