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As an introvert who has done some public speaking I can summarize it in one sentence. Get enough private time and rest before you speak, and after if you feel

As an introvert who has done some public speaking I can summarize it in one sentence. Get enough private time and rest before you speak, and after if you feel tired then. Introvert != shy Introvert != stage fright Introvert to me simply means I have a shorter energy supply when around people I don't know. The closer they are to me, the more I can be around them without getting tired. So don't equate introversion with social anxiety or inability to speak in public. So with that said, learning public speaking for introverts should follow the same rules as for anyone else.

gabes 9y ago
The definition of an introvert is a shy person.
- ionised 9y ago
  Except it isn't. I suggest you do some reading and educate yourself. No psychologist worth their salt would define an introvert that way.
- Raphmedia 9y ago
  It's only one of the definitions. If anything, it's the common one instead of being the scientific one. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/introvert http://www.dictionary.com/browse/introvert says: "introvert noun 1. a shy person. 2. Psychology. a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings (opposed to extrovert ). "
  - reddit_clone 9y ago
    No (2) doesn't sound right. It makes it sound synonymous to 'self centered', which I am sure most introverts are not.
    - sp332 9y ago
      Your "own thoughts" don't have to be about yourself. It just means you're paying less attention to what other people think or feel. (edit: added "don't")
- rhinoceraptor 9y ago
  I am pretty introverted. It's not that I'm shy, it's that conversations take a lot of mental energy for me, it's exhausting.
- jwbales 9y ago
  Agree with ionised and reddit_clone (below). I'm an introvert and I am definitely not shy, nor are my thoughts 'self centered'. It's simply that it takes more mental energy to engage with those I don't already know. [edit] to clarify to whom I'm agreeing.
- icebraining 9y ago
  Audrey Hepburn, Hollywood star and UNICEF Ambassador: "I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel."
- ailon 9y ago
  There a various definitions, but the one I like is: introverts exhaust energy while around people, extroverts recharge.
mrexroad 9y ago
Fellow INTP here. The conflation of introvert and shy is a continual source of frustration. Even my immediate family was dismissive when I casually mentioned I’m pretty deeply introverted.
- analog31 9y ago
  In my view, there are a lot of cases where people conflate the "clinical" and "popular" definitions of words. For instance if I say that I'm "depressed," it doesn't mean that I've been diagnosed with clinical depression. It just means that I'm bummed. Unfortunately, people will interpret your comments according to their own biases, and I've that a lot of people are biased to distrust or dislike introverts. For this reason, I would never admit to being an introvert, in a business setting. I would rather tell people that I'm mildly extroverted, and then let them believe what they want.
  - mixmastamyk 9y ago
    Why would you be discussing your personal attributes in a business setting?
    - analog31 9y ago
      Interestingly, I once worked for an employer that required everybody to take a personality test. The results were never discussed with anybody, and the whole thing could have been a bunch of hocus pocus, but it nonetheless raised the issue.
      - INTPenis 9y ago
        It's actually pretty common to do personality testing in businesses. Some hire an MBTI consultant for whole workshop days. Some just order a pre-made test.
        analog31 9y ago
        When taking the test, it should be possible to identify the questions that code for the "extrovert" and "introvert" scale.
H1Supreme 9y ago
All of this. Like a lot of us that frequent HN (I'm assuming), I'm introverted af. I'm not shy though.
xkcd-sucks 9y ago
So if I'm shy and experience crippling stage fright, what am I?
- grzm 9y ago
  You're shy and experience crippling stage fright. That might sound trite, but it's better than trying to otherwise fit you in one of two boxes that don't accurately (nor intend to) take those two features into account.

gabes 9y ago

The definition of an introvert is a shy person.

ionised 9y ago
Except it isn't. I suggest you do some reading and educate yourself. No psychologist worth their salt would define an introvert that way.
Raphmedia 9y ago
It's only one of the definitions. If anything, it's the common one instead of being the scientific one. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/introvert http://www.dictionary.com/browse/introvert says: "introvert noun 1. a shy person. 2. Psychology. a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings (opposed to extrovert ). "
- reddit_clone 9y ago
  No (2) doesn't sound right. It makes it sound synonymous to 'self centered', which I am sure most introverts are not.
  - sp332 9y ago
    Your "own thoughts" don't have to be about yourself. It just means you're paying less attention to what other people think or feel. (edit: added "don't")
rhinoceraptor 9y ago
I am pretty introverted. It's not that I'm shy, it's that conversations take a lot of mental energy for me, it's exhausting.
jwbales 9y ago
Agree with ionised and reddit_clone (below). I'm an introvert and I am definitely not shy, nor are my thoughts 'self centered'. It's simply that it takes more mental energy to engage with those I don't already know. [edit] to clarify to whom I'm agreeing.
icebraining 9y ago
Audrey Hepburn, Hollywood star and UNICEF Ambassador: "I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel."
ailon 9y ago
There a various definitions, but the one I like is: introverts exhaust energy while around people, extroverts recharge.

mrexroad 9y ago

Fellow INTP here. The conflation of introvert and shy is a continual source of frustration. Even my immediate family was dismissive when I casually mentioned I’m pretty deeply introverted.

analog31 9y ago
In my view, there are a lot of cases where people conflate the "clinical" and "popular" definitions of words. For instance if I say that I'm "depressed," it doesn't mean that I've been diagnosed with clinical depression. It just means that I'm bummed. Unfortunately, people will interpret your comments according to their own biases, and I've that a lot of people are biased to distrust or dislike introverts. For this reason, I would never admit to being an introvert, in a business setting. I would rather tell people that I'm mildly extroverted, and then let them believe what they want.
- mixmastamyk 9y ago
  Why would you be discussing your personal attributes in a business setting?
  - analog31 9y ago
    Interestingly, I once worked for an employer that required everybody to take a personality test. The results were never discussed with anybody, and the whole thing could have been a bunch of hocus pocus, but it nonetheless raised the issue.
    - INTPenis 9y ago
      It's actually pretty common to do personality testing in businesses. Some hire an MBTI consultant for whole workshop days. Some just order a pre-made test.
      - analog31 9y ago
        When taking the test, it should be possible to identify the questions that code for the "extrovert" and "introvert" scale.

H1Supreme 9y ago

All of this. Like a lot of us that frequent HN (I'm assuming), I'm introverted af. I'm not shy though.

xkcd-sucks 9y ago

So if I'm shy and experience crippling stage fright, what am I?

grzm 9y ago
You're shy and experience crippling stage fright. That might sound trite, but it's better than trying to otherwise fit you in one of two boxes that don't accurately (nor intend to) take those two features into account.