7 Advantages Of Being An Introvert
People tend to think that in order to be successful, you need to constantly be in the spotlight of whatever it is you do, whether it is in your workplace or in bigger platforms. This is true to a certain extent as being the centre of attention can bring benefits such as social validation. However, there are many cases where people create the misconception that extroverts tend to be more successful than introverts because of their desire to be in the spotlight and speak up (Kitlinski-Hong, 2020). Fortunately for introverts, this is not true. In fact, there are many advantages that introverted persons have over their extroverted counter parts. In this article, I will be addressing 7 of the advantages of being an introvert.
You cultivate deep relationships
Have you ever felt bad because you have a small circle of friends? Well, don’t. As an introvert, you will prioritise quality over quantity when choosing who you befriend. As such, when deciding who to befriend, you will be much more selective, so your relationships will be very well nurtured and cherished (Jetta, 2017). Additionally, you will much prefer to have meaningful and deep interactions over shallow and casual, strengthening your relationships. Extroverts, on the other hand, prefer to have a large number of surface-level relationships who often engage in casual conversations and small-talk. So you will have the advantage of surrounding yourself with a few loyal and trustworthy people.
You are a very good listener
Being a great listener is one of the advantages that comes with being an introvert. Do your friends always look for you to listen to their problems or for advice? This might be because you first listen to what they are saying and do not jump into the conversation to make it about you (Breit, 2018). This is not to say that extroverts are selfish. Extroverts process information interactively, which means that they provide responses as they process information. Introverts, on the other hand, are known to process information internally, meaning that they hear, understand, and provide a response after careful consideration. This makes it so that people who want to be heard prefer you over someone who will interactively jump into the conversation.
You are creative and original
As someone who prefers not to be constantly participating in groups, you are able to develop your own original ideas, as opposed to extroverts, who will be most likely adopt the popular and mainstream ideas (Jetta, 2017). Spending alone time makes it so that social trends do not sway your way of thinking as much as it does to extroverts, allowing you to develop unorthodox and novel insights. One of the most famous examples of this advantage is Albert Einstein, whose introverted nature allowed him to develop insights that completely changed the world of Physics.
You are very observant
Introverts have superior observation skills to add to their already great listening skills. As someone who usually stays quiet and lets other people speak up, you will naturally notice things the people who are speaking do not (Breit, 2018). You are also able to notice other people’s body language and face expressions, making you a better communicator on an interpersonal level. Additionally, you will be much more familiar with introvert qualities, so you will be able to notice when someone is processing information, thinking, or observing. For example, since you know the feeling of processing information and taking your time to formulate an appropriate answer, you will understand when people stop to think way better than how extroverts might understand.
You are able to really focus
Since you do not prioritise socialising as much as extroverts do, you are able to focus on other things of interest. This is a very useful skill to have, especially in workplaces, where you are bound to be with other people. It will allow you to be more productive in whatever you are doing and excel in it. For example, if you are very interested in researching a specific topic, you will be more likely to become an expert in the field, as compared to someone who is researching the same topic as you but splits his/her attention on socialising. Therefore, the ability to focus all your attention on one task without getting distracted by the need to socialise is a clear advantage that introverts have (McInnis, 2020). One very common example of can be seen at workplaces. There is always someone who works for 1 hour and then starts walking around and talks with whoever is near. He/she might even purposely walk to someone else’s space just to socialise. Naturally, you’d have progressed more in the 2-3 hours that you worked for compared to the time that your colleague worked for.
You are a compassionate leader
Have you ever thought you would not make a good leader because you prefer not to be on the spotlight? This exact thought is why you might be the best leader there is. According to Breit (2018), introverts can make the best leaders because they do not feel the need to be the centre of attention when a group succeeds. Instead, they spread the credit and prefer to highlight the strengths of the team. This can have a great effect on the team members’ motivation. Your introverted nature will also allow you to hold deeper and more personal conversations with your team members, allowing you to know your team’s strengths, weaknesses, and skills in detail. This can give your team a feeling of standing side by side with you, as opposed to having an extroverted leader, who will always stand in front of the team.
You are independent
As the introverted nature indicates, you cherish your alone time, since this time is used to recharge, focus on personal projects, etc. As such, you will focus on cultivating a self-sufficient and independent lifestyle (Jetta, 2017). This, along with the ability to really focus, will allow you to be a very productive person without the need of others, making you an invaluable member in any team. On a more personal level, being independent means that you can achieve happiness without the need of others. This is not to say that you cannot be happy if there are other people in your life. Rather, you can find happiness on your own, and other people in your life will add to it.
So if you ever feel like being an introvert is bad and force yourself to do things because of the misconception that extroverts are more successful than introverts, then remember the advantages addressed in this article. There is more benefit to be gained by knowing yourself in depth than deciding to do things the opposite way of what you would normally do.
References
Breit, C., 2018. The Surprising Benefits Of Being An Introvert. [online] Time. Available at: <https://time.com/5373403/surprising-benefits-introvert/> [Accessed 3 October 2020].
Jetta, 2017. 7 Distinct Advantages Introverts Have Over Extroverts. [online] Introvert, Dear. Available at: <https://introvertdear.com/news/introverts-advantages-extroverts/> [Accessed 3 October 2020].
Kitlinski-Hong, J., 2020. Introverts Are More Successful In Life. [online] Lifehack. Available at: <https://www.lifehack.org/356846/introverts-are-more-successful-life> [Accessed 3 October 2020].
McInnis, K., 2020. 6 Major Advantages Of Being An Introvert In The Workplace. [online] Ladders. Available at: <https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/6-major-advantages-of-being-an-introvert-in-the-workplace> [Accessed 3 October 2020].
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