3 ms·

I would prefer articles like this were titled 'How Timid People Can Learn to be Leaders'. I think the author means well, and perhaps this is valid for a certai

I would prefer articles like this were titled 'How Timid People Can Learn to be Leaders'. I think the author means well, and perhaps this is valid for a certain type of introvert, but these types of articles bother me. I'm an introvert and I have no problem with public speaking, I run my own company and I've been a manager over various teams and project, both large and small. There is more than one definition of introvert - for me it's the one "A person predominantly concerned with their own thoughts and feelings rather than with external things." If anything, I'm self-centered and self-absorbed, but I am certainly not bashful. I've had it described to me as this: extroverts work out solutions by talking, introverts work out solutions thinking. Meaning, I think internally, I mull over things in order to get them straight in my head, and I can work for days without speaking to a soul. But I am not shy, bashful or even remotely timid. I think people who use the 'I can't engage because I'm an introvert' would be better served by admitting they are shy and work on that. There is nothing wrong with having an introvert or extrovert mindset, and we need both in the world, but always equating introversion with bashfulness is a mistake in my eyes.

dbla 13y ago
Aren't those some of the exact same points that the author was making? "People think that being an extrovert means that you like being around people, and therefore an introvert “ doesn’t like people,” but that’s not true. There’s just no way I would have chosen to spend my life working with college students if I didn’t like people! People also tend to think that introverts have a fear of public speaking, but that’s also a fallacy."
- saraid216 13y ago
  > "People also tend to think that introverts have a fear of public speaking, but that’s also a fallacy." I just what no. "Fallacy" is not a fancy word for "wrong".
- freerobby 13y ago
  The headline is very bad though, and seemingly oblivious to that point.
jggube 13y ago
Though I disagree with you on your issues with the title of the post, I did really like how you've described your definition of an introvert. That you can prefer to be an introvert but still embody qualities that we associate with extroverts (which is what the article is about.) Under your definition, I'm definitely an introvert. I have no issues with public speaking, leading people, or being shy. But if given a choice, I'd rather spend time thinking by myself, I would rather sit quietly and listen to other people in a dinner table, I prefer working on my own, and having peaceful alone time at home to "recharge" instead of going out.
bored 13y ago
I don't think you read the article

dbla 13y ago

Aren't those some of the exact same points that the author was making? "People think that being an extrovert means that you like being around people, and therefore an introvert “ doesn’t like people,” but that’s not true. There’s just no way I would have chosen to spend my life working with college students if I didn’t like people! People also tend to think that introverts have a fear of public speaking, but that’s also a fallacy."

saraid216 13y ago
> "People also tend to think that introverts have a fear of public speaking, but that’s also a fallacy." I just what no. "Fallacy" is not a fancy word for "wrong".
freerobby 13y ago
The headline is very bad though, and seemingly oblivious to that point.

jggube 13y ago

Though I disagree with you on your issues with the title of the post, I did really like how you've described your definition of an introvert. That you can prefer to be an introvert but still embody qualities that we associate with extroverts (which is what the article is about.) Under your definition, I'm definitely an introvert. I have no issues with public speaking, leading people, or being shy. But if given a choice, I'd rather spend time thinking by myself, I would rather sit quietly and listen to other people in a dinner table, I prefer working on my own, and having peaceful alone time at home to "recharge" instead of going out.

bored 13y ago

I don't think you read the article