5 Myths About Introverts and Extroverts

Adam Grant, in a blog post, 5 Myths About Introverts and Extroverts, debunked five strongly held beliefs about introverts.  Grant has been recognized as Wharton’s top-rated teacher for four straight years, as one of the world’s top 40 business professors under 40, and as one of HR’s most influential international thinkers.  He is the author of Give and Take, a New York Times bestselling book, and Originals, which examines how to reject conformity and champion new ideas.

Grant notes in his post, that despite growing and professional acceptance, and perhaps due to Susan Cain’s book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, introverts are still misunderstood.  Everyone continues to cling to beliefs that don’t stand the test of rigorous research.

Here are the five debunked myths about introverts and extroverts:

1.  Extroverts get energy from social interaction, whereas introverts get energy from privately reflecting on their thoughts and feelings.

Although this is a quote from MBTI materials, there is a significant body of research that says, not true.  Introverts and extroverts spend similar amounts of time with others and both enjoy the interactions about as much.  Grant writes:  “the energizing hours and weeks for all of us are those that involve more active social interaction, regardless of whether we’re working, reading, eating, or partying.”

Introverts and extroverts are different in their sensitivity to simulation.  Introverts are more prone to becoming over stimulated by intense or prolonged social interaction and then need to recharge by reflecting on your thoughts and feelings.  In contrast, extroverts crave stimulation – skydiving, and very active involvement with others.  Introverts enjoy retreating to a quiet place either alone or with a friend.

2.  Introverts are plagued by public speaking anxiety.

Introverts do experience more anxiety than extroverts about speaking.  However, research has shown that about 85% of it has nothing to do with introversion or extroversion.  The largest components have to do with being anxious in general, believing that the audience will not be kind, and fearing they will bomb the speech.  Malcolm Gladwell, an introvert who speaks a lot said:  “[Speaking] has nothing to do with extroversion.  It’s a performance, and many performers are hugely introverted.“

3.  Extroverts make better leaders than introverts.  

While there are more extroverts in leadership positions, research by Grant, Francesca Gino and Dave Hoffman has shown that extroverts and introverts were equally successful as leaders.  However, they excelled with different kinds of individuals.  Extroverts had the enthusiasm and assertiveness to get the best out of passive followers.  Introverts were more effective in leading individuals who were proactive, who put suggestions forward, who improved work processes. Introversion is not the opposite of leadership; it’s simply one way of doing it.

4.  Extroverts are better networkers than introverts.

It’s true that extroverts have larger networks than introverts.  But, great networking isn’t about quantity, it’s about the quality of the relationship.  Observations suggest that extroverts can be overbearing, engage in behaviors that create high initial expectations, but fail to deliver.  Introverts are often just as comfortable networking as extroverts.  (We sometimes confuse “shyness” with introversion.  It’s something different and extroverts can also be shy.)  They, too, initiate conversations with those they don’t know at events and have meaningful interactions.

5.  Extroverts are better salespeople than introverts.

This is a commonly held belief.  However, the average correlation between extroversion and sales performance is zero.  The reason is fairly simple:  most people are ambiverts, neither introverted nor extroverted.  They sit right in the middle of the spectrum and based on the situation can behave in either introverted or extroverted ways.  With regard to sales, ambiverts brought in more sales revenue than introverts or extroverts.  Ambiverts have the flexibility to adapt to the demands of the situation.  Dan Pink gives this advice:  “Get in touch with your inner ambivert.”

So, what’s the point here?  Resist being forced into a category.  Some of what we’ve heard about introverts and extroverts is myth, and there is a big gap between the extremes where we can learn to function more effectively.