Highly Sensitive People: Hidden Treasure in the Workplace
Key insights into leading highly sensitive people
“My manager provides mostly negative feedback. When they use statements such as “you are not assertive enough”, they make me feel ashamed. When I am told “the company cares just about performance, and you should adjust to that”, I lose motivation. Sometimes such situations come during times I need support the most. However, I can’t imagine sharing my feelings because I am worried I would be labelled as “too sensitive”. After such conversations, I feel inadequate and deflated for days. I feel like I am not good enough in my role and that my work has no meaning.”
This is me. Not only was I leading highly sensitive people throughout my career, but I am one of them too. Unless communicated empathically, I react emotionally to judgements and criticism. I am easily overwhelmed by sensations and need a break and time alone after a whole day spent in meetings. I can easily read emotions in the room. By going into the depth of things, I can sometimes bring unique perspectives, but it also exhausts me. Besides that, I am fragrance and noise sensitive.
What I have just described is a highly sensitive person (HSP) profile. If it sounds familiar to you, chances are you might be a highly sensitive person too, like 20% of the population¹.
HSPs can often feel inadequate, not just in the workplace, but in today’s world in general. They might feel their emotions and needs don’t matter, because others don’t share their experience. Our society does not praise sensitivity and vulnerability. That’s why HSPs often hide their inner battles from the outside world in hope to be accepted and loved by others.
Hidden Treasures in the Workplace
High sensitivity is not a condition, a disorder or a diagnosis. It is a neutral trait that is inherited. Highly sensitive people are empathetic and intuitive. They can connect with others on a deep level. They actually long for such connections. Because they process more information from the environment, they might notice things others don’t.
“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”
— Friedrich Nietzsche
While these are all valuable strengths to leverage in the workplace, HSPs might be overlooked when it comes to career progression. Yet, they often belong to the top performers in the team. Because their nervous system is more sensitive, they might struggle with being overwhelmed. Some HSPs get exhausted by processing too much information. Some get overwhelmed by sensations and others by emotions. Sometimes it might be difficult for HSPs to distinguish their emotions from those of others. Therefore, it might be vital for them to cultivate emotional awareness, not to get lost in all the emotions that might not even be theirs.
HSPs need purpose at work and might be sensitive to criticism. By going into the depth of things, they can be very creative and bring unique insights. They also show strong personal integrity. With the right approach from their leaders, highly sensitive people can be a genuine treasure. Leaders that lack such awareness can unintentionally cause suffering to their sensitive employees.
What HSPs Need From Their Leaders
Highly sensitive people might struggle in open-plan offices because of all the noises, lights, and other people’s emotions around. We should support them in working in a calm environment. Encouraging them to take regular breaks can help them integrate all the information. Providing adequate working conditions for HSPs is a key to unveil their potential.
As leaders, we should always provide feedback with compassion and care. HSPs care deeply for others. Negative feedback can cause them pain, as they might feel they have disappointed us. Instead of expecting a reaction immediately, we should give our colleagues time to integrate and process our words. The next time we see each other, we can ask for a reaction.
HSPs can be sensitive to micromanagement. They need their work to be meaningful, as they often seek for a noble purpose. Because they care a lot about others, we can often find the purpose in this area.
HSPs take too much on their back, they might work late hours or over-delivering. They have a high risk of burnout. Not only the amount of work, but also their idealism and intense care for others might often lead to being a people pleaser. Sometimes this can simply be too much to handle.
HSPs might also be picky when it comes to eating. Because they sense the taste and texture of the food more, not because they would like to complicate things for others.
Often, HSPs won’t come and ask for more suitable working conditions. They might be worried that they would disappoint us, create a conflict situation, or feel too demanding. HSPs need our help to open up. They need us to be sensitive to what they say and pay attention to subtle hints. By bringing empathy and support into the conversations, we can build trust and allow HSPs to be themselves in the workplace. Unless we build a trustful relationship, HSPs’s potential won’t be unlocked. They might end up locked in their inner cage, not bothering us with their needs.
A Note on “Special Treatment” Dilemmas
One approach does not fit all. Offering the same conditions for all our employees does not mean being fair. There is no special treatment in making working conditions suitable for individuals. Highly sensitive people need us to be flexible and respectful in order to strive at work.
HSPs are very intuitive, empathetic, congruent and bring insights and creativity in the workplace. Once in a leadership position, they are often perceived as outstanding leaders. Yet, they rarely get a chance as they might be considered as too sensitive. High sensitivity might be still perceived as a weakness by some. HSPs can feel weak in today’s world, too. This is a loss. For all of us.
Special thanks to my dear colleague and friend Lenka, who provided me with brilliant suggestions for this article by being open and vulnerable about how she feels and what inner battles she fights in the workplace.
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[1] Aron EN. The highly sensitive person (HSP), how to thrive when the world overwhelms you. London: Harper Collins Publishers; 2003.
