Steven Claes – The A+ Introvert
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Steven Claes – The A+ Introvert - Async Rhythm

Steven Claes – The A+ Introvert - Async Rhythm

Everyone's talking. Your mind is racing. Another meeting kills your energy...

Steven Claes
September 20, 2025 • Reading Time: 7 minutes

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Hey there friend!

Your boss calls your name. "What do you think about the new onboarding process?"

Ten faces turn toward you. Your mind goes blank.

You know the answer. Had brilliant thoughts five minutes ago. But now? Nothing.

That familiar panic sets in. The one every introvert knows. When the spotlight hits and your brain just stops.

This happened to me years ago. It was a performance review calibration meeting. Legal wanted consistency. Finance needed budget impact. Talent wanted timeline adjustments.

All eyes on me for answers.

I felt that old drain starting. The energy leak every meeting brings.

So I tried something different.

I walked out. Opened a doc. Typed three lines:

>Status: Draft calibration complete. Comments welcome by Thursday.
>Impact: Unblocks manager reviews and promotion cycle.
>Next update: Friday afternoon.

Tagged the right people. Closed the tab. Took a quiet walk.

By midweek, the consistency checks were done.
Finance shared budget parameters.
By Friday, the toolkit launched.

No drain. No blank stares. Work done.

What I learned?

You don't need a louder voice. You need a clearer beat.

Post facts. Route work. Set the rhythm.

This saves your energy for conversations that matter. The ones that actually change culture.

This week, we build that steady beat together.

No performance.

No "always on."

Just async work that ships and leaves you energy to spare.

Today’s Focus

A light, repeatable async rhythm that protects introvert energy
A 3-step loop you can run in under 10 minutes
Scripts you can paste anywhere

A quote by Stephan Hawking on a dark background

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📊 Why async helps (and isn’t rude)

Meetings fill the calendar. One "quick sync" turns into hours of follow-ups (Link).

Most interruptions make us work faster but leave us frustrated and drained (Link).

Batching messages lowers stress. Checking communications in set windows gives back focus and calm (Link).

Async is a proven practice. Whole companies use it as their default (Link)

Makers need long stretches of focus. Short meetings shatter deep work (Link).

Plain English: Short, factual updates on a set schedule reduce interruptions and decision drag.

You get progress and quiet.

The A.R.C. Loop (10 minutes max)

Here’s the 10-minute beat that moves work without a meeting.

Three moves: Align the facts, Route to the owners, Cadence the next check-in.

One line, one tag, one time, then let it run.

Need	What to do	Why it helps
^{A — Align}^{(3 min)}	^{Write a one-line}^{Status → Impact → Next}^{in the doc: “Status: draft 80%. Impact: unblocks pricing. Next: review Thursday.”}	^{Names reality without a meeting; your team can react on their time}
^{R — Route}^{(3 min)}	_{Post where it matters and tag the owners. Add one link and a tiny ask ("Need input by 14:00").}	^{Work flows to the people who can move it; fewer side chats}
^{C — Cadence}^{(4 min)}	_{Set the next update time and stick to it: "Next update: Friday afternoon." Batch replies at those windows.}	^{Predictable rhythm means less back-and-forth and less battery drain}

🔧 Pocket scripts (paste anywhere)

“Update — Status: [one line]. Impact: [who/what]. Next: [action] by [time]. Next update: [when].”
“Decision needed: Option A vs B. Recommend A because [reason]. Will proceed at [time] unless I hear otherwise.”
“Docs first: comment in [location]. I’ll review at [time].”

A graphic showing the ARC loop on a light background

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📚 Introvert Fuel

Resource	What It Is	Why You Need It
📱 Tool	^{Automatic Check-ins}⁽^Link⁾	^{Builds a steady async beat}
📖 Read	^{A World Without Email}^{— Cal Newport}⁽*^Link*^).	^{Shows how to replace chatter with defined flows}
🎥 Watch	^{Jason Fried — “Why work doesn’t happen at work”}⁽^Link⁾	^{Makes the case for fewer meetings}

Resource

What It Is

Why You Need It

📱 Tool

^{Automatic Check-ins}⁽^Link⁾

^{Builds a steady async beat}

📖 Read

^{A World Without Email}^{— Cal Newport}⁽^Link^).

^{Shows how to replace chatter with defined flows}

🎥 Watch

^{Jason Fried — “Why work doesn’t happen at work”}⁽^Link⁾

^{Makes the case for fewer meetings}

🚀 Your 5-Day Async Challenge

Monday: Pick one project. Create an “Updates” section and post your first A.R.C. update.
Tuesday: Set two reply windows. Batch responses there.
Wednesday: Replace one status meeting with a check-in question and thread replies.
Thursday: Try the “Decision needed” script; close a loop without a call.
Friday: Do a ten-minute retro. What worked? What missed? Adjust your cadence for next week.

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💡 Next Week

“Quiet Authority”
How introverts set direction, earn trust, and keep teams steady (without raising their voice).

🎯 Final Thought

Async isn’t cold.
It’s considerate.

It gives people time to think, write a clear answer, and work without endless interruptions.

For introverts, that space is oxygen.
For teams, it’s momentum without the noise.

Try the A.R.C. loop on one project this week. Post one short update. Set the next time you’ll circle back.

Then watch what doesn’t happen: fewer “got a sec?” pings, fewer meetings that decide nothing, more work that actually ships.

What will your first async update say?

Hit reply and send me the one-liner. I read every note, even if it takes me a bit.

Quietly cheering you on,

— Steven

P.S. If this helped, share it with the colleague who hates meetings but can’t escape them.

P.P.S. Want more tips for introvert-friendly ways to work? Click here to connect with me directly.

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