Introverts, This Week Celebrates the Quiet Genius That Is YOU

National Introvert Week

Introverts, this week honors the uniquely quiet genius that is YOU...in all your awkward, misfit glory. The world may be overwhelmingly extroverted, but that only makes your innovative problem-solving abilities more valuable, so embrace your socially selective selves and celebrate your innate strengths. Extroverts, keep reading for some riveting facts about your enigmatic counterparts!

Introverts 101 for Extroverts

Introverts are unconventional in many ways, but the most basic differentiator is that unlike extroverts, who draw energy from being around people, introverts expend energy when they socialize. Which is why they retreat…they need alone time afterwards to replenish themselves.

Introverts aren't antisocial, they're selectively social...big difference. They socialize on their terms since their ability to interact with others depends on where their fuel gauge is. The conundrum for introverts is wanting to be included and get invited to things but reserving the right to decline or sit out if their tank is too close to “E." FYI, coercing or cajoling an introvert to socialize rarely works or ends well and it dishonors their nature, so let them be who they are if you value them and/or their friendship.

Most introverts also aren't shy, which is another misperception. They're inwardly focused, as opposed to seeking external stimulation. They're far more likely to hang with a good book than hit the party circuit, so naturally, we encourage that. They conserve energy, especially in conversations, and generally loathe small talk, preferring genuine conversations about things that are meaningful to them. At events and gatherings, they typically observe from the periphery before diving into the core. Once there, they'll actively engage others and participate in conversations.

One method you'll see them use is the "lap and rest" technique that emulates swimmers in a pool...they'll do a couple of laps of the room, make their way to the edge, rest, and repeat. The gears in their brain never stop turning, so when the "on" switch is flipped, they have a lot to say sometimes. If you're lucky enough to get an introvert talking about a topic that excites them, you may not be able to shut them up. (Just roll with it…all that thinking means there's a good chance you'll learn something or be amused!)

Other things introverts aren't by nature: loners, arrogant, heartless, passive, timid, oblivious, party poopers, villains, repressed, wallflowers, depressed, rude, shut-ins, insecure, or broken.

Famous Introverts

• Bill Gates
• Dr. Seuss
• J.K. Rowling
• Albert Einstein
• Elon Musk
• Steven Spielberg
• Mark Zuckerberg
• Nicola Tesla
• Audrey Hepburn
• Rosa Parks
• Michael Jordan
• Warren Buffet
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Charles Darwin

You Might Be an Introvert If...

• You like being alone, whether it's with a good book (ahem), Netflix and your remote, or with your dog on a hiking trail, and you feel recharged by it.
• You detest and/or avoid environments that overwhelm or distract you and have a hard time focusing when you're surrounded by external stimulation.
• Your group of close friends is small and well-vetted…not many people make it into your inner circle, but once they do, they're in.
• You play well with others, but you do your best work independently.
• Being around a bunch of people exhausts you and you run and hide after a big party.
• When people meet you, they think you're shy or hard to get to know, maybe even intimidating, and they can't quite figure you out.
• You prefer learning by watching, then replicating and practicing, and you like observing a situation before participating.
• You're self-aware and analytical...you know your motivations for doing do what you do, why you think the thinks you do, and feel the feelings you do.

Specific Types of Introverts

Those familiar with Myers-Briggs know there are 16 personality variations within the MBTI world, eight of which are introvert-dominant, and two of which comprise the rarest of the rare among the population—INTJ females (0.5%) and INFJ (1.5%)—the veritable unicorns of humans. For the unfamiliar, MBTI is based on the work of Carl Jung, and there are four sets of two opposing components. Everyone has a bit of each, but one trait from each set is dominant, which is what determines your personality. The traits are Extraverted (E) vs. Introverted (I), Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N), Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F), and Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P). (Judging as in assessing, not being judgmental.)

ISTJ – The Inspector (11.6%): Detail-oriented, realistic, present-focused, observant, logical and practical, orderly, organized, judgmental, tends to blame others, can be insensitive.

ISTP – The Crafter (5.4%): Logical, learns by experience, action and solution-oriented, realistic, practical, easygoing, enjoys new things, self-confident, difficult to get to know, can be insensitive, easily bored, risk-taker, dislikes commitment.

ISFJ – The Protector (13.8%): Reliable, practical, sensitive to emotions of others, eye for detail, grounded, prefers reality and facts to abstract concepts, protective of tradition, avoids confrontation, dislikes change, neglects own needs.

ISFP – The Artist (8.8%): Very aware of their environment, practical, enjoys hands-on learning, loyal to values and beliefs, caring, considerate, dislikes theoretical information, reserved, quiet, strong need for personal space, dislikes arguments and conflict.

INFJ – The Advocate (1.5%): Sensitive to the needs of others, reserved, highly creative and artistic, focused on the future, values close, deep relationships, enjoys thinking about the meaning of life, and idealistic. Dislikes confrontation, can be overly sensitive and stubborn.

INFP – The Mediator (4.4%): Loyal and devoted, sensitive to feelings, caring and interested in others, works well solo, values close relationships, good at seeing the big picture, can be overly idealistic, takes things personally, distant, can lose sight of little things and overlook details.

INTJ – The Architect (2.1%): Analytical, logical, objective, enjoys abstract theoretical concepts, big-picture oriented, has high expectations, good listener, can handle criticism, self-confident, hardworking, perfectionistic, dislikes discussing emotions, can seem callous or insensitive.

INTP – The Thinker (3.3%): Logical, objective, abstract thinker, independent, loyal, affectionate with loved ones, difficult to get to know, can be insensitive, prone to self-doubt, struggles to follow rules, has trouble expressing feelings.

Introvert Reads

• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
• The Introvert's Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World by Sophia Dembling
• The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
• The Year of the Introvert: A Journal of Daily Inspiration for the Inwardly Inclined by Michaela Chung
• The Introvert's Advantage: The Introverts Guide to Succeeding in an Extrovert World by Michele Gilbert
• The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World by Marti Olsen Laney (She also wrote The Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child, because little introverts are born that way.)
• Success as an Introvert for Dummies by Joan Pastor
• Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story by Debbie Tung
• The Dynamic Introvert: Leading Quietly with Passion and Purpose by Lesley Taylor

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Read more by Beth Clark