‘My boss nags at me every day’ — SG worker says, ‘I’m feeling stuck’ because ‘I’m an introvert, I prefer texting my boss rather than talking to him’

SINGAPORE: Some jobs are tough because of the workload. Others: It’s the soundtrack of constant nagging from your boss that wears you down. That’s when the daily grind feels more like the daily nag.

An operations administrator in Singapore took to Reddit’s r/singaporejobs to vent about a struggle not uncommon in today’s open-concept, overly chatty office culture: The emotional burnout of being an introvert surrounded by people who expect you to be the opposite.

“I’ve been working as an operations administrator for over a year now, and work has been particularly challenging over the past few weeks,” the Singaporean wrote. “Not because the job itself is difficult, but because my boss has been making it harder.” Harder because, “He nags at me almost every day,” the worker explained. “Sometimes, over customer requests, at other times when I miss out on some stuff, and even when I ask questions. Sometimes I have to think twice before asking anything.”

What makes things worse is that, unlike extroverts who thrive on face-to-face sparring and verbal rapid-fire, this employee processes the world in quieter tones. “I’m an introvert, and I feel much more comfortable texting than sending voice messages (or talking to him directly), so that’s been a struggle for me too.”

Text me, don’t test me

The job isn’t a walk in the park either. It involves constant coordination with customers, workers, suppliers, and, of course, his toxic chatter boss — a recipe that would stretch anyone’s social battery.

Compared to their previous role: “I recall when I was working as an accounts administrator elsewhere; it wasn’t even close to being this hard.”

What stings most is the mismatch between effort and outcome. “People always say you’ll build confidence when you step out of your comfort zone and try things you normally wouldn’t dare to do,” the worker noted. “But for me, it feels like the more I try, the more confidence I lose.”

Feeling stuck in the noise

Despite browsing job portals, nothing has stood out to him. “I just feel so stuck right now,” the post concluded.

It’s a quiet cry from someone whose silence shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness — only someone trying to navigate a world built for loud voices, while holding on to their own.

Advice for the overwhelmed introvert at work

Set boundaries with professionalism, not resistance

If the boss is consistently nagging about missed details or interruptions, try sending regular short updates before they ask. It creates the illusion of control on their end — and calm on yours. It’s about steering the conversation rather than avoiding it. This echoes insight from Susan Cain, an American author and speaker known for her work on introversion, who advises checking in regularly even if frequent updates don’t feel natural.

If texting is your strength — use it strategically

If you feel more comfortable communicating via text, that preference is supported by Cain’s research, which states that many introverts communicate better through writing than through immediate verbal responses. So after a meeting or call, send a brief written summary: “Hi boss, just to confirm from our chat, I’ll be doing X, Y and Z by Friday.” It brings clarity and builds a written trail.

Don’t wait for confidence; create calm habits instead

Confidence grows through consistent daily action, and as Cain says, introverts often excel when they embrace thoughtful, structured approaches. So use checklists, status updates, and quiet reflection to build those daily wins one step at a time. Those wins do compound.

Your exhaustion is valid — but don’t confuse burnout with failure

Introverts aren’t weak because they prefer less stimulation. Cain’s work shows that many workplaces are biased towards the extrovert ideal — meaning that if you feel drained, it may be the role that misfits you, rather than you failing.

Don’t settle for “stuck”

Browsing job portals is fine — but stay active. Update your résumé, highlighting strengths like organisation, writing clarity, and coordination — areas in which introverts often excel. And seek roles or teams that value quieter communication.

Read related: ‘If you’re not confident, then get lost! People like you will never succeed! Stay poor!’ — CEO brutally rejects SG job applicant for being honest