Is there someone in your office who is warm, emotional, and sometimes easily upset? Do they work best without distractions, are they creative in finding solutions, and are they sometimes distracted by 'small' things that others wouldn't notice?
Or do you fit that description yourself? (take the testIf that is the case, chances are high that it involves a highly sensitive person – and this might be your company's greatest asset.
High sensitivity in the workplace
What does it really mean to be highly sensitive?
Simply put, high sensitivity means that your brain More information more thoroughly process. The result is that an HSP is more engaged with small changes in the environment, including the emotions of others. It also means that they tend to process their own experiences very deeply – highly sensitive people are known to be thoughtful, careful decision-makers, as well as strong emotional beings.
It even turns out that physical sensitivity and emotional sensitivity are the same trait in many respects. They are so closely related that if you take paracetamol for dull physical pain, you score lower on an empathy test until the medication wears off.
Read here; What is a highly sensitive person
Attentiveness is a typical characteristic
Of course, we are all sensitive to some extent. But sensitivity exists on a continuum, and some people are more sensitive than others. At least 20% of people are wired to be highly sensitive, and their minds act as powerful processors that take in everything around them.
Psychologists view high sensitivity as a normal, healthy trait, and in many ways, it reveals the best parts of what makes us human. In the workplace, however, these highly sensitive people (HSPs) are often seen as a burden – despite the enormous hidden strengths that sensitive employees bring to the table.
Highly sensitive employees are undervalued
Ask a highly sensitive person what it is like to be sensitive at work and you will get very revealing answers. You will then see a number of typical situations;
- HSPs discover mistakes that others miss,
- They see changes coming long before they take place,
- It is as if they “read” customers like books.
The fact that they are sensitive to subtle cues gives them an edge that can sometimes seem uncanny. Highly sensitive employees are also often among the most creative members of their teams.
Read here: the talents of highly sensitive employees
The need for more time and space
However, instead of encouraging these qualities, many highly sensitive employees find that their managers focus on the downsides. Because they process information so deeply, HSPs usually need some extra time to think things over before starting a new assignment. For the same reason, they experience extra stress due to tight deadlines.
Without coaching, highly sensitive employees can struggle to handle conflicts – whether it is a colleague chewing gum too loudly or a campaign battle with a competitor. These are all things that sensitive people can overcome with support and guidance, but this is rarely offered. Instead, they are told to 'harderto become orto grow a thicker skin'.
