While most introverts need periods of solitude to recharge, many aren't afraid of social interaction or the limelight. Plus, some introverts can have just as much charisma, ambition, and fortitude as any extroverted leader.
Introverts can develop and exude strong personalities and publicly exhibit their distinctive characteristics without fear. However, they must consider a few key factors as they attempt to develop and display their personality to the world.
An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what's happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.
Type A isn't just the preserve of extroverts. I'm a Type A, and I'm very much an introvert, soothing my frantic work days with reading or journaling. My introversion has complemented my Type A traits, giving me the ability to focus while putting in long hours at work.
Is it healthy to be an extreme introvert? Absolutely! It's okay to enjoy solitude and prefer more intimate communication with others. But it's important that you understand the differences between introversion and having an underlying mental health issue such as social anxiety.
On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. But statistics show that around 70% of gifted people are introverts. People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.
Not only is Einstein one of the most famous scientists in history, but he was also a known introvert. Leaning into his introverted nature, Einstein believed that his creativity and success came from keeping to himself. He said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”
A strong and silent type is generally thought of as someone who projects a real sense of self-confidence and assurance, without coming across as arrogant or dismissive of others. Self-confidence is about knowing yourself and trusting yourself to rise to challenges and deal with difficult situations.
Introversion isn't totally genetic. It gets influenced by your environment at a young age, and our genes allow a certain amount of flexibility in response. This happens through “set points,” which are the upper and lower limits of how much extroversion your brain can handle.
Introverts tend to experience more anticipatory anxiety and anxiety disorders than extroverts. Anxiety typically means your stress response is constantly activated, even if there's no clear cause for it.
INFJ is the rarest personality type across the population, occurring in just 2% of the population. It is also the rarest personality type among men. INFJ stands for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Judging. This unique combination is hard to find in most people.
“Being an introvert is actually a strength because they do take that time to process and filter their responses,” says Owens. “And they tend to be better active listeners and strategic thinkers.”
Introverts tend to be good listeners because they are often reflective and compassionate. They may process ideas better in intimate group settings. This skill is useful in career fields that require active listening and nurturing personalities.
Introverts are easily distracted by external stimuli and while they might be too nice to say anything, get very frustrated with constant interruptions when they are trying to concentrate.
Its often assumed that people who are extroverts make the best leaders, but introverts are uniquely positioned to navigate problems that their counterparts can struggle with. The best leaders often demonstrate a hybrid style that adopts flexible elements of both personality types.
Yes, emotional trauma can cause a person to become a lot more introverted. Along with something as small as a loud noise more traumatic events can clearly change the way that someone acts.
They're Always One Step Ahead
Their silence allows them to take more time to process what's happening and take in more information. This is why, when faced with a problem, they will often take time to think things through– enough time that they can come up with a strategy.
According to estimates, extroverts outnumber introverts by about three to one.1 Introverts often find that other people try to change them or even suggest that there is something wrong with them. While introverts make up a smaller portion of the population, there is no right or wrong personality type.
Being an introvert can be extremely attractive to some people. Introversion can seem mysterious and intriguing, especially if it pairs with qualities such as kindness or being a caring person. If you are an introvert, someone may be attracted to the fact that you appear humble and down to earth.
How to Spot an ENTJ in Conversation. ENTJs appear confident, business-like, and visionary in their speech. They tend to think out loud, and this is because extraverted thinking, their dominant process, needs to externalize thoughts, write them, or diagram them in some way in order to process them effectively.
They speak less and listen more, which gets people interested in them. What makes introverts attractive is their ability to observe beyond the words people speak. They pay close attention to details and are extremely prudent. Introverts are also genuinely concerned about others, which shows their empathic natures.
You're an introvert.
It gets better. As an adult, you now leverage your strength for processing, contemplating and thinking things over, which is a trait of highly intelligent people. In fact, more than 75 percent of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted.
If you look at some of the world's preeminent inventors, writers, and entrepreneurs, most of them are introverts.
Introverts gain energy from quiet reflection and isolation. Both personality types can be equally creative, passionate and articulate leaders. So, don't overlook the quiet ones in the corner. They may harbor just the leadership qualities your company needs to succeed.