7 ms·

> I don't see how anyone could identify an introvert (or an extrovert) from a conversation in a business setting. Given a long enough conversation, I can most

> I don't see how anyone could identify an introvert (or an extrovert) from a conversation in a business setting. Given a long enough conversation, I can most of the time. Let's also keep in mind the true meaning of Introverts (and extraverts) https://carlkingdom.com/10-myths-about-introverts https://carlkingdom.com/10-myths-about-introverts and not the common misunderstood concepts of shy/anxiety symptoms.

Graffur 5y ago
Thanks for posting but the definitions of introvert and extrovert have been abused so much at this stage. The pandemic made it worse. I have heard people claim introverts are happy with lockdowns and don't want to go back to the office.
- sharken 5y ago
  If you follow the notion that extroverts talk a lot, then by definition an introvert is the opposite. My own interpretation is that introverts focus on getting things done, which is just a lot easier to do without distractions, e.g. away from the office. Also, for me the #3 trait of a good leader is the most important, you have to display technical and professional expertise. When your work is of a technical nature, it doesn't inspire confidence in your leader if they have no technical knowledge.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - 8fGTBjZxBcHq 5y ago
    If introverts focus on getting things done what do extroverts do in your eyes? Just hang out? There's a book about this called Quiet, I it. It's an overview of the like social history of the concepts of intro- and extroversion, and also research about these traits. The difference seems to be more about stimulation and arousal than like social preferences or anything to do with work. Introverts get more aroused from the same stimulus than extroverts do. This manifests in a bunch of different ways. The social ones are most obvious because human connection is the most common source of intense stimulus in human lives. But for example extroverts are more likely to be "adrenaline junkies" because they need more stimulus to feel the same degree of excitement. This has nothing to do at all with social stuff or talking or "getting things done" it's just a thing. There are dozens or hundreds of correlations like this. The interpersonal and social differences are the most obvious effects, but they aren't at the core of what these things are.
    - neonological 5y ago
      I feel a lot of introverts enjoy patting themselves on the back. Case in point you found a book called quiet. Is there a book on the other side of the spectrum called "loud"?
      - 8fGTBjZxBcHq 5y ago
        Did it not register that the very first sentence of my comment was calling the other poster out for that sort of self-congratulatory introvert framing? Did you read anything in what I described of the book that seemed overwhelmingly positive about introverts because it kind of isn't. Are you under the impression that I'm an introvert? Because uh no. I get what you're saying I just don't see why you're saying it to me I guess.
        neonological 5y ago
        My bad. Apologies. It actually didn't register.
        8fGTBjZxBcHq 5y ago
        Haha fair enough, sorry I was kind of snarky about it. I thought you were intentionally misinterpreting to start an argument. Good lesson about giving people the benefit of the doubt for both of us I guess.
  - NikolaNovak 5y ago
    >>"My own interpretation is that introverts focus on getting things done," I think there's an implicit unstated assumption here of what "getting things done" means. When I was a "individual contributor" / "Subject matter expert" for most of my career, that indeed may have meant sitting down alone and coding / configuring / etc. In a leadership role now, "getting things done" for my role is now 100% about engaging with other people, supporting them, understanding them, motivating them, guiding them (in as subtle and non-invasive and stealth method as manageable:). This has been a big hurdle / growth opportunity for me as an introvert, but also gave me a ton of new perspectives I haven't had first two decades of my work.
  - matwood 5y ago
    I don't need to be an expert in security to listen to my security person explain an issue that needs to be fixed. It does make it easier to empathize because I've been in the code trenches before, but it's certainly not required for a good leader. A good leader has many traits, and almost all of them start with communication. Like technology, leadership can also be learned. The downside of learning good leadership, is then you see all the bad leadership that stands out. For example, blaming someone else or otherwise not taking ownership of a mistake is bad at any level, but really the sign of a terrible leader.
- danaris 5y ago
  I mean...I am an introvert, living with two other introverts, and we're all thrilled with work-from-home, and don't particularly want to go back to the office. Some of this is, indeed, because of our introversion, and what that means for regular interactions in an office setting. Some of it is for other practical reasons. But I wouldn't be so arrogant as to attempt to generalize from even a small handful of examples to an entire population.
karaterobot 5y ago
> Given a long enough conversation, I can most of the time. I also feel like I can diagnose people, but most of the time I have no empirical evidence that I'm right. How do you get that evidence in your case?
- corobo 5y ago
  Given a long enough conversation the introvert finds an excuse to leave haha

Graffur 5y ago

Thanks for posting but the definitions of introvert and extrovert have been abused so much at this stage. The pandemic made it worse. I have heard people claim introverts are happy with lockdowns and don't want to go back to the office.

sharken 5y ago
If you follow the notion that extroverts talk a lot, then by definition an introvert is the opposite. My own interpretation is that introverts focus on getting things done, which is just a lot easier to do without distractions, e.g. away from the office. Also, for me the #3 trait of a good leader is the most important, you have to display technical and professional expertise. When your work is of a technical nature, it doesn't inspire confidence in your leader if they have no technical knowledge.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- 8fGTBjZxBcHq 5y ago
  If introverts focus on getting things done what do extroverts do in your eyes? Just hang out? There's a book about this called Quiet, I it. It's an overview of the like social history of the concepts of intro- and extroversion, and also research about these traits. The difference seems to be more about stimulation and arousal than like social preferences or anything to do with work. Introverts get more aroused from the same stimulus than extroverts do. This manifests in a bunch of different ways. The social ones are most obvious because human connection is the most common source of intense stimulus in human lives. But for example extroverts are more likely to be "adrenaline junkies" because they need more stimulus to feel the same degree of excitement. This has nothing to do at all with social stuff or talking or "getting things done" it's just a thing. There are dozens or hundreds of correlations like this. The interpersonal and social differences are the most obvious effects, but they aren't at the core of what these things are.
  - neonological 5y ago
    I feel a lot of introverts enjoy patting themselves on the back. Case in point you found a book called quiet. Is there a book on the other side of the spectrum called "loud"?
    - 8fGTBjZxBcHq 5y ago
      Did it not register that the very first sentence of my comment was calling the other poster out for that sort of self-congratulatory introvert framing? Did you read anything in what I described of the book that seemed overwhelmingly positive about introverts because it kind of isn't. Are you under the impression that I'm an introvert? Because uh no. I get what you're saying I just don't see why you're saying it to me I guess.
      - neonological 5y ago
        My bad. Apologies. It actually didn't register.
        8fGTBjZxBcHq 5y ago
        Haha fair enough, sorry I was kind of snarky about it. I thought you were intentionally misinterpreting to start an argument. Good lesson about giving people the benefit of the doubt for both of us I guess.
- NikolaNovak 5y ago
  >>"My own interpretation is that introverts focus on getting things done," I think there's an implicit unstated assumption here of what "getting things done" means. When I was a "individual contributor" / "Subject matter expert" for most of my career, that indeed may have meant sitting down alone and coding / configuring / etc. In a leadership role now, "getting things done" for my role is now 100% about engaging with other people, supporting them, understanding them, motivating them, guiding them (in as subtle and non-invasive and stealth method as manageable:). This has been a big hurdle / growth opportunity for me as an introvert, but also gave me a ton of new perspectives I haven't had first two decades of my work.
- matwood 5y ago
  I don't need to be an expert in security to listen to my security person explain an issue that needs to be fixed. It does make it easier to empathize because I've been in the code trenches before, but it's certainly not required for a good leader. A good leader has many traits, and almost all of them start with communication. Like technology, leadership can also be learned. The downside of learning good leadership, is then you see all the bad leadership that stands out. For example, blaming someone else or otherwise not taking ownership of a mistake is bad at any level, but really the sign of a terrible leader.
danaris 5y ago
I mean...I am an introvert, living with two other introverts, and we're all thrilled with work-from-home, and don't particularly want to go back to the office. Some of this is, indeed, because of our introversion, and what that means for regular interactions in an office setting. Some of it is for other practical reasons. But I wouldn't be so arrogant as to attempt to generalize from even a small handful of examples to an entire population.

karaterobot 5y ago

> Given a long enough conversation, I can most of the time. I also feel like I can diagnose people, but most of the time I have no empirical evidence that I'm right. How do you get that evidence in your case?

corobo 5y ago
Given a long enough conversation the introvert finds an excuse to leave haha