Being loud

Oliver Stohlmann’s Corporate Survival Hacks series draws on experiences of working in local, regional, and global life sciences communications to offer some little tips for enjoying a big business career. In this posting, he encourages people to remain true to themselves, their natural needs and styles, and inclusive of peers who contribute unique value in their own ways.

Attending the wonderful, buzzing Frontiers Health 2024 conference in Berlin, Germany, recently brought back a lot of memories of my career spent in global pharma corporations. From early on in this industry, not a native speaker of the English language, I felt the pressure and dire need to compete with all these ‘loud’, ‘always ready’ characters who typically made up my peer groups in various companies.

Then, when I had the opportunity of building and leading teams of my own, I faced tough decisions: Should I go with this brilliantly educated, knowledgeable, experienced person – but who seemed a tad reluctant during the interview – or with the egregious, seemingly outgoing, fun, extrovert candidate, whose professional credits were less convincing?

Diverse views matter

At J&J, I ‘inherited’ a team of outstanding professionals. Brilliant people. Experienced and confident every one of them. Except one. A lady who’d remain quiet for a long time. She’d not openly compete with any of us in discussion. She’d remain listening, courteous, reluctant even, appearing hesitant at times.

This colleague would typically take a long time just listening, taking in, digesting. But when she started contributing, she’d add unique value. She’d bring forward new perspectives none of the other team members had thought of. In short, it was well worth awaiting her contributions. They’d often change the discussion completely. They frequently introduced entirely new ideas and solutions. I wouldn’t miss them for the world. They mattered.

Or take my peer at AstraZeneca’s global R&D leadership team from China, who had this amazing cultural quality of staying respectfully ‘quiet’ through long stretches of animated meetings and offsites, to then get up, walk to the flip chart or white board, and present a distinctly unique view no one had seen through hours of vivid exchange. I loved it. Everyone was listening.

Being quiet

This just goes to say: never underestimate those quieter people. As for Susan Cain’s best-selling book “Quiet”, there are lots of people who seek intensity and who, in some cultures, are typically regarded as ‘energetic’, ‘determined’, ‘focused’ achievers and goal-getters. And then there are others who seek the opposite.

The former’s idea of a brilliant evening out may be a party with dozens of people, to fly around like a bee from flower to flower, chit-chatting from conversation to conversation, just exchanging a sentence or two in each. While the idea of a good night out for the low intensity-seeking might be a dinner with just one opposite. A deep, meaningful conversation that lasts the whole evening.

Cain’s book is my absolute recommendation for everyone. A true eye-opener. You will learn so much about (1) yourself, (2) your partner, (3) your family, and (4) your colleagues. Go, read it. Life will never be the same. I promise.

Don’t be loud. Be yourself. Be inclusive

My conclusion, having worked in various regions and corporate settings: don’t be loud. Be yourself. Be decent. Be hard-working. Be smart. Be honest. But never feel you have to be louder than your peers.

And definitely be inclusive. Allow for diverse styles, thinking, and contributions. Enjoy different views and opinions. Make sure to include those ‘quieter’ colleagues. They have a lot to offer. They just contribute in their own, unique ways. True innovation never comes from everyone thinking and acting alike.

And if you must be loud, be loud at the right moment. Know when to switch on that confidence. Know when to dial it back again to let others shine. I’ve always been a big believer in bringing together people of diverse experiences. A high-performing team always requires members of diverse backgrounds, upbringing, education, characters, and beliefs to collaborate effectively, challenge established views, and create true innovation.