Introverts are good at understanding their emotions and regulating their behavior. They're also particularly skilled at reading other people, an emotional intelligence skill that serves them well in relationships.
In addition to their superior listening skills, introverts possess what Buelow considers a “superpower”: their observation skills. “We notice things others might not notice because they're talking and processing out loud,” she says.
Introverts are great listeners.
One of the greatest advantages that introverts have in the workplace is their ability to listen. Introverts tend to feel more comfortable listening than talking. They prefer to think before they speak and are mindful of what they say.
Strong observational skills: A 2018 study found that introverts tend to make more accurate observations about human behavior than extroverts. In other words, they may be able to "read" people and understand them better.
Introverts are easily distracted by external stimuli and while they might be too nice to say anything, get very frustrated with constant interruptions when they are trying to concentrate.
Perhaps the toughest part of being an introvert is not so much talking about yourself, but rather wishing you were better at talking about yourself.
If you're an introvert, you struggle with finding quiet time to gather your thoughts, particularly at brainstorming meetings. Find quiet places to think, and take breaks just for a change of scenery and a chance to gather your thoughts. Ask for agendas prior for meetings to help you prepare your key points.
Introversion isn't totally genetic. It gets influenced by your environment at a young age, and our genes allow a certain amount of flexibility in response. This happens through “set points,” which are the upper and lower limits of how much extroversion your brain can handle.
Introverts tend to draw energy from going inwards and being on our own whereas as extroverts tend to draw energy from things that are external to their mind. That is why overly stimulating environments can be energy draining for introverts, leaving us feeling tired, lacking in energy and even stressed.
Introverts can enjoy themselves in any circumstance. They do not need people to make them happy. They are happy by themselves, in the little joys of life. They can do any task by themselves, and their solitary pursuits make them able to stay happy and content in any situation.
According to estimates, extroverts outnumber introverts by about three to one.1 Introverts often find that other people try to change them or even suggest that there is something wrong with them. While introverts make up a smaller portion of the population, there is no right or wrong personality type.
Introverts tend to experience more anticipatory anxiety and anxiety disorders than extroverts. Anxiety typically means your stress response is constantly activated, even if there's no clear cause for it.
You're an introvert.
It gets better. As an adult, you now leverage your strength for processing, contemplating and thinking things over, which is a trait of highly intelligent people. In fact, more than 75 percent of people with an IQ above 160 are introverted.
INFJ is the rarest personality type across the population, occurring in just 2% of the population. It is also the rarest personality type among men. INFJ stands for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Judging. This unique combination is hard to find in most people.
They're Great Listeners
Because they are naturally very observant and thoughtful, introverts are also excellent listeners. Great leaders don't just talk, they listen intently — to their employees, consumers, and anyone else around them. They're vocal about their ideas but are also open to feedback and change.
While most survey respondents, regardless of personality traits, say they prefer to cry when they're alone, Introverts are more likely than Extraverts to say so. Introverts are more comfortable crying alone or with a small group of friends, while Extraverts may be more at home with public crying.
Causes of Introversion
Researchers have found that introverts have a higher blood flow to their frontal lobe than extroverts do. This part of the brain helps you remember things, solve problems, and plan ahead. Introvert brains also react differently to dopamine than extrovert brains do.
In 2011, research by psychologists Jennifer Grimes, Jonathan Cheek, and Julie Norem broke introversion into four main types: social introvert, thinking introvert, anxious introvert, and restrained introvert.
An introvert, on the other hand, wakes up with a 100 percent social battery. Talking to people drains them. To recharge, they need to spend time alone with their thoughts. That's why introverts generally avoid small talk even if they do love engaging in conversations.
Turns Out, Introverts Are Likely More Sensitive to Alcohol, Caffeine, and Music.
Crowded Spaces
That said, crowds can be really rough on introverts, because they're usually so over-stimulating. Since crowds are loud, often smelly, and always invasive of personal space, they can stimulate introverts to the point of serious emotional (and even physical) discomfort.
Angry Introverts are in a sensitive state, and they can easily become overstimulated by too much social contact. Interestingly, Introverts won't usually respond to their anger by leaving altogether.
Having roommates — thus having to be social all the time — is an introvert's worst nightmare.
Introverts have an mysterious aura about them. People want to know what they are thinking, but will never know all of it. This makes introverts incredibly fascinating and intimidating at the same time. It is no wonder that they are so extremely misunderstood by the more outgoing and vocal people in our society.