The most common misconception about introverts

When I ask people to describe an introvert, they respond with adjectives like:

Shy
Antisocial
Quiet
Timid

While it's possible for some introverts to embody the above characteristics, it doesn't describe all of us.

I'm fact, introversion has little -- if anything -- to do with a person's personality. It's more about how they're wired.

Introverts draw energy from within. We're essentially powered by:

Solitude
Solitary pursuits
Being left alone with our thoughts

That being said, we don't necessarily leave parties early or skip them altogether because we loathe people.

We do it because, after a tiring day or week, it's the only way we can recharge our batteries.

Actors/actresses like Steve Martin and Meryl Streep are confirmed introverts. Given their profession, do you think they detest interacting with people? If that were true, I'm sure they'd have quit long ago.

Large crowds and noisy environments are especially draining for us -- thus the reason we're partial to small groups and remote work.

It isn't lost on us that human beings are social creatures. We love having great relationships with friends, relatives, and colleagues. But too much social discourse leaves us over-stimulated and in need of rest.

It's for this reason that introverts find it so difficult to work/remain in certain high-visibility professions like teaching and sales. We instead thrive behind the scenes in roles that stress written skills and research as opposed to verbal communication and promotion.

In a world seemingly tailor-made for extroverts, who derive energy from outside themselves, introverts will always be misunderstood. There's no way around it.

But people can do their part to try and understand introverts rather than label and dismiss them. Because, at the end of the day, we have a host of gifts to offer the world, both personally and professionally.

The stigma of introversion -- much like that regarding mental health in a broader sense -- needs to be put to bed once and for all. Indeed, introversion is far from a character flaw. It's simply a function of our make-up.

Comments

Introverts, find your voice -- and let it be heard!

Introverts are, by their very nature, unassuming. The last thing we want to do is draw attention to ourselves, whether it be promoting our accomplishments at work in hopes of landing a promotion, talking up our best traits on a blind date, or speaking up when on the receiving end of someone's unseemly behavior. But finding our inner voice is imperative. We must never let anyone -- and that includes ourselves -- silence it. It doesn't mean you have to turn surly, treating others like they're beneath you. But you should never let yourself become anyone's doormat either. You're your own chief advocate. If you don't stand up for yourself, no one will. Never feel too embarrassed or guilty to speak honestly and respectfully in support of your goals, values, and beliefs. I'm not saying you need to become a masterful public speaker, or that you should pretend to be a Know-It-All. Instead, what I'm saying is never to let anyone suppress your voice. You have ...

Do introverts always want to be alone?

It's a common misconception that introverts want to be left alone all the time. Sure, we're not as prone as extroverts to becoming lonely and irritable in our own company, but that doesn't mean we avoid social interactions like the plague. We like to socialize, only in smaller doses than our more extroverted peers. Here's how to keep us from exhausting our energy reserves: 1. Allow us small breaks to disconnect every now and then . Don't take offense to our wanting to go for a walk or take a nap. Perhaps we're drained after spending the day in drawn-out meetings. 2. A stampede of people? No, thanks. Keep it to a small group of no more than 5 to 10 people, if possible. Introverts feel far more in their element when they can engage in one-on-one conversation. For us, more people usually translates to small talk on steroids. Needless to say, there aren't many things we loathe more than mindless chit-chat. 3. Don't block the exits. Heavy noise and commoti...

My bumpy road to discovering I am an introvert

From an early age, I knew there was something about me -- my personality, my temperament -- that differentiated me from my peers. I just didn't know what it was. I sensed I was more retiring, less hungry for attention, and more at ease in solitude than most people. Now that I'm an adult and comfortable in my introversion, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm proud of my uniqueness, and every introvert on this page ought to be as well. That isn't to say the road to self-awareness has been an easy one. Whether at school or work, I've lost count of the number of people over the years who've either questioned or criticized my quiet, unassuming disposition. In the workplace, supervisors and co-workers have pulled no punches with their biting sarcasm, saying things like "Hey, keep it down over here. You're too loud!" For whatever reason, it makes some folks uneasy when there's someone at work who keeps to themselves. They might suspect they...

Introvert Pride

Search This Blog