Introverts and introvertism

A friend of mine, in my Toastmasters Club, had been an Area Governor. Area is the level immediately above club. He said that one of the good things of the role was that it exposed him to some people at the very top of the Toastmasters organisation and, at that level, there are some very intelligent, very professional people. Just recently, at a TM event, I listened to a talk by such a person.

He spoke of introverts and extroverts, but especially the former. Introverts and extroverts, are misunderstood. Extroverts are seen as gregarious, socially activate people, while introverts are seen as quiet, under-skilled, shy people. That is not the difference.

The difference is what is going on in their heads. In the case of introverts, a lot is going on in there. Whole universes exist between an introvert’s ears. Introverts read which is where the universes come from. The speaker was too polite to say that rather less, or less of substance, is going on in an extrovert’s head. The extroverts need social interaction; it is oxygen to them. An introvert is not averse to social interaction, but is not so dependent on it, and does not need it all the time. An introvert needs solitude, some of the time.

Introverts are not less socially skilled than an extrovert. They may be better in that introverts may actually listen to you. Introverts like low key social environments. An introvert will enjoy a drink and a talk with friends (and hate the TV and music in pubs and restaurants). Introverts dislike parties. Introverts love them.

Some people are not one thing or the other. They are called ambiverts.

In the twentieth century, extroverts came to dominate. Extrovertism became the orthodoxy: one needs to be outgoing, leaders need to be charismatic, …

The speaker, at this Toastmasters event, recommended a book called Quiet: The Power of Introverts  in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. The author is Susan Cain. There is also an interesting TED talk at http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/susan-cain-ted-talk-2014-quiet-revolution/