Research from Apogee Corporation has suggested that workplace environments are preventing different personality types from succeeding at work, leading to significant collaboration challenges, a drain on productivity, and potential loss of talent. Overall, 79 per cent of workers encounter issues with meeting technology when trying to collaborate with others, which has led to as many as 84 per cent of extroverts being unable to work productively when remote. Eight-in-ten (80 per cent) workers also have challenges when using office devices and equipment, as 86 per cent introverts fail to see their productivity improve while working in the office.
The importance of different technology in allowing employees to reach their potential at work also depends on their personality types. Nearly one-in-three (30 per cent) introverts say remote technology is what gives them a platform to communicate more confidently, with a further 43 per cent saying they can voice ideas and feelings more freely when remote, which compares to just 28 per cent of extroverts.
However, the remote technology currently being provided to employees is blocking effective collaboration amongst workers. Among the main issues reported by staff are a poor experience compared to in-person interaction (22 per cent), insufficient engagement from others (21 per cent), and poor audio (19 per cent).
Because of the issues they face, this has left over a quarter (27 per cent) of employees simply unable to collaborate effectively at all, and this is even impacting on their likelihood to want to stay in their current role. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of extroverts even say that they have looked for job opportunities elsewhere due to the inability to collaborate effectively, and 22 per cent of them say it’s preventing them progressing career opportunities.
The findings suggest that remote meeting technology is unable to cater to extroverts’ needs for interaction and engagement, which highlights a critical gap as 31 per cent of them see collaborating with others as the definition of workplace success.
“Carefully selected technology solutions are key to ensuring that the future workplace is ready to meet individuals’ needs and provide a more balanced and supportive environment for everyone to succeed. No employee is the same. Everyone approaches tasks at work differently and therefore face different challenges when it comes to collaborating with colleagues and maintaining productivity. Yet there is clearly a need for more adaptable solutions that match diverse working styles and needs.” says Carl Day, Chief Sales Officer, Apogee Corporation.
The shortfall in tools is also impacting workers’ ability to complete day-to-day tasks, with 43 per cent of introverts failing to agree they have the appropriate tools to meet their targets, which is the same for 38 per cent of extroverts. Overall, 25 per cent of workers fail to agree that they have the appropriate tools in place to collaborate with others.
“Business leaders should assess their current workplace and consider whether it is giving them a platform to use their skills effectively. The right digital solutions will build a workspace that provides those with introverted qualities more confidence, and those with extroverted personalities an opportunity for better engagement, regardless of whether they are in the office or at home,” concludes Day.
As part of the survey, workers were also asked to report their attitudes toward AI. The findings reveal that twice as many extroverts (32 per cent) versus introverts (16 per cent) are excited about its potential, leading organisations to carefully consider emerging technology deployments in the workplace.
The research was conducted among 1,001 employees in the UK working for mid-size businesses with 500+ staff.
