Introvert or Extrovert?

Years ago, when I used to get excited about psychometric testing and key performance indicators, I took part in a Myers Briggs workshop. In the nineties, Myers Briggs testing was as popular as the Scrunchie. In the world of Human Resources it was used as a recruitment tool, but for others it was akin to discovering your professional horoscope. Suits would stand in a pub on a Friday night and relay their newly acquired initials:

“I’m an E.N.T.P.” one suit would proudly say.

“No way! I had you pegged as an I.N.F.J.” said the other.

And then everyone would have four more beers and end up with exactly the same psychometric result of N.F.I. because they were all to D.R.U.N.K. to remember that the “J” stood for.

The recruitment industry attracts extroverts. So it was no surprise when halfway through our workshop the moderator divided introverts and extroverts to discover we were a little unbalanced. We had one solitary introvert in the office, who was now starting to question her career choice.

The moderator of the workshop saw it as an opportunity for the introvert to ask the extroverts some questions. “Think about your differences. Is there anything the extroverts do that you don’t understand?”

She thought about it for a moment.

“Okay. Why do you need to talk all the time?”

I’m on day six of not having a voice and I’m not speaking metaphorically. On Friday morning I woke up with laryngitis and no hint of a voice. It is now Wednesday and there is still no sound coming out of my mouth. I’ve been instructed not to whisper and to avoid speaking at all. Did I mention I have four children?

The past six days have taught me many things, Ive discovered it’s not just that I like to talk, it’s that I NEED to talk. For an extrovert, not having a voice is a little like being banished to the naughty step, you can see and hear what everyone is doing – but you’re not allowed to join in.

My voiceless life is making me lethargic and flat. Dare I say it, a little depressed. Can you be a little depressed? Okay, I move back and forth between stabby or miserable. On the upside, I’ve developed sign language for “the beagle is behind you and is about to eat your snack” and “get your finger out of the nutella jar or you will die”. I’ve noticed a lot of my sign language to my children ends with “you will die” I find the melodramatic hand movements achieve the best results.

This week I have listened, I’ve nodded, I’ve smiled and I’ve frowned in five different ways. I’m not sure if I’ve laughed though, and if I did, it was silent laughing which just doesn’t feel the same. Try it. I’ve stood with friends and thought “Shit, are you all REALLY this quiet or do I really talk THAT much?” And then worried for the rest of the day that I obviously speak too much. After standing for five minutes with a group, my girlfriend Lisa said “Okay, this is just weird, it’s weird standing here with you and you’re quiet”. And she’s right. It is weird.

Although I spend a big chunk of my day working from home in complete solitude, it appears that the moment I stop working, I’m talking. I’m talking to friends, to my family, to the woman in the supermarket and the man at the corner store. I strike up a chat with the guy at the petrol station, the man at the gym and the mother at the park. I love a chat. I don’t think I’m loud, I just love to hear peoples stories.

Often there is the misconception that we extroverts are just chatty, overstimulated performers. The clowns in the group. The loud obnoxious guy with the Hawaiian shirt calling out “are we all having fun yet?” There’s a little more to it. The extrovert needs to engage, but as much they like to talk, they need to hear from others. They want everyone to talk, not just themselves. When you talk to an extrovert you’re providing them with an opportunity to recharge.

I can’t remember what answer we gave our introverted colleague all those years ago, but I know what I would say now. We talk because we have to. We’re energized by the energy of others. We need an interaction. We want to hear your story, we want to ask you questions. We need to have a giggle (out loud), we need to share. We need to know why you think the way you do. We don’t need to do it all day, but we NEED it.

If you haven’t watched Susan Cain’s TED talk about Introverts, I promise you won’t be disappointed, if you’re an introvert or are close to someone who is an introvert you’ll LOVE it. Susan Cain raises concerns that I share as to how our workplace, and in particular our schools are heading towards more of a group approach to learning. Even as an extrovert, I’m someone that requires a quiet place to think, and a cave to return to. I do it on a daily basis.

“The courage to speak softly”

How about you? Extrovert or Introvert?

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Comments

  1. HILarious! We did the Myers Briggs late last year in our little (6 strong) office and discovered I was the only introvert (ISTJ FYI 😉

    Which explained why on occasion I needed to banish myself to home to work out of my quiet little study with no external stimuli! Which explains why I am working from home permanently right now until we re-locate to an office where I have my own room with a door that shuts! Terrible!

    Coming from a family where pretty much everyone (bar my dad) is an extrovert I COMPLETELY understand your pain right now Kirsty. You would truly would be dying at your inability not to bounce off other people at the moment 🙁

  2. Definitely extrovert.  This is the hardest part about moving to the new place where I don’t know the language.  I want to chat with my fellow shopper in the supermarket, the guy who pumps gas, the vegetable seller at the market, but I CAN’T.  Once I learn a little of the language, I spend my time outside the house making up little conversations in my head, using the few words I know,  and screwing up the nerve to use them.  

  3. And have now just watched the video. 

    THANK YOU!

  4. It’s fantastic isn’t it?!

  5. Lejournaldediana says

    Ah good old myers briggs. I knew for sure I was an introvert when we were told that extroverts get their energy from others and feed off that however introverts get their energy from within. And I definitely get my energy from within and am often exhausted after a day of socialising.

  6. Kathlockett says

    I found myself nodding throughout this one – I might only have the one child and a bout of laryngitis that only lasted two days, but I nearly died during that time.

    Like you, I also write from home but the dog – dear, sweet little thing – is not immune from me thinking out loud, reciting stuff, singing songs, chatting inanely.

    Then again, just like you, I crave that solitude and by Sunday night I’m ready for the others to go back to work and school so that the house is mine again.

    I can’t remember my Myers Briggs letters, but one psych assessment I did back in the day was pretty revealing. I come across as a confident extrovert, good presenter etc but am riddled with anxiety beforehand (hello, long session in the toilet) and feel shocking after (Oh, you’re back Mr Migraine?)

  7. Denysewhelan says

    ESTJ
    and exactly as you say ( sorry can’t say but can write!) crave company of others. Love a chat & catch up. But now am finding love some solitude. Not too much but learning I lov my own company is nice.
    Had laryngitis like you for around same time & wrote loads of notes… And found people whispered to me??!
    Seriously want you better STAT.
    I did that myer Briggs thing ages ago but gee I didn’t forget though!
    Love D xx

  8. Naomi Hattaway says

    Fab video.  Have just sent it off to our principal, vice-principal, director of the school, both counselors for elementary and the elementary school representatives.  Thanks for the share!

  9. Christine Gerber Rutt says

    The real reason you are daily blogging now? : )

  10. SarahHague says

    INFJ here, definitely let others do the chit chat talking and say something only when I have something to say. If I’m in a situation where I have to be the chit chatter, it takes enormous energy. I enjoy it if I’m in good company but I couldn’t do it on a daily basis.

  11. Not only an ESTJ but an (almost) off-the-charts extrovert to boot. We’re seen as energy vampires by introverts, which we are. Like Kathlockett, if I didn’t have the dog to talk with as I write, I’d go stir crazy. And no, the cat isn’t an option. She hears me talking and wonders what’s up with the crazy lady today. Thanks for the video clip. Hope you’re better soon.

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