Introverts often grow up feeling out of place. After all, we live in a noisy, fast-paced world. But while life may seem to revolve around extroverts, introverts’ contributions are just as important.
I’m a brand and storytelling expert, author of Personal Branding for Introverts, and a speaker who has worked with large corporations and executives at companies like Lego, Adobe, and Microsoft. I’m an introvert myself, a fact that often surprises people.
Much of the advice for introverts in the workplace says that you should pretend to be an extrovert to succeed, but that’s not the answer.
Introverts possess a number of highly coveted qualities that benefit both themselves and those around them. Here are some of my favorite superpowers to help introverts excel.
1. Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage your emotions to communicate well, deal with stressful situations, empathize with others, and overcome challenges. This is the building block that allows introverts to build healthy relationships, achieve career goals, connect with their emotions, and make the right decisions.
As introverts, we can pick up on conversational cues and identify people’s strengths. When we choose to interact with people, we often connect deeply with them.
2. Effective communication
Introverts are often described as quiet and shy, but these traits aren’t true for everyone. In fact, some of my introverted friends are powerful speakers, emcees, and presenters who can easily command hundreds or even thousands of attendees. I’ve seen it happen!
Introverts may find ice-breaking, small talk, and networking difficult, but they can have meaningful conversations with those close to them. Most people are good listeners, pay attention to detail, and respond well.
3. Independence
I believe that even introverts can grow independently. Independence is different from loneliness. It reflects a fulfilled existence. Relying on and socializing with others is an important part of life, but relying too much on others can hinder your growth and success. In my experience, introverts often prefer to work quietly and independently to achieve their goals.
4. Creativity and active imagination
When I was little, I loved playing on the hubcap flats on the playground. I was going to pretend it was a cooking station and use it as a prop to host a fantasy food TV show. Introverts enjoy immersing themselves in their imaginations through reading (I loved reading comics and fantasy books), writing, arts and crafts, and daydreaming.
Psychologist Hans-Jürgen Eysenck says that creativity and introversion often go hand in hand. In his acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize in Literature, Ernest Hemingway said that writers must spend time in solitude in order to produce their best work.
5. Self-awareness
Self-awareness is a rare skill that can only be developed through deep introspection. Research shows that people who are self-aware are more confident, make better decisions, and have better relationships.
6. Deep thinking
I did well in high school and earned a degree from a prestigious university. I used deep concentration to achieve success, but if I had been more interested in meeting people or going out, I’m not sure I would have had the time or resources to accomplish these things.
In a 2012 study, Abram J. Holmes and other prominent researchers found that introverts have thicker gray matter in their prefrontal cortex. This area of the brain is associated with abstract thought processes and decision-making, which helps explain why introverts like me spend so much time thinking. Introverts often prefer spending time alone, giving them the freedom and space to think deeply and generate new insights and ideas.
7. Problem solving
Introverts are inherently good problem solvers, with an innate ability to consider and process multiple solutions while identifying potential pitfalls. They often take a broader view, synthesize information from multiple sources, connect the hidden dots of a problem, and ultimately arrive at a clear solution.
8. Good leadership
It’s a common misconception that leadership positions are best suited for extroverts. However, introverts have many characteristics that make them highly effective and caring leaders.
Caring helps build trust, loyalty, and rapport among team members. Empathy allows us to be attuned to the needs and emotions of others. And a leader’s deep understanding fosters a welcoming environment where team members feel appreciated, valued, and supported.
Goldie Chan is a creative keynote speaker, author, and cancer survivor. She was named “LinkedIn’s Oprah” by Huffington Post and her creative video channel earned her a top social media voice on LinkedIn. In 2018, Goldie founded Warm Robots, an award-winning social media strategy and creative agency based in Los Angeles with clients around the world. She writes columns for Forbes and writes for Archie Comics. She is the author of “Personal Branding for Introverts.”
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