Quiet: The Power Of Introversion And Extroverts

According to the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain, approximately fifty percent of the United States’ population falls under the description of introverted, yet extroverted qualities are considered normal and are prefered in the country. The strengths of an introverted person often go unrecognized in our culture. Extroverts, on the other hand, are seen as leaders and successful due to their loud nature. As a result of an introvert’s, typically, quiet disposition, they are thought of as incapable of being as successful as a loud extrovert.
Introversion and extroversion are commonly misunderstood concepts, that, when properly comprehended, can help all people to understand and utilize their strengths,
Susan Cain writes that while there is no all-purpose definition for either of the personality types, there are some characteristics which apply to most of the people for each side of the spectrum. An introverted person needs little stimulation from the outside world to feel satisfied, while extroverts prefer a lot of stimulation from their environment. The personality types have different social styles and work habits; extroverts enjoy large groups to talk to and prefer to work quickly, making quick decisions, while introverts prefer to spend time with small groups of friends or family and taking their time working on a project, making sure to do it to the best of their abilities. Introverts tend to be more interested in the inner world; in contrast, extroverts are more interested in external happenings (Cain [Page 10-11]). The article Introversion: The Often Forgotten Factor Impacting the Gifted by Jill D. Burruss and Lisa Kaenzig states that, despite the typical connection made between introversion and shyness, there is no correlation between shyness and introversion. In fact, an extrovert is just as likely to be shy as an introvert (Burruss and Kaenzig). Shyness is a fear of social humiliation or disapproval and introversion is the preference of a not overstimulating environment (Cain [Page
The association between the qualities of extroverts and successfulness too often prevents introverts from participating and could cause the place an introvert works to miss out on helpful ideas and insight. When properly understood, the two personality types can be put in the best scenarios to allow their strengths and abilities to shine and help those around them. Understanding that a balance of introverts and extroverts can be beneficial to a place of work can lead to a company being more productive and successful. It is necessary for one to understand that differences between oneself and others should not be a for a divide or for one type of person to be outcasted, but as useful tools that can lead to prosperity and