Researchers estimate that 50-74 percent of Americans have an extroverted personality while introverts make up 15-60 percent of the population. The good news is that both personality types have the characteristics of both introverts and extroverts. Even if you tend to be very introverted, you have some extroverted personality traits that you can learn to improve in specific situations without ever leaving your comfort zone.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Channeling Extroverts
Step 1. Appreciate the aspects of openness
You may think that being an extrovert is “too hard”, but this personality has its benefits (as does being introverted). You don't have to give up the introverted activities you enjoy. In fact, when you balance the two with social activities, you'll find that they all feel more satisfying. After a few nights with other people, you may really want to spend the evening alone reading, meditating, writing, and so on.
Step 2. Study a topic
Even if extroverts in the room dominate the conversation, don't hesitate to ask questions to learn more. You have an active hidden world that comes from activities like reading and your love of learning new things. Ask questions and discuss your ideas.
Step 3. Make a plan
When you know you will be in public or leading an activity or meeting, or when you are in a group of people, prepare and organize your ideas. This will reduce anxiety.
Step 4. Use your strengths
Introverts are good observers who tend to listen and provide insightful responses. Use this power to play an active role in conversations and social situations. Extroverts and other introverts will respond positively to your listening skills.
Step 5. Use power for good
When you take some quiet time to recharge, use that time to prepare ideas so that when you're at school, work, or with friends, you'll be ready to participate. Use your love of deep thinking and meaningful conversation to learn about other people and how to help them.
Part 2 of 3: Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
Step 1. Find the right social group for you
Why should you spend time with people you don't like? If being more extroverted means spending time with people you really want to avoid, you won't have the motivation to do so. Again, you are free to form social groups that you enjoy being a part of. Consider consciously the types of people you would like to have as friends. There's no rule that says this one has to be your friend or coworker. Don't be afraid to expand your most open group of friends and join people from different age groups, regions, cultures, countries, and so on. You'll see that diversity is fun.
Step 2. Develop your social skills
One of the reasons many people are shy about engaging in social activities is because they feel uncomfortable, because they don't know what to do, especially when the unexpected happens. Being able to strike up a conversation with strangers AND feel very comfortable doing so is a learnable skill. The more often you do it, the better you will handle it.
- How to look friendly
- How to introduce yourself
- How to have a fun conversation
- How to talk
- How to ask someone on a date
Step 3. Run a social life in the real world
Socializing online has its place in your life, but it's less impressive than face-to-face communication. Voice and body language can speak more than text, and emotional bonds become easier and faster to form in person. You don't have to ignore socializing online, but you do have to do it in the real world in order to meet the people around you.
- Alternatively, see if you can use the internet as a starting point for making real-life friendships. Many introverts have no difficulty socializing online; in such an environment they are able to play their part.
- Consciously use your strengths as strengths to unlock face-to-face socialization. For example, if you use forums on the internet, you can focus on the local community and look for opportunities to meet in the real world.
Step 4. Join a club
This is old-fashioned advice, but it can still be used. The upside is that you'll find people who share common interests, who can provide the basis for building new relationships. A good club can fill your social calendar. If you join a club and run into a club that isn't right for you, stop and join another club until you find the right balance.
- Join or start a book club. This is a great way to turn individual activities into social activities.
- Join a band. If you can play a musical instrument or sing, find a group that suits you. Not only do you get to meet them, but if your band is really good, someone else will come to you.
Step 5. Form healthy relationships
If you build a new relationship based on the principle of buy-and-take, you will have no shortage of friends. Identify with whom you want to build a relationship, and start by giving.
For example, broad knowledge is a tremendous power when it comes to socialization because a lot of people who aren't very smart want to understand knowledge better and you can explain it to them in an understandable way
Step 6. Take some time to cool off
Once you are involved in a social situation that makes you comfortable, be sure to calm yourself down for mental and emotional recovery. As an introvert, you need some “time to cool off” to feel energized and ready to socialize again.
Part 3 of 3: Assessing Personality Type
Step 1. Understand the advantages of extroverts
Usually an extrovert is a person who feels enthusiastic in a group of people, when in social situations, they tend to think actively and rarely run out of words.
Step 2. Identify introvert tendencies
As an introvert, you may be in the minority, but trust yourself: the world needs thinkers! Introverts feel energized in a calm and alone setting. Introverts like to prepare in advance for a presentation or meeting. Introverts are good listeners.
Step 3. Determine your personality type
Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, developed the concept of two personality types, introverts and extroverts. Using her theory, Isabel Brigg Myers and her mother, Katherine Briggs, developed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
- If you use the MBTI (which can be found on the myersbriggs.org site), you will get results in the categories of 16 personality types, some introverted and some extroverted. Each score consists of 4 letter codes. The first letter is I for introvert or E for extrovert.
- The person with the greatest tendency to be an introvert will score in one of the 8 personality types starting with the letter I. All of these 16 personality types include traits, interests, and strengths for each individual.
Step 4. Be happy to be in a group of talented people
Many famous leaders and celebrities have introverted personalities, but are actually shy and aloof. They seem to have an extroverted personality, but they need some quiet time to recharge like you do; You are in a group of talented people!
- David Letterman
- Emma Watson
- Christina Aguilera
- Albert Einstein
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Rosa Parks
- Bill Gates
- Laura Bush
- Audrey Hepburn
Tips
- Being introverted is not the same as being shy. An introvert actually enjoys solitary rather than social activities, while a shy person avoids social situations out of fear and anxiety. If you are someone who wants to talk to other people and socialize but feels helpless or insecure, you may have a shyness problem. Check out the article on How to Overcome Shyness.
- Introverts have more fun than extroverts in many situations. Being an introvert can be fun too!
- Introverts find social situations exhausting. If you're an introvert, don't worry about socializing if you need some alone time. You may find that you enjoy a deeper and shorter relationship with a few or just one good friend than having a large number of friends.
Warning
- If you're dealing with people who don't understand an introvert's personality, don't view their prejudice and ignorance as a sign that you need to turn introverted into openness.
- Learn about your closures, take advantage of them, and don't avoid them. This is a very good trait and is often underestimated and unappreciated.
- While shyness and social anxiety are treatable problems, introvertedness is a basic personality trait that actually lasts throughout your life. It's better to be yourself and recognize your strengths and contributions as an individual as an introvert.
