NPR: From Gandhi to Joe DiMaggio to Mother Teresa to Bill Gates, introverts have done a lot of good work in the world. But being quiet, introverted or shy was sometimes looked at as a problem to overcome. In the 1940s and '50s the message to most Americans was: Don't be shy. And in today's era of reality television, Twitter and widespread self-promotion, it seems that cultural mandate is in overdrive.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Quiet, Please: Unleashing 'The Power Of Introverts'
NPR: From Gandhi to Joe DiMaggio to Mother Teresa to Bill Gates, introverts have done a lot of good work in the world. But being quiet, introverted or shy was sometimes looked at as a problem to overcome. In the 1940s and '50s the message to most Americans was: Don't be shy. And in today's era of reality television, Twitter and widespread self-promotion, it seems that cultural mandate is in overdrive.
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Although I wouldn't consider myself an introvert, there are times when I wish I was. To be able to focus your attention on the task at hand and not be distracted by loud noises or the conversations of people around you would be a glorious asset when it comes to work. I find it very hard to remove myself when social situations are an option. In terms of the impact you make, I feel that introverts make more of an impact. If you remain quiet and nonpresent when working on a task and then turn in the most amazing product those around you will be that much more impressed in comparison to those they've seen working throughout the process.
According to the quiz I am solidly in the middle of the introvert extrovert spectrum. And it is true I draw energy from people and generally tend to prefer their company but I really do need to be alone sometimes. If I feel comfortable in an atmosphere I will be really inclined to meet new people, but at times the thought of meeting new people makes me want to throw up.
I agree with the author that there are introverts that make great leaders and that being shy and being introverted are different things, but I think more then not the go hand in hand. It takes practice to be good in a group situations and so when you don't like being in group situations you will to not be in them and you won't get any practice, which in turn will probably make you more anxious about them. Social anxiety is something that is really hard to get over and while people can sometimes get over it and be good leaders, it really is something that holds a lot of people back.
I too answered a few questions for each camp of introvert/ extrovert, but definitely more in the direction of an introvert. Although I love having people around me, growing up I always enjoyed being alone, and for that I think I am the person I am today. I always thought that me being quiet in those middle school days was such a burden, but it honestly forced me to truly be interested in what I love to do, which with enough time, helped me get over shyness that was not really related to being an introvert at all. On the other hand, I still get overwhelmed easily at times- which is not helpful in such busy situations that we face in the Purnell! I think there really just has to be an equal appreciation for all different types of people.. we need our spokespeople just as much as we need those who work better alone. As long as we understand that not everyone can work in the same ways because we are all are different, we can celebrate all types of people while prospering because of that knowledge.
I actually think that there is a lot of value in being an extrovert in theater, even if you are not a performer. Or especially if you are not a performer. There's so much networking and shmoozing that has to be done to land yourself in a successful environment. Someone who is excessively introverted is going to have a very difficult time landing a job. If you don't really give off the impression of being easy/fun to work with, I don't think that you're going to be as hireable as someone who can come in and have a comfortable conversation with the people interviewing you. The article does concede to the fact that extroverts typically shine more in group projects, which is effectively what theater is. This is something I definitely worry about in myself, since interacting with humans is not something that comes naturally to me.
According to this quiz, I fall in the middle of the introverted-extroverted scale. To anyone who's heard my excessive snarky comments in class, this might come as somewhat of a shock. I like to talk in front of large groups (fancy that), but I'm not such a fan of real social interaction in large groups.
I understand why there is evidence suggesting that introverts are better workers than extroverts, but I'm not sure I can agree fully. I would suggest that different people are better fitted to different tasks, or that people just approach things differently.
According to this quiz I am an introvert which contradicts the results of my Myers-Briggs personality test. Myers-Briggs is a much more legitimate and widely accepted test that is used for many different applications. I certainly have no training on this matter and I probably am not informed enough about personality evaluation, but it seems like this quiz (and yes, I understand that it is not a "scientifically validated personality test") may not provide the clearest answer as to whether or not one fits into either category: introvert or extrovert. The questions are more related to work habits, and I'm just not sure that the way someone works entirely determines which category they fit into. There are other factors that are just as important that the quiz does not completely explore. Perhaps in my work I am introverted, that could be true. But overall I wouldn't consider myself such a strong introvert as the quiz would suggest. I consider myself to be extraverted or possibly on the fence. I have strict work habits that fit into this particular view of introversion. I'm not sure I would trust the quiz though.
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