Yes, I'm an Introvert
Have you ever taken a personality test? Myers-Briggs, DISC, Big Five Factor? I took an online Myers-Briggs assessment when I was in college, but I never really thought too much about it. I was given a four letter "type" and that was about it. Well, last year around this time, I completed the Myers-Briggs (MBTI) and DISC assessments for a work event. The results were nearly identical to those I received back in college, but the background information that accompanied my "type" really started to make me think.
The MBTI instrument was developed by Isabel Myers and Katherine Briggs as an application of Carl Jung's theory of psychological types. This theory suggests that we have opposite ways of gaining energy (Extraversion or Introversion), gathering or becoming aware of information (Sensing or Intuition), deciding or coming to a conclusion about that information (Thinking or Feeling), and dealing with the world around us (Judging or Perceiving). It is assumed we use each of these eight parts of our personality, but we prefer one in each area - just as you have a natural preference for using one hand rather than the other.
I'm an ISTJ. That stands for Introversion, Sensing, Thinking and Judging. I could pretty easily pick those out for myself, but the values assigned with those types was what really interested me. The assessment assigned a value to each end of the spectrum to assess one's "preference". You could get up to a maximum of 30 for either end of the spectrum with the majority of people hovering around the middle. My scores?
I - 30
S - 20
T - 30
J - 30
YOWZAA! I couldn't decide if that meant I was really confident in who I was or if I was one HECK of a stubborn individual. (I would guess Tyler would agree with the latter.) Good, bad, or indifferent, it gave me great insight into my strengths and weaknesses. When others started to find out I was a 30 introvert, they were shocked. I got a lot of... "but you don't sit in a corner by yourself all day!", or "you're a great speaker!", or even "you're not a loner!".
I think a lot of people have a great misconception when it comes to the word "introvert". Being an introvert doesn't mean I'm uncapable of speaking to others or being social. It just means I prefer to be alone and have time to think through things before I speak. I stumbled upon an AWESOME article from The Huffington Post that a friend posted on Facebook over the weekend, and I just had to pass it along. It's called "10 Ways Introverts Interact Differently with the World".
As I was reading the article, I nearly wanted to jump up and down and say THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!! It perfectly explained all of the aspects of introversion that I've been struggling to put into words for quite some time now. My favorites include:
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THEY WITHDRAW IN CROWDS
"We hit the 20th century and we entered a new culture that historians call the culture of personality," said Cain in her TED Talk. "We had evolved from an agricultural economy to a world of big business, and so suddenly people are moving from small towns to the cities, and instead of working alongside people they've known all their lives, now they are having to prove themselves in a crowd of strangers." The resulting crowd, which is often loud, noisy and congested, easily overstimulates introverts and drains them of their physical energy. They end up feeling more physically isolated than supported by their surroundings, and would rather be anywhere but that sea of people.
THEY SUCCEED ON STAGE -- JUST NOT IN THE CHIT-CHAT AFTERWARDS
“At least half of people who speak for a living are introverted in nature,” according to Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D, a certified speaking professional, executive coach and author of Quiet Influence: The Introvert’s Guide to Making a Difference. They simply play to their strengths, and prepare extensively. In fact, some of the most successful performers are introverts. Remaining on a stage, removed from a massive audience, proves far easier than the small talk-filled conversations that follow.
THEY PHYSICALLY CAN'T STAND TALKING ON THE PHONE
Most introverts screen their phone calls -- even from their friends -- for several reasons. The intrusive ringing forces them to abandon focus on a current project or thought and reassign it to something unexpected. Plus, most phone conversations require a certain level of small talk that introverts avoid. Instead, introverts may let calls go to voicemail so they can return them when they have the proper energy and attention to dedicate to the conversation.
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YES! Yes, yes, yes. Now THAT is what I'm talking about! I can't even tell you how excited I was to read that last passage. I've never been a phone talker. Hate it. HATE. IT. At least I know I'm not alone... What about that first passage? Have I not been talking about how exhausting the city can be? Who knew!
For all of the introverts out there, I hope you, too, can relish in this article! Happy Monday. :)
