This is the century in which the introvert will “shine.” In the past, we have valued the extrovert more in the marketplace, because communication, negotiation, marketing/sales, etc. always occurred face-to-face, and the extrovert thrived in an atmosphere of “people presence” and lots of activity. The introvert, on the other hand, tended to be the back office person, perhaps the “number cruncher” or the researcher, but never the big deal closer or the one responsible for the successful marketing campaign. How things have changed! As we have moved into this digital age, there is far less need for the traditional marketing and sales campaigns; communication occurs via email and conferencing. And marketing? It’s all about content, not the “hard sell” anymore. The introvert thrives in this environment, while the extrovert finds him/herself a bit “out of touch.” The habits that introverts have developed since childhood now make them valued members of any organization and, as well, highly successful in most business environments.
THEY ARE COMFORTABLE ALONE WITH THEMSELVES
The introvert prefers a high level of “alone time” and this allows the type of reflection, creativity, and problem solution activities for which other personality types do not take the time. Introverts have minds that are fully engaged in aloneness rather than in the presences of the “noise” that others create. The alone time is when these individuals write the blog posts, devise content marketing strategies, and develop options for resolving issues within the organization. Moreover, because critical relationships with customers and potential customers are built online today, the introvert appears to be extremely successful n developing them.
THEY TEND TO BE BETTER AND MORE CREATIVE WRITERS
One of the habits that many introverts have had since their schooling years has been reading. What research shows is that people who read develop greater creativity and, as well, as much
better writers. In a new digital world in which content is so important, introverts tend to have great skill sets. They are able to maintain business blogs with engaging and compelling content; they are able to tell great stories; they are able to entertain through humor and to appeal to emotions through poignant tales. To the business that needs a significant web presence and needs to engage in content marketing, the introvert becomes an invaluable member of the organization.
THEY ARE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FREELANCERS
Many introverts also function as freelancers – in both web design and as content writers. These types of careers are particularly suited to their habits of working on their own, and they are extremely productive in these types of positions – it is the chance for their innate talents and skills to be showcased, not to mention the fact that it is an extremely lucrative career.
THEY TEND TO BE MORE FOCUSED
While extroverts have many talents and skills, they are often easily distracted by the people and events around them. Introverts, on the other hand, prefer to tackle projects in relative isolation without distraction. Introverts who are involved in project work with tight deadlines, then, are quite successful and certainly valuable to any organization.
THEY TAKE IMPORTANT RECOVERY TIME
It is often difficult for the extrovert to schedule “downtime.” S/he tends to be “on the go” until exhaustion sets in, and the “crash” comes. Introverts, on the other hand, plan for “downtime” after periods of socialization, and this time allows them to reflect and generate new ideas and creative solutions.
THEY ARE GOOD LISTENERS AND ABSORB WELL
Extroverts tend to want to focus on their thoughts and ideas, and they are so invested in those that they may fail to listen well. Introverts tend to hold back and absorb everyone’s thoughts and ideas. They then have more information and may use that to make suggestions and devise viable solutions. Good listening also allows introverts to establish better relationships with customers.