Are You an Introverted Boss? - Douglas R. Conant by Douglas R. Conant | 10:19 AM April 4, 2011 Every time I’ve taken a Meyers-Briggs test, I score high on the introversion scale. As an introvert, I enjoy being by myself. So how do I manage this? Introverts need thinking time. Introverts aren’t as aloof as they appear. One of the best ways I’ve found to help people overcome their discomfort around my behavior is to simply declare myself. I’ve also found that doing this helps people become much more comfortable about declaring themselves to me. Introverts benefit from familiar touchstones. In the end, we introverts never really change our stripes, though we too often put ourselves through painful contortions in attempting to adapt to other people’s styles. If you are an introvert — or work for one — what are the most successful strategies you have discovered? Douglas R.
30 Tips You Can Use To Approach Anyone In order to meet new people we have to actually approach and speak to them, which can be really nerve-wracking. Thankfully, Ivan Chan of Self Stairway has 30 tips to share that can make it far easier to approach anyone: It’s terrifying approaching someone for the first time. Naturally, you want to make a good first impression with this person, but you have no idea how they will react to you. Will they like you? Will they reject you? I used to be terrified of approaching people too. After all, a wealthy life is not just defined by how much money you have. I decided to work on my social skills. It took me years, but I eventually found a system that works–a system I’ll share with you today. You’re about to learn how to approach a stranger with confidence, charisma, and even a little flair. 1. Are you deathly afraid of approaching people? 2. You’ve decided to approach. No, not a stranger. You have to get in the right mindset. That is, you shouldn’t treat other people like a total stranger.
23 Signs You're Secretly An Introvert Think you can spot an introvert in a crowd? Think again. Although the stereotypical introvert may be the one at the party who’s hanging out alone by the food table fiddling with an iPhone, the “social butterfly” can just as easily have an introverted personality. “Spotting the introvert can be harder than finding Waldo,” Sophia Dembling, author of “The Introvert’s Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World,” tells The Huffington Post. “A lot of introverts can pass as extroverts.” People are frequently unaware that they’re introverts -– especially if they’re not shy — because they may not realize that being an introvert is about more than just cultivating time alone. “Introversion is a basic temperament, so the social aspect — which is what people focus on — is really a small part of being an introvert,” Dr. Despite the growing conversation around introversion, it remains a frequently misunderstood personality trait. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Essential Body Language for Negotiation In a consumer-driven society, human interaction is essential to sustaining economic success. How we communicate with each other determines how we live our lives and build relationships. Negotiation and communication are necessary skills in any relationship. Learning to control the signals you are sending with your body is a great way to ensure you will always get your point across clearly and without confusion. Regardless of what medium people use to interact and connect on (i.e. social media, email, text messaging, or face-to-face conversation), body language is used in every form of communication. Reading Body Language When it comes to personal happiness and success, it’s important to recognize how body language influences our interactions. Identify a Baseline: Baselining involves observing people when they’re not under pressure. Controlling Your Body Language In order to find a compromise during negotiations, it’s essential for you to have power over your own body language.
Will the Real Introverts Please Stand Up? | Beautiful Minds, Scientific American Blog Network The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Scientific American. Quick Quiz: Which of the following are signs of introversion? Highly sensitiveDeep ThinkerReflectiveIntrospectiveNegative emotionsSocially AnxiousDefensiveVulnerableAlways prefers solitude over social interaction Answer: Not a single one. Introversion is one of the most misunderstood dimensions of personality. But that’s not introversion. Common Misconceptions About Introversion Whereas Jung based his definitions of extraversion and introversion on his own theory, experience, and intuition, modern psychology identifies personality dimensions empirically, based on what patterns of behavior tend to go together within individuals. The most common misunderstanding of the extraversion-introversion dimension is that introverts are more introspective than extroverts. In fact, what many people ascribe to introversion really belongs in the intellect/imagination domain [1]. 1. Are you an introvert? 1.
Are You Surrounded By Idiots? Real Talk: You’re the Jerk, Not Them. Buoy designed by Gendalf Green from the Noun Project Finding the right person to help you with your project or career can make all the difference between spinning your wheels or a steadily improving success. On his blog, startup founder Nathan Kontny explains that the best way to find help is to first become that person yourself. Kontny writes: Everyday I bump into someone struggling to find someone to help them with their project or career. They are business people looking for technical co-founders or people…looking for someone else to write about [them].Now, from all these years in business, I realize that Matt Damon had it right. When you act on the behaviors of the person you’d ideally work with, as Kontny explains, two major things happen. The second benefit to becoming the person you’re seeking out is that you learn what their job or task entails, allowing you to more effectively spot the specific actions and accolades that your ideal partner will have. [via]
Relationships: The power of the introvert "Did you go out today?" asks my boyfriend after a long day at the office. It suddenly occurs to me that I am still in my pyjamas, working on my laptop and curled up in the same spot as when he left. "No; why?" Carl Jung coined the terms "introvert" and "extrovert" in 1913, just as Western society was moving from what could be called a culture of moral character ("Are you a jerk?") They're happy, outgoing and confident; we're guarded, private loners. "People often think of introversion as synonymous with being anti-social or asocial," says Susan Cain, proud introvert and author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. For the record, I have friends, I like to party when the mood's right and I can rock an extrovert costume like nobody's business. "Think of yourself as a battery," says Cain. Don't feel guilty if you're a dead Duracell - according to some psychologists, where you fall on the introvert/extrovert scale is coded in your DNA.
Weekend Reads: Maybe You’re Not an Introvert Famed designer Massimo Vignelli passed away this past month at the age 83. As a result of his nearly 60-year-long career, Vignelli left behind a lengthy legacy of creative wisdom. Included among the libraries of insights from his career, Vignelli gave us three essential components for building a fulfilling and successful creative life: vision, courage, and determination. As Vignelli explains in the video above: Nearly anyone can learn to use the tools and strategies other designers and illustrators use: Train yourself to have vision, courage, and determination. These three things, to me, are very important. Without vision, nothing separates you from any other “pencil pusher.” Take Vignelli’s wisdom and find your vision, train yourself to be courageous, and determine to be determined. Related: Andrew Zukerman on Curiosity, Rigor, and Learning as You Go
Giving introverts permission to be themselves Edgar, a sparkly New York socialite, was known for the engrossing tales he’d spin for guests at fundraisers he seemed to host nightly. In reality, the man would spend much of the day ahead of each party jotting down anecdotes on index cards, a nervous habit he’d developed in college. Edgar the social maven was actually a closet introvert: “I’d much rather sit and read and think about things than talk to people,” he told Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Studies suggest one out of every two or three people are introverts, but just like animals that carry shelter everywhere they go, many of us are “pseudo-extroverts” – introverts faking it through the social crush of modern life. Often overlooked or branded as “shy,” introverts have long been up against the “extrovert ideal,” which rewards the brash at school, at the office and at cocktail parties. But it wasn’t always this way. So introverts aren’t necessarily shy? It cuts both ways.
The Matt Damon Method of Finding Help Buoy designed by Gendalf Green from the Noun Project Finding the right person to help you with your project or career can make all the difference between spinning your wheels or a steadily improving success. On his blog, startup founder Nathan Kontny explains that the best way to find help is to first become that person yourself. Everyday I bump into someone struggling to find someone to help them with their project or career. When you act on the behaviors of the person you’d ideally work with, as Kontny explains, two major things happen. The second benefit to becoming the person you’re seeking out is that you learn what their job or task entails, allowing you to more effectively spot the specific actions and accolades that your ideal partner will have. Whether you’re looking for a business partner, a new team member, or someone to help you get the word out about your work, the first step to finding the right person is to act as they would. [via]