An Argument in Favour of Introverts

Talking – it’s what people do. But in a world where everyone is striving to be heard, introverts may find their voices diminished by those who speak louder, command others attention and win people over with outgoing charm and undeniable charisma. There is a bias in our society that extols the virtues of extroversion.

It’s no coincidence that one of the original best-selling self-help books, How to Win Friends and Influence People, published in 1936, remains popular today. It has sold 15 million copies world-wide, revealing the widespread desire to “make friends quickly and easily; increase your popularity; help you to win people to your way of thinking; make you a better salesman; a better executive; make you a better speaker; a more entertaining conversationalist.” These are just a few of the goals this book promises to help the reader achieve, demonstrating the perceived importance of these esteemed qualities in the social sphere. However, it may be time to re-assess society’s obsession with extroversion.

In Quiet: The Power of Introvert in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain writes about the “extrovert ideal” and traces the history of how the stereotypical outgoing, extroverted individual came to be regarded as the ideal in modern society. Cain characterizes twenty-first century Western society as “the omnipresent belief that the ideal self is gregarious, alpha and comfortable in the spotlight.”

According to Psychology Today, extroverts make up 50 to 74 per cent of the population. Extroverts thrive on social stimulation, learn by doing, and enjoy talking through ideas and problems. Conversely, 16 to 50 per cent of people are introverts that get energy from spending time alone, often prefer to focus on one task at a time, and tend to observe situations before making decisions. These differences stem from the way our brains are wired to process sensory data from the external world.

It seems that not only has the extroverted personality been regarded as the ideal, it has been positioned as the norm – at school, in the workplace, in relationships – and this expectation may have detrimental effects on those whose natural temperaments predispose them to different kinds of thinking, and different ways of making sense of the world.

Cain argues that the introvert’s personality is inherent to the individual. While introverts can learn to appear outgoing in certain situations, introversion isn’t just behavioural; it’s an inherent, inborn temperament. Introverted individuals may spend their lives striving to embody an ideal that fundamentally contradicts their true nature.

However, introverts possess unique capabilities, and their potential should be acknowledged. An article published in Forbes, titled “Introverts No Longer the Quiet Followers of Extroverts,” highlighted the unique skills introverts can contribute to the business world. Introverts can be leaders, but their leadership style is different from what extroverted associates might expect.

Leadership is often equated with public speaking prowess and being loud and persuasive. But extroverts may be prone to riskier behaviour, and ego can push discussion and decisions in the wrong direction.

“Introverted leaders offer an alternative,” Karl Moore wrote. “Introverted leaders are maybe more quiet, but the flip side is that they are often more reflective and critical of situations.” The introverted approach is worth not only accommodating, but also encouraging, because it can balance some of the biases that may befall extroverts.

No one is suggesting that all introverts are fragile snowflakes with sensitive souls that ought to be coddled by society at large – but rather, that it would be advantageous to reframe introversion as an asset. Not everyone can identify with the extrovert mentality; we’re not all seeking to “make friends and influence people.” It’s okay to not be the life of the party – we can’t all be social butterflies – and wallflowers fulfill an important social role, too. Just imagine a room full of loud, outgoing people all vying for attention at a party – it would be sheer chaos.

It’s not time for introverts to speak up; it’s time for the world to listen, or risk overlooking the ideas and contributions produced by the 16 to 50 per cent of thoughtful, contemplative, and observant individuals who exist in this world.

As Cain best stated the sentiment, “There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.”