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Somewhere along the way, I realized that I didn’t need to feel guilty about not doing time management correctly. There is no one way to do it. After I shed the guilt I decided to experiment with different approaches to organizing my day.

Colored sticky notes, highlighters and whiteboards? Mindmaps, arrows and circles? They may look weird to others, but to my right brain they work just fine.

And technology helps. I found that using the full functionality of MS Outlook was a lifesaver. Now, as a Mac person, I am still amazed that my calendars synch through some sort of virtual cloud.

I think everyone has to create a fluid system that works for him or her. I also am encouraged that current time management gurus stress strategy over technique. Setting goals and honing in on priorities are what counts. Are you taking the time to sit down and plan your day? Are you working on the right things? Are you able to refocus when necessary?

We all have the same 24 hours. Style doesn’t matter as much as substance. Be open to new tools, create a system that works for you and lose the guilt. It just takes up valuable time.

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I have been hearing the cry of “enough already” from Introverts. Here is a well expressed example from an introverted virtual assistant.

“Much of my work as a virtual assistant involves social media these days. Initially, this was much easier for me to handle as an (extreme) introvert.  Strangely enough, I find that as friend counts climb and the volume of online communication grows, I react with the same sense of overwhelm, stress and exhaustion as I do to live or phone communications. Have you heard this from others?”, she asks.

I spoke with a social networking guru recently who told me the trend is moving away from massive social networks with random friends and towards more selective managable lists of contacts. He pointed me towards FourSquare, a cool application that lets you share places and updates with friends. This may be one answer for introverts (and extroverts alike) who want to get a handle on more meaningful connections.

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Applying the 4 ’s Process to Your Job Search

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Read the rest of my Friday WSJ guest column here: How To Manage An Introvert and let me know if you have other management tips for getting the best out of the innies on your team.

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(click here for more)

http://blog.pdus2go.com/2010/04/30/embrace-solitude/

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Fast forward a bit. I am sitting with Sam, a new executive coaching client. A bright, ivy league introverted guy who is managing people for the first time. He shares some feedback about being seen as too intense and intimidating.

I asked him to breathe. Sam squirmed in his chair but consciously took in air and let it out. I asked him to do it more slowly, more deliberately. We even breathed a few breaths at the same time. I encouraged Sam to check in with himself. “How do you feel?”, I asked. “Calmer,” he replied.

That is usually what happens when we conciously take in a breath. Since I smirked about my breathing book gift, I have gotten into yoga. The practice of yoga is all about integrating breathing with movement and quieting the mind. It works. Breathing helps us to focus on the moment we are in – in my book I refer to Presence…being where your feet are. When you are aware of your breathing it is impossible to be nervous or to be revved up.

What else does breathing do? The effect rubs off on the people around you. You are seen as in control and not frantic (even though you might be feeling somewhat like that).

Sam left my office with a tool to try on at work.  He is just tapping into a natural  resource that is free and always readily available. Try it and see the results – a calmer, more focused  you.

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As a proud introvert, Sheri relates to the great blue heron. This bird will stalk prey slowly and deliberately. They are solitary or small-group foragers. While the geese are loudly squawking, or doing what geese do, she thinks about the blue heron and it gives her a sense of peace.

I mentioned this in my recent newsletter and received some interesting reactions. Here is sampling:

From Bob Cady: ” Read your newsletter and enjoyed your jottings. Keep it up. The Blue Heron story reminds me that each of us believes in the stories that feature US. Isn’t it the truth. The eagle is shaking its head about that slow old bird. No wonder he’s so thin. Doesn’t eat much…the ‘tortoise and the hare’ is supposed to be a fable about sticking to it and relentless pursuit of goals. The Intros love the tortoise. We are supposed to reject the hare because it is reckless and thoughtless. However, each has its good and bad points, as we all do. That Blue Heron…..is just doing its thing. The extroverted, fast acting eagle also has a nature….The Heron is not, after all  the symbol of our country. In most of the stories you read, the character that is the quiet, introverted, slow, low voiced speaker when the President needs someone to solve the world crisis, is the one chosen to lead the exercise….”

From Kathy Greider: “Thanks for the great blue story — made me think about when I worked in an office. I always surrounded myself with as much nature as possible (plants, sea shells, round beach stones and lots of photos)  when I was upset I would find myself rubbing the shells and stones to calm down.  It always worked — and still does….Thanks for sharing this — maybe it will help others.”

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After lots of emails, and several stops and starts, they arrived at my home office  to film me on Saturday.  I was asked all about what  strengths introverts have, why some leaders are considered introverts and what managers can do to bring out introverts.

Laurie Nichols, non-profit consultant extroadinare, participated in an exec coaching session with me as the film crew documented our dialogue. We had a few “lost in translation” moments, but for the most part, Jinwoo, our interpretor and asst. producer did great. Even introvert husband Bill got into the act as the crew wanted to see how I’s and E’s live together. They also interviewed Kim Bui, Exec Producer at CNN, who has such respect as a calm, level headed manager in the company.

I love the universality of the introverted leadership theme. Language is no barrier when we strive to deepen our understanding of temperaments.

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