Is being introvert a barrier to your success?

My personal opinion is that being introvert mostly doesn’t have anything to do with your success or failure apart from possibly in social platform or in networking to a certain extent. So one need not worry much. Rather I would say the introvert could be turn up to be hugely successful, how ? We will discuss in this article.

As a trainer, mentor and coach I come across this question quite often. Possibly many feels it to be a problem. Many of the brighter minds early in their profession comes to me to find solutions. Is it a really a problem or we see it with a magnifying glass. There could be both positive and hinder sides of being introvert and extrovert. We will discuss traits of it and what best it could be managed if you feel, its really a concern that bothers you.

Contrary to common belief in most cases being introvert doesn’t have any correlation with your success. You could as successful or more successful than your extrovert friends. Its not a impairment in any sense. Inspite of being an introvert You can do exceedingly well in your academics, sports, singing, dancing, painting, designing, acting… practically at anything. Rather at times being introvert could be a gift, because you observation become very stronger. While others are talking you are observing, you notice minute things, listening carefully, study human behaviour which possibly you couldn’t have done had you being an extrovert. In the excitement of speaking, most people fails to listen or observe. You don’t speak quite often but when you speak up, you speak up is a logical manner, covering aspect or angle which possibly others have missed out.

There could be a need for the extrovert as well to address or tone down their openness, because they could face distraction or not being able to focus or be inward driven. However in this article we will keep our discussion limited to the subject of the question. Being introvert is not a disorder that you have to cure, neither it is congenital. People could be introvert for various reason. People connected to creativity might look like introvert because they are engrossed in deep thinking, whereas they may not be deficient in opening up.

• There are people who are introvert because they are not sure about how to handle their emotion in a effective manner.
• There are people who would hold themselves, not knowing what to speak, how to speak. It could be the environment, it could be knowledge issue, not knowing the subject matter. It could be a skill related issue of effective speaking, it could be the association where one is not comfortable.
• Most introvert people doesn’t know how to initiate a discussion. There could be fear of feeling out of place, could be fear of laughed at.
• Certain people may not be comfortable in party atmosphere for not knowing how to dance and play.

It would be difficult for an introvert to become extremely extrovert or for an extrovert to become extremely introvert. Because over a period it becomes characteristic trait. However one could move towards a middle position that of being Ambivert. This is not at all difficult, with little effort any one can do it. Fortunately most of us deal in a known atmosphere and mix with like minded people or known set of people. However an introvert could be extremely comfortable in a new situation or with unknown set of people, if they do their home work properly. They have basic advantage of starting cautiously so as not to get caught on wrong foot. So what do need to do.

1. Improve your communication skills both verbal & non verbal - there are lot of session and training materials available on the subject. Organisation also provide training on this. Also you can seek out trainer on the subject.
2. Take interest in others, means understand their likes & dislike, interest, emotions - so that you would be comfortable to build up a connect, initiate a discussion.
3. Find out an area of common interest, if required improve you knowledge on subject which you would be commonly trading in. Still better find out and subject which the other person interested in. It could be outside the business domain as well like some hobbies he or she pursue. Its a very important step before meeting someone very important whom you don’t get the opportunity to meet quite often. Make a script ( could be mental ) and rehearsed it well.
4. Focus on the subject rather than on yourself, it will help to you to divert your attention and help you to come out of inhibition.
5. Show interest to what the other person is talking about. Make your body language and gesture reflect your interest. Ask question relevant and pertinent question (open ended). Asking question is a sign of taking interest. People tend to open up more to active listener. You could build up better connect even without speaking much. Be a empathetic listener. Enhance your knowledge on the subject you are going to discuss. Its very important to get the opportunity to have a level playing field. And very important step to earn respect of the other person.
6. Understand the emotional background of the other person, or the context he or she is speaking from.
7. Show your genuine concern. Speak in a affable manner. Be sensitive and respectful to others sentiment and view point. If you need to disagree, do it in a manner not hurting other person’s sentiment. A very commonly used sentence could be “ Lets agree to disagree”, “ Lets park this topic for the time-being since our view points are not converging”
8. Build up consensus and work on areas where opinion matches leaving asides the contagious issues.
9. Be honest and genuine in your behaviour. Focus on the positive side of people. Everybody tend to see the dirt in people, you need to find the gold. Find something to praise honestly, never resort to cheap flattery.
10. Do home work before important meeting and engagement, so that you couldn’t go wrong. Being introvert and speaking less could be a great advantage for you in matters of serious discussion and important meeting. Because you will be more in listening mode, building up clear understanding, speaking in a calculated manner, talking sense, speaking only when required, chances of making less mistake, being able to think logically, draw sound inference, connect better, establish your viewpoint in a objective manner, being non committal ( unless required ). Others would listen to your paying more attention. You will have a distinctive advantage in decision taking.

An introvert person could turn up to be great asset for an organisation as narrated above. Many introvert makes fewer friend, but they make good friends and lasting relations. Contrary to general notion they could turn hugely successful in collaborative approach also. Because they speak of substance, whenever they choose to speak, they contribute substantial volume even when they speak less. Quality matters. Many of the introvert find it easier to think out box, because of their minute observation and focus focus which often develop sound analytical skills.

I being an inherently introvert person have gone through the transformation process. Following is the list some introvert personality who has been greatly successful in their respective domain.

• Albert Einstein. Rosa Parks. Bill Gates. Steven Spielberg. Sir Isaac Newton. Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, JK Rowling, Warren Buffett, Mahatma Gandhi, Hillary Clinton,Michael JordanBarack Obama…..

Thanks for reading. Would welcome comments and queries.

, Image source - Getty image