WHO AM I?

Many years ago, I was a financial advisor at a large investment firm. I was asked if I would like to be part of a team of advisors and others being put together in the office who would work together. The idea was that people working together would bring different strengths to the group. This would provide better service to the client and should also help your business grow. I accepted this opportunity.

We formed the group and decided to retain an outside consulting firm to give us advice on how to best make this concept work. They scheduled three days in our office. Questionnaires were given to everyone with many questions. The questions did not have right or wrong answers. Everyone had an interview with a consultant. Group activities were also conducted to evaluate how we interacted with each other.

They took the data they collected during the three days to evaluate. They returned a few weeks later to report the findings. Everyone was gathered in the conference room for a group presentation. The leader of the consulting team opened his presentation by saying your team has twelve members. The findings show that eleven of your team members are extroverts. One member is an introvert. He identified the introvert. It was me.

Everyone found this very amusing and laughed. They found this funny because like many people they did not understand what being an introvert meant. The common perception of being an introvert is that the person is shy, a wallflower who prefers to be alone. Someone who is tense or anxious in a social situation.

Being shy is not the same as being introverted. The introvert is the opposite of being an extrovert. Studies show that about forty percent of people are extroverts. About the same are introverts. The rest are somewhere in the middle. These numbers are estimates. Neither is better or worse.

A few examples of each:

THE INTROVERT:

Being around lots of people will drain their energy.

They enjoy solitude.

They enjoy small groups of close friends.

People will describe you as quiet.

They do not like small talk.

They like meaningful conversations.

They like being prepared.

Focus inward into their own thoughts,

Introverts recharge alone.

THE EXTROVERT:

Focus's outward into the world.

They get energy from other people and social interaction.

They are outgoing and expressive.

They are talkative.

May find it difficult being alone.

Can sometimes be attention seeking and easily distracted.

EXTROVERTS HAVE A VERY TOUGH TIME GRASPING WHAT BEING AN INTROVERT ACTUALLY IS.

Recent years have been challenging times in different ways. One example was the pandemic and the lockdown. Most people had never experienced that type of event. When I would call friends to see how they were doing it was the ones I considered the most outgoing or extroverted who were having a hard time. They would always complain about being bored. Can't find anything to do they would say. They would complain about not seeing friends or not getting out to do things with other people.

The introverts including myself would talk about books they have been reading. Pursuing new interests and hobbies. Catching up on projects around the house. Making plans for things they will pursue when the lockdown is over.

Who am I? I am an introvert. I look into myself for happiness, to keep busy and productive.

When someone tells you they are an introvert don't laugh. In the times we have been living in being an introvert can be very helpful!

WRITTEN BY

RON TURETT