WOMAN:
OK, so we’ve spent a lot of time in the past couple of weeks talking about the
psychology of success, and today we’ll take an in-depth look at the role of
extroversion and introversion in personal achievement.
But before we go on, let’s be
sure we are all on the same page about what exactly these terms mean.
Extroversion and introversion are two opposite ends of a personality spectrum
that explains how people both get and use energy. Hmm... that may be a bit
vague. Perhaps I should give you some specific examples. All right. Now,
extroverts are people who gain energy from spending time with others, and who
rely on external validation. The archetypal extrovert is more adept at acting
than contemplating, doesn’t mind taking risks, and is relatively confident. He
or she enjoys working in teams and makes decisions quickly.
Introverts, who make up
between one-third and one-half of the population, are the reverse of
extroverts. They, uh, feel drained after socialising and really do need a lot
of time to themselves. Being alone gives them a chance to recharge their
batteries, so to speak. In general, introverts are more reflective, and are
likely to think long and hard before acting. They are more detail-oriented and
neurotic than their extrovert counterparts, and often come off as more
serious...sometimes even withdrawn. I wouldn’t say they are less social, but I
think it’s fair to say that socialising comes a bit less naturally for them.
Oh, and they really don’t like being the centre of attention. Nothing causes
more anxiety in an introvert than having to talk in front of a large group.
Anyway, that’s just a basic
overview of the traits that define extroverts and introverts. I want to focus
on how we...I mean, we as a society...perceive these different personality
types. I’d argue that there is a subconscious, and even sometimes conscious,
assumption that extroverts are more likely to succeed in life. It’s true that
the public faces of success...you know, politicians, celebrities...are usually
the outgoing, charismatic types. So, we
see these people the most and internalise messaging that it takes being an
extrovert to achieve success and happiness in our increasingly extroverted
world.
But in actuality, that’s far
from the case. In fact, the vast majority of geniuses are introverts. Van Gogh,
Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Mahatma Gandhi...the list goes on and on. Many
of the greatest ideas and creations in the history of humanity have come from
people who are able to tune out the rest of the world and go inward.
And it’s not only creative and
intellectual innovation that introverts excel at. They are quite effective
leaders as well. This is not simply my opinion...it’s backed up by scientific
studies. For example, a study done at the University of California-Los Angeles
in the United States showed that extroverts contribute less to teams than their
introverted colleagues. They tend to not be great listeners, and their energy
for projects wanes quickly. In contrast, introverts listen well and actually gain
momentum as projects progress.
Does that mean employers
should put a hiring freeze on extroverts? Not at all. But it does indicate that
there are strengths to both personality types that can facilitate success.
Ideally, extroverts are best in positions where they are, are working with
large groups, or in an educational capacity. Their charisma makes them
excellent salespeople and speakers. But they don’t necessarily make the best
leaders. A study from the University of Bristol estimates that over half of the
world’s CEOs are introverts. The reason for this, aside from the attributes
I’ve already mentioned, is that introverts tend to be motivated more by
dedication to goals than by ego or a moment in the spotlight.
My point is not to criticise
extroversion, but just to suggest that we need to rethink some of our
assumptions about success. Rather than pressure introverts to fit into some
extrovert ideal, we should be appreciating them for their own unique
strengths...and there are many!