Not everyone can be the life of the party. Not everyone wants to be. There are many advantages to being an introvert. If you’ve ever wished you were more outgoing, reconsider. While most people consider introversion a disadvantage, introverts have unique skills that make them invaluable to the world, employers, friends, and family. Embrace your introversion as a “superpower.”
What is an Introvert?
An introvert is often more focused on his thoughts than his surroundings. Meanwhile, those chatty extroverts engage more actively with their environment at the expense of self-awareness. Depending on the situation, there are advantages and disadvantages to each.
Advantages that introverts have:
- Introverts can charge their batteries. An introvert can recharge while sitting home alone on the couch, just spending a little quiet time alone. In contrast, extroverts need to be with others to regain their energy.
- Introverts notice things. Being on the outside of the hustle and bustle provides a unique perspective and the opportunity to make valuable observations. These observations are helpful for creative tasks and solving challenges. The majority of the most noteworthy scientists, inventors, musicians, artists, and writers have all been introverted.
- Introverts are powerful. Consider a few famous introverts: Abraham Lincoln, Bill Gates, Eleanor Roosevelt, Warren Buffett, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, and Oprah. Some of the most influential people to walk the Earth have been very introverted. You could be part of this group!
- Introverts are great friends. Although introverts may have fewer friends, their friendships are closer and more meaningful. For this reason, introverts have other things on their minds besides casual relationships. For them having a few good friends is enough. In contrast, while the extroverts might appear to have 100 friends, how many of those relationships are close?
- When an introvert speaks, it’s important. Extroverts might say everything that pops into their mind. Some of it’s important. And some of it isn’t. Introverts won’t open their mouth unless they think they have something relevant to say because they don’t want to waste anyone’s time with idle chitchat.
- The future favors introverts. As technology evolves, there is even more reliance on technology. As a result, the opportunities for remote employment give an advantage to introverts. The world is continuously moving in a direction that caters to those that can operate in intellectual and quiet spaces. With its limited in-person interactions, the pandemic has been harder on extroverts than it has been on most introverts. The past few years have proven that your future is bright!
- Introverts are excellent listeners. The average person believes this, and it’s true! If you’re introverted, people will share their thoughts because they know you’ll listen.
- Introverts are excellent at seeing the risk. The typical extrovert might charge ahead without seeing all of the potential pitfalls. In contrast, the naturally cautious introvert looks for options, proving valuable in business and everyday life.
- Introverts know how to work behind the scenes. Introverts can accomplish their objectives by quietly and discretely influencing others. Every extrovert would do well to have an introvert in their group.
- Introverts are more independent than most others. They are excellent at working independently and thrive in that setting. They often find work teams and group projects unbearably slow, inefficient, and cumbersome.
Be Your Introverted Self
There are advantages to both extroversion and introversion. Rather than wishing you were more outgoing, embrace your introversion’s power. You can be successful in many ways that are much more challenging for the average extrovert. Introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world. We need to encourage fellow introverts to embrace introversion and celebrate it!