The Gift of Introversion

Introverts rarely work well in crowded environments. The more secluded you are,
the more likely you are to focus deeply and produce great work. You may feel
more creative, focused, or productive, or you may simply be able to do more in a
shorter time. It doesn’t mean you can’t work on teams, but you like to retreat
somewhere quiet once the collaborating is done. In an open office, noisecanceling
headphones are your friend.
4. You’d rather hang out with a few close friends than a large group of people
It’s a myth that introverts don’t like to socialize. Sitting with a few close friends,
you may enjoy chatting all night, and you may even “seem” like an extrovert. For
whatever reason, these types of interactions don’t drain you the way others do.
But once you get to a party or large group setting, you know it’s only a matter of
time before you feel wiped.
5. You have a vivid, rich inner world…
You might spend a lot of time pondering, and even dreaming. Or, you might just
prefer to think things through before you act. Not every introvert is a dreamer or
creative, but almost all have an entire inner world that they find just as
comfortable as the world around them
6. …and you’re often “in your head”
Sometimes, you get caught daydreaming, or you get flak from coworkers who are
quicker to act with less planning. You might even have been told to “get your
head out of the clouds” — or you may simply tend to zone out during a
conversation and pursue your own thoughts. It’s not that the word around you
isn’t interesting. It’s just that what you’re imagining or thinking about is
even more interesting.
7. You prefer to stay out of the spotlight
There are exceptions to this, but many introverts prefer not to speak up in large
group settings — and would rather hand off speaking roles to someone else. Of
course, many introverts are creatives and performers, and some even love
getting on stage. Others are business leaders who speak in front of teams or
audiences all the time. Introverts are fully capable of learning and mastering
these skills, but if your natural inclination is to avoid group participation, you may
be an introvert.
8. You can “network,” but you feel like you’re faking it
If you hate small talk, and you also hate having to talk to strangers, then
networking is just about the least comfortable thing you can do — and that’s
Page 106 of 160