Business culture nowadays is skewed in favor of extroverts. In fact, you might even go so far as to say that society in general has a bias in favor of extroverts. When you meet someone congenial who knows how to carry on a conversation, they make a good impression on you.
What Are Shy/Introverted People Like?
People who stand in the corner at a party and don’t talk to anyone rarely make the same type of good first impression. However, this doesn’t mean that they’re not good people or that they’re unintelligent. It’s just that they’re shy; they think a great deal before they approach others and start a conversation. They might even have a little bit of social anxiety which makes them feel uncomfortable when approaching others.
After you’ve been talking to an introvert for a short while though, they are sure to open up to you. And when they do, you’re likely to find that they’re incredibly smart and have a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm about their chosen field.
Should You Hire an Introvert or an Extrovert?
If you’re an employer looking to hire a new person at your company, it’s easy to get carried away by the personality of the extrovert during the interview. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best person for the job.
Introverts might not answer all your interview questions at great length. They might not smile and nod throughout the interview. And they may not be full of compliments that make you feel good. But if you give them a task, they are sure to do it well.
Introverts, Attention Spans and Sensitivity
Introverts are more capable of sustained attention; in today’s world, this is a rare thing. They don’t allow themselves to get distracted by what other people are saying or doing. They have a habit of working with concentration. They might have achieved this by tuning out all distractions, either mentally or with the help of music or noise-cancelling headphones. Or they may just choose to work in environments where there is less noise and they can focus on what they’re doing.
Even when it comes to jobs where interacting with others is important, introverts can perform better than extroverts because they are sensitive to what the other person is thinking and feeling.
So whether you’re looking for an employee, a business associate, a consultant or a freelancer, keep in mind that working with someone who is an introvert can actually be to your advantage.