Being introvert (3)

Today I came across an article about introverts in the workplace. The article says something about the preference in general for characteristics that come with extraverts, but that organizations should become more aware of the skills introverts can bring to work: analytic, observant, not judging immediately. Some other characteristics: introverts need more ’self-time’ to recover from all the signals coming in and are not so assertive. Introverts walk into their boundaries more quickly, but recover more quickly than extraverts.

No doubt that I’m an introvert. I am an analytic observer and I totally need a quiet hour after a party.

The article made clear to me that living in an ‘extravert prefered’-world is why I always felt I fell short in some aspects. As a teenager I didn’t hang out with others a lot. I had a hard time grasping peer-behaviour, such as chatting about the hottest bloke from a certain boy-band, or worse, filling your diary with images of your favorite singer/actor/horse. I think I can count the number of times I went to the local disco on one hand (there were no other places where you could hang out as a teenager where I grew up). I often was criticized for this, not taking part in social acitivities, both by peers as by my parents.

Now it’s time to wrap my introvertness in the comfy blanket and celebrate all the good things this aspect of my personality brings me. For instance the ability to self-reflect .

(about the number)