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How do you cope as an introvert in HR in an extroverted culture?

Richard
Hi All,
I was just wondering how any of you who have a more introverted personality cope with a company that has a extroverted kind of culture (I can't really think of a better way to describe it).
I've just taken a new role and like to think that I was hired for my relevant skills such as employment law knowledge, recruitment ability, advisory skills, etc but I'm starting to wonder if they thought they were also getting someone who will be the life and soul of the party, run the social committee and that sort of thing.
To be completely honest I am terrified of public speaking and I don't really have any desire to be seen if that makes sense but I am starting to feel (and worry) that my remit is also to plan and run social events. As someone in my mid 40s with a young baby, at this stage in my career and life it just feels like too much on top of an already insane workload.
Someone has approached me today and suggested a quiz at the next company all-hands, sounds good and happy to support it but upon suggesting it, they want me to essentially organise it all and have suggested I be the quizmaster which is massively out of my comfort zone.
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  • I replied to your post on r/HumanResourcesUK about this!

    Event organizing can almost always be delegated. I guarantee that there are people in your organization who would love to do this for you. Find them, give them a budget and some clear parameters and let them get on with it. All you have to do is check in with them occasionally to make sure they are meeting deadlines. Similar with quiz nights. There is bound to be an enthusiastic quizzer somewhere who would love to put it together.

    As for public speaking, being an introvert isn't incompatible with being a confident public speaker (any more than being an extrovert makes one a good public speaker). This requires practice and exposure. Stage fright and the shakes are common to anyone new to public speaking, regardless of personality type, and they go away the more time you spend in front of an audience.

    For an introvert, public speaking may be exhausting, mentally, but it isn't an unachievable skill. And for any HR professional who aspire to rise above the level of an Advisor/Coordinator it really is essential as you'll be called upon to present papers, lead training or answer questions at a tribunal.
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  • I replied to your post on r/HumanResourcesUK about this!

    Event organizing can almost always be delegated. I guarantee that there are people in your organization who would love to do this for you. Find them, give them a budget and some clear parameters and let them get on with it. All you have to do is check in with them occasionally to make sure they are meeting deadlines. Similar with quiz nights. There is bound to be an enthusiastic quizzer somewhere who would love to put it together.

    As for public speaking, being an introvert isn't incompatible with being a confident public speaker (any more than being an extrovert makes one a good public speaker). This requires practice and exposure. Stage fright and the shakes are common to anyone new to public speaking, regardless of personality type, and they go away the more time you spend in front of an audience.

    For an introvert, public speaking may be exhausting, mentally, but it isn't an unachievable skill. And for any HR professional who aspire to rise above the level of an Advisor/Coordinator it really is essential as you'll be called upon to present papers, lead training or answer questions at a tribunal.
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