How To Function as an Introvert
Describe yourself in three words.. if any of the three come out as shy, reserved, hidden, or something similar, you know that your personality leans to the introverted side. For those who do have this side to them, they know all too well that there is some difficulty in working with others who aren’t shy and are in fact quite boisterous.
The problem is that people react to the talkative and the outgoing. Those that are already outgoing relate to them and those that are reserved rely on them to network, start conversations, and to put themselves out there. The biggest advantage that extroverted personalities have is that they’re better able to broadcast who they are and what they want to others. People seek to gather knowledge from others and it’s much easier to gather from those that reveal their personalities themselves.
So, with all the advantages that extroverts have in building relationships and relating to others, one has to wonder how more reserved individuals can thrive in such a world. There’s certainly a way, you just have to be creative about it. There are ways in which you can turn being an introvert into a strength and not a detriment.
1. Own your individuality – One of the first steps you should take to ease your mind is to realize that you don’t always have to be the most outgoing or energetic and that it’s ok to realize this is the case. You don’t have to act out of character to thrive, you can be yourself in all situations. People like others that are genuine, work on ways to improve yourself how you would like, but don’t feel the immediate pressure to have to change everything at once.
2. Be the person others feel comfortable around – Lots of people may gravitate toward the boisterous crowd, but others may prefer someone they can feel comfortable around without having to match wits. Those that are reserved may have a calming presence that’s easily approachable, a trait that’s easy to be around. If you’re an individual that tends to be more reserved, show others that you can be approached and you’ll notice lots of people will start to gravitate toward you.
3. Imitate social skills – If you’re an introvert, there’s a good chance that you’re good at observation. If social skills are something that you are lacking, observe the skills of someone outgoing that you look up to. Notice one or two things that they do well that makes them stand out as an outgoing individual. Try to practice these traits in your own life, no matter how small. The momentum of these first steps will help carry you to a more outgoing lifestyle.
4. People want to hear you – Notice how individuals who love to talk are more like to speak generally about what’s on their mind – they share how their day’s going, how their weekend went, the headlines of the day, etc. People get used to them talking and don’t much about it. You can use this to your advantage – don’t be afraid to share details of your life with others. You don’t have to be as calculated with your conversation as you think, others will find you more likeable when you let you guard down and share.
5. Use your downtime well – Introverted personalities cherish their downtime – it’s a way that they recoup within themselves. Use this time to plan your next move, whether personally or socially. You’ll find that if you have a plan for social interactions it’ll be easier to thrive once they occur.
6. You’re a deep thinker, share your thoughts with others -Introverts have a reputation for being deep thinkers, and it’s true for a lot of them. Your ability to see things from all sides can really distinguish your ideas from others. Your thoughts and ideas have value, don’t be afraid to speak up when you believe others can really benefit from them.
7. Above all, don’t be afraid to bring others into your world – There’s a perception that introverts don’t like to let people into their lives. Others want to connect with you but may not know what makes you tic. Show others something you’re passionate about, they’ll get a better understanding of who you are and what drives you. A connection will grow and you’ll feel more comfortable sharing pieces of your life in the future.
