I just read an article from CNN.com entitled "Secrets of a Super Successful Introvert." Now, I have never been able to tell if I am extrovert or introvert. I feel like I am way not outgoing enough to be an extrovert, but I love people and love being around friends too much to be an introvert. Having said this, I read all the secrets listed on this article, and every single last one of them described me perfectly. I got giddy reading it. The secrets they name go like this:
1. Talk deeply. "They seek out deep, serious conversations in which they can focus on a single topic of mutual interest."..... Yes. This is me for sure. My closest friends know this. I can do small talk, but its much more of a drag than talking about meaningful things.
2. Work alone. "Solitude is a catalyst for expert performance.".... Again, I love being around people. But when it comes to my school work, I hardly ever work in groups. I know how I operate under study, and I get a ton done when I study alone.
3. Read more. "Reading can be a deeply social act, putting you inside other people's minds."... If I didn't have to do school work, I would be with my friends and read all the time. I cannot get enough of good books.
4. Listen well. "It turns out that listening is key to good leadership: New research by Grant and his colleagues has revealed that introverted leaders often deliver better outcomes than extroverts, because they're more likely to consider other people's suggestions."... Once again, me. I feel like I do better at listening in a conversation than talking, and I naturally want to hear what others have to say.
5. Get away, small scale. "Minibreaks help you relax so you can gain access to your deeper feelings and insights."... Sometimes I need little spurts of "Nikko time" for me to recharge and recoup.
6. Use quiet commitment to achieve your goals. "Instead of taking strong stands in a loud voice, they make insightful suggestions in a gentle tone."... I have a lot to say, but I don't feel like I hardly ever speak up in a loud or aggressive way. I am more subtle than that.
This is so interesting and serendipitous. A nice and unexpected reflection on myself. Thoughts?
Let's talk about god sometime, because that is a deep conversation and I need another introvert to convince me he's real.
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