Susan Cain
Are you an introvert? If so, you’re way more powerful than you feel.
Americans love an extrovert. We really do. Outgoing, Alpha-like, spotlight-ready, the life of the party, assertive, lots of words …
Amazingly, 1/3 to 1/2 of Americans are introverts. And yet some introverts try to act like extroverts because of the bias toward them. The extrovert is considered ideal by our culture today. The introvert has been considered a second-class personality trait.
But that all may be changing now.
What Gives You More Energy?
It’s not a hard and fast rule, but generally, being alone energizes you, you’re probably an introvert. If being with people increases your energy, you’re probably an extrovert.
- Do you prefer a quiet dinner with friends or a loud party?
- Do you enjoy solitude?
- Do people tell you you’re a good listener?
- Do you seem to care about wealth, fame, and status less than your peers?
- Do you enjoy work that allows you to dive in with few interruptions?
If you answered “yes” to most or all of these questions, you are an introvert. But you probably already knew that.
