Introverts & Extroverts in User Experience

Introverts & Extroverts
in User Experience
Mike Townson

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

I&E

Who is this guy?


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Mike Townson
UX Designer
I work at projekt202 and focus on
software research and design


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AUSTIN DALLAS SEATTLE


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I am an Extrovert!
I am married to an introvert
I work with introverts
There are introverts in my family
I used to think they were just wEiRd.


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What’s an extrovert?


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FERRIS
BUELLER

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BIG
BIRD

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STEVE
JOBS

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

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.”

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What’s an introvert?


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CAMERON
FRYE

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BURT

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STEVE

WOZNIACK

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

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.”


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Can you be a little of both?


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YUP

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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

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Why is this important?


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


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In Our Work Space


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Workspaces

Managing

Extroverts work well in an
energetic environment.

Designing

Networking

Introverts work well in a quiet &
comfortable space.

Q/A


I&E

Workspaces

Managing

Extroverts work well in an
energetic environment.

Designing

Networking

Introverts work well in a quiet &
comfortable space.

Q/A

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


I&E


I&E

Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Q/A

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

• 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


I&E

Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Quiet Time Blocks (suggestions)
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.

Q/A


I&E

Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Check with someone before
disturbing them
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.

Networking

Q/A

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


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Workspaces

Managing

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

Designing

Networking

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

Q/A


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Don’t be them: HoveringArtDirectors.tumblr.com

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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Phone calls in the oﬃce
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...

Networking
...so I got shot in the head a lot.
Q/A


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How To Manage
the I & E


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Managing a mixed team
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.

Networking

Q/A


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Managing a mixed team
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.

Networking

Q/A


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Q/A

Managing a large mixed team
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.
“Hey! Over here!!”


I&E

Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Q/A

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.


I&E

Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Let’s not alienate the ideas from
people who need more time.
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;DR
Brainstorms are great, just leave time afterwards for reﬁnement.

Q/A


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NOT

EVERYONE

ANYONE
IS DATA

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Designing For Them


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

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.

Q/A


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

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.

Q/A


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

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.

Networking

Q/A


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

Workspaces

You know what they say...

Managing

Designing

Networking

Q/A

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


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Examples of introvert friendly software

• Instant Messenger
• Spotify
• LinkedIn
• Evernote
• Match.com
• World Of Warcraft (any mmorpg)

Q/A


I&E

Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Examples of extrovert friendly software

• Skype (video conference)
• Instagram
• SnapChat
• Meetup.com

Networking

Q/A


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


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

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

Q/A


I&E

Workspaces

Managing

Designing

How can an introvert network?
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

Networking

Q/A


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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Q/A

Use Tools
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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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Q/A

Use Extrovert Friends
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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LISTEN
TO THEM
Spotify Link: spoti.ﬁ/1dysMdX

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Workspaces

Managing

Designing

Networking

Q/A

Practice Makes Perfect
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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http://theoatmeal.com/pl/brain/name

Workspaces

Managing

No...it’s not easy. PRACTICE!
It comes naturally for me and I still
suck sometimes.

Designing

Networking

Q/A


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As an extrovert, I wanted to learn more
about my introvert friends and became
fascinated by our diﬀerences.


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


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Questions?
Extroverts:
Yell them out really
loud while waving
your hands in the air.

Introverts:
Tweet or email me.


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Introverts & Extroverts in User Experience

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