There’s a compelling infographic over at MyTurnstone.com that compares and contrasts two very different personality types and how they like to work. It’s not surprising to find that extroverts prefer an office environment that’s bustling and active. Introverts, on the other hand, tend to do their best work when they have more solitude. It’s not that they don’t like to collaborate or don’t know how to be a part of a team. They just don’t cope as well when they are forced to process a great deal of outward stimuli (especially social interaction) when they are trying to work.
In a 2012 article posted over at atlanticcities.com, Allison Arieff points out that 1 out of 4 people may be introverts. That’s a pretty hefty chunk of your workforce. But it’s not just these less social types who desire a little more personal space. She also points out that most employees of all personality types seem to prefer some form of separation from their colleagues. All but the most gregarious are daunted at the prospect of a completely open office with no dividers. In general, people want to socialize by choice, not because they have zero privacy. So, by being kind to your office introverts and offering the option of privacy panels, you’ll actually be making all your workers happier.