This Personality Type Always Gets The Promotion

It’s a familiar scenario in most workplaces: A few employees whose skills and performance seem average keep getting promoted — sometimes over their top-performing colleagues.

There can be a number of reasons for this, but bestselling management author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch says there’s a particularly common one. The people speeding ahead, she tells CNBC Make It, tend to be “happy extroverts.” It’s a personality type that gives some people “a real career advantage.”

She says she first observed this 30 years ago when she noticed that it wasn’t the smartest person among her Harvard Business School classmates who got hired first, but rather the most popular. These people, she says, were “the ones who were outgoing and friendly — warm, authentic and highly verbal — the ones who planned the beach picnics and tracked you down after class to compliment you on a good answer.”

At first, Welch says, she found this dynamic irritating. “I remember calling home and moaning, ‘Mom, I don’t think my grades here actually count at all!’”

But since then, she says, “I’ve watched the happy extrovert phenomenon play out in companies of every kind. And now, as a boss myself, I understand why.”

“Organizations run so much better when teamwork is high and drama is low,” says Welch. “Happy extroverts help make that happen.” And when these individuals over-deliver on their work, they can become, ultimately, a boss’s “favorite type of employee.”

But Welch says if you’re an introvert there’s no need to despair. “Two of my own kids are your comrades, and they’ve done just fine professionally.” In addition to performing at a high level, she says her introverted kids also “make sure to tell everyone, bosses included, not to mistake their reserve for negativity.”

“They’re in the game, they just communicate differently,” she says. “You have to say this kind of thing out loud. And also, remember to smile much more than you think you have to. People cannot read your mind, but they sure can read your face.”

In the long run, Welch says, “talent almost always wins.” That means, “if you’re on the anti-social side but you’re good — really, really good — eventually organizations take notice.”

Until then, she says, your colleagues who are happy extroverts will almost always have an edge. “Your boss may not tell you,” Welch says, “but hey — that’s what I’m here for.”

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Suzy Welch: There’s a specific type of employee that always gets the promotion—here’s why | CNBC Make It.

[itsasetup]

Only promotions I’ve gotten Ive initiated myself. By finding another job that pays more with more responsibility. I usually give it about 3 yrs, if i don’t smell any signs of a promotion, i leave. Life is short. In the end, put #1 first.

[tee-emkay]

I'm an introvert and very reserved, but I'm the 1 who always gets promoted. I'm now the boss. So hang in there my follow introverts.

[saulgoodman]

So like school, a popularity contest.

[Reneza]

Happy extroverts and being attractive really helps. I've seen people go really far just on those alone.

[swatichauhan]

What I know is that people who are more serious mostly quiet and be in the limits of work. People respect these people more and are also afraid of such people.

And these people are dedicated, hard and smart working introverts. Introverts are the most productive people so don't underestimate them for promotion.

[MissCane]

Any boss who places personality over principle should not be in a position of authority.

[peterframpton]

I think another thing you have to understand about getting promoted in companies...it is also about fitting in and having "it". Most people in organizations cannot describe what "it" is but notice how some people just fit into the corporate structure and others don't?
People want to retain and promote workers they can be buddies with. Very high school-ish.

[racr]

Should be titled why managers tend to not promote the most competent employees or how clueless management practices lead to losing out highly productive employees.

[germanher]

never be the guy who your boss NEEDS cause giving you a promotion will be AGAINST HIS INTEREST

[anamelissavideo]

Society needs to stop seeing introversion, being reserved, and being quiet like they're disabilities!!! There's nothing wrong with your personality type/characteristics

[SoCalFreelance]

Happy extroverts, otherwise known as office distractors. They are the ones that migrate from desk to desk and chat up BS half the day while productive introverts are trying to accomplish their work and have to put on headphones to drown out the noise!!

[drewconway]

I really hate it when people use the term "anti-social" to refer to introverts. We're not "anti" anything. I'm an introvert and I still enjoy the company of others, just not a bunch of randos all at once.

[soumyakanti]

Be nice to colleagues. Be amiable and sensitive to your boss. Butter him/her sometimes. Be reasonably good at your job and have a basic level of commitment towards your job. That's going to make you stand out, because most people don't do these things

[rickys]

the workforce rewards the overly extroverted over introverts

[whfwidn]

Being an introvert sucks. On so many levels.

[JanooseCanada]

This happened to me.i am introvert i hardly communicate with boss and did my own thing. Ended up boss brought in HR put me on a three month improvement plan with list of things to improve on with speaking at every meeting being one. There is a guy who is the happy extrovert my boss promoted quickly who doesn't have much work experience being only 25 years old. Anyways I got two job offers on the same day so I left my previous job before the three month was up. This job I accepted offer is a promotion. Went from consultant to project manager so being introvert has its perks too!! It is because of my technical skills and work experience I got this job. That boss has a favorite who she promoted quickly I am pretty sure being only 26 years old would not be able to land this job.

[thefluffykirbyprincess]

When I look at all my managers, this is so true.

[BillyT]

I'm in sales and one thinks of salespeople as exactly this type as the most successful. Wrong. Study after study shows ambiverts (Of which I am one) make the best salespeople by far. They have the ability to speak AND listen. I"ve seen this type in the video promoted, however...we call them "brownnosers".

[mihirpatel]

Can’t say I agree with this completely. I am a happy extrovert and have succeeded in most aspects of my life except for my career. After excelling at the early stages of my career, My career has become stagnant over the last 10 years and don’t foresee a promotion before I retire.

[bbjyxbs]

this is so true. i’ve seen this happen in the workplace many times.