Power of an Introvert

I am an Introvert. Well at least 95% of the times. Like most introverts, I used to think that I am at a disadvantage. An insurmountable disadvantage.

This is my 50th post on LinkedIn, so I thought I should talk about how despite being an ‘Introvert’ I did this and how I feel doing this.

I was quite the extrovert as a kid. My Uncle used to tell me as a baby, I used to coo so sweetly at anyone who used to pass by, signaling them to pick me up & play. He feels I am a born extrovert. While I don’t remember myself as a baby, I clearly remember being very active in school and talking to everyone in the neighbourhood till I am in my late teens.

Post that, slowly I stopped talking much and gradually became introverted. Introverted to a point, that there are times where I would talk nothing despite being with a group of people for 15 minutes. When I was working, there are days, where I used to sit at a lunch table and keep thinking throughout the meal what should I talk about, despite sitting with a friendly bunch of folks.

Leave about the past, just about a couple of days ago, I returned from my hometown. And I brought Guavas from a nearby farm for my neighbours. But I felt shy to go over to their place and give it to them. Finally, I worked up my courage and with my husband cheering me in the background, I knocked their door.

So, you get the gist.

I am not saying I don’t talk at all. With my close circle of friends, I talk nonstop. With my team in office, I talk well be it regarding work or casual chit chat. When I have to talk to complete strangers or 3rd part folks or people from other departments regarding work, again no challenge, I communicate well.

But outside the close circle of friends or team members, sometimes it gets difficult to initiate conversations or go with the flow.

This difficulty is just that a small difficulty. But in the Modern World it often manifests as a big disadvantage.

Modern world is wired in a way where extroverts are naturally rewarded or appear to be forefront of everything.

Socially, extroverts are at advantage. When a group of people meet, they talk about the most happening thing, what someone did etc. We celebrate parties, social media, none of us celebrate staying at home, relaxing, chilling down without posting on social media. We are not celebrating the quietness.

Professionally, as well extroverts are at advantage. Because they speak up and appear as natural leaders. People gel well with them etc.

I too thought so and felt because I am introverted it will be difficult for me to succeed. But we must remember this is just one side of the coin. Thankfully for me I worked with an organisation (Procter & Gamble) which celebrates different leadership styles.

My manager especially was a firm believer that the platform is for all types of personalities & leadership styles. He encouraged me to stay true to my own personality style and use the advantages I had (Analytical, Thinks before speaks etc). ?And trust me it helped.

I struck to me strengths, improved them and managed my weakness to the bare minimum acceptable level. And things worked. I got the promotion I wanted, the role I wanted. My personality style doesn’t fit the typical personality style of that role at all. Despite that I performed well in the role. The key is to use the advantages.

As an introvert, you are blessed with good listening ability. We think deeply and speak only when, we are sure. Apart from this based on your other traits, you will have your own advantages along with the disadvantages. It is about unleashing the advantages and managing the disadvantages so that they don’t become liabilities. Never try to convert your weakness into strength. Never try to become extrovert. If it happens with flow of time good. If it doesn’t good.

Now, how did I manage to become active on social media:

1.???I still find it difficult to actively express myself. But I am getting better

2.???I still find it difficult to initiate conversations with strangers. I don’t initiate conversations, unless I am genuinely interested in the person, or we have something in common. This makes things easier.

3.???Despite knowing that engaging on others content will increase my following, I don’t, unless I like it and genuinely feel I should comment. If I just keep commenting, I feel myself drained. So, I don’t do that.

4.???I have sufficient quite time for myself to recharge.

5.???I try to stop comparing myself vs some other influencer or social media person who is very extroverted.

I hope this post helps all the introverts who are hesitant to take the step. Just start talking or better at writing ?? as it is easier of the two. Gradually you will become comfortable & just enjoy the ride.

Also, I will add Quite: The Power of Introverts in the World that can’t stopping to my list of ‘To Read’ books.

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