Great Lakes Wire

The term "otrovert" is gaining attention as a new way to describe personality types in the workplace. Traditionally, employees have been categorized as introverts, who prefer solitude and introspection, or extroverts, who thrive on social interaction. Ambiverts fall somewhere in between these two categories. However, the concept of otroverts suggests there are individuals whose behaviors do not fit into these traditional definitions.

Mount Sinai psychiatrist Rami Kaminski introduced the term in his book The Gift of Not Belonging. He defines otroverts as people “who don’t feel the obligation to merge their identities with others.” Unlike introverts or extroverts, otroverts do not base their energy levels on interactions with others but instead bring independent thinking and creativity to their work.

Otroverts tend to prefer one-on-one interactions over large group settings and often feel detached from typical team rituals. They may not respond positively to standard team-building events but can contribute significantly through meaningful individual engagements.

Mary E. Corrado writes that recognizing otroverts allows leaders to better design work environments that support diverse working styles. She notes, “Understanding otroverts in the workplace can help leaders tailor their work environment allowing them to thrive.”

By considering different engagement strategies—such as smaller meetings or independent projects—employers can maximize the strengths of otroverts. This approach supports a more inclusive culture where those who feel different still have space to influence outcomes.

For more information and resources on this topic, readers can visit the News & Resources section on the Small Business Association of Michigan website at https://www.sbam.org/news-resources/.