Introverts are the new red

OK, I've finally drummed up the courage. It's time to come out of the closet... I am an introvert.

I must say that feels much better. Why should it be such a problem? Well, extrovert is good, introvert bad, isn't it? The world seems to be wrapped up in a love of the loud, a love for interaction. Everyone wants to be gregarious, assertive and the life and soul of the party don't they?

Views don't get listened to unless you're loud and brash. Can't be a leader unless you're an extrovert, can you? Don't like smalltalk? What's the matter with you? And kids are taught from an early age that wanting to work at something by yourself isn't right; teamwork is the buzzword. You really don't want to be an introvert... they're antisocial, they're loners.

But what if you've always enjoyed solitude? Why are you made to feel guilty if you prefer to work at something alone rather than with the group? Are big noisy parties attended by loads of people really the thing, rather than a small get together with family? Why is it good to waste time chatting about nothing of any importance?

What's caused these sudden thoughts that being an introvert is not so bad? Susan Cain's new book 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking'... a book in which she strongly champions the strengths of the introvert. Many of us are introverts. Some of the most influential people who ever lived were introverts. Susan asks us to rethink what being quiet, thoughtful and valuing solitude really means.

She argues we've moved from a cult of character, where people are valued for the good deeds they do when nobody's looking, to the cult of personality where magnetism and charisma are everything. Workplaces are more likely to be open plan with no escape from noise and bustle. Leaders are picked from the more outgoing candidates.

But team work isn't always the best way to achieve innovation and productivity... sometimes being able to go away by yourself and work things out is best. And there's some research indicating introverted leaders are more effective with their extrovert employees, being more likely to let them run with their ideas rather than a more dominant personality stamping their own views all over things.

Most importantly she ponders what we're doing to our kids in school, where most modern classrooms are designed for extroverts... class sizes of 30+ in environments where team work is the only option, where the reward is for being outgoing rather than original. That kid at the back who hardly ever speaks must have a problem. But maybe that kid in the back has the most original, wonderful ideas... though a quiet voice isn't easily heard in today's classrooms. There's some evidence that introverted children are more likely to be gifted.

When you think about it, historically we lived in small village groups where everyone was either family or knew you from birth. So the whole community saw you build your skills and your value to that community was recognised. I suspect if you went around shouting the odds and trying to make your mark verbally you'd have been thought a bit strange.

But as we changed from an agricultural to an industrial society in the 19th century the population moved to towns and cities where you were surrounded by people who didn't know you. These days especially, when many people work some distance from home and may move around locations, many acquaintances are only fleeting and if you're going to make your mark you'd better do it quickly.

Is the explosion of texting, tweeting and blogging a sign of extroverts using multiple channels of communication to achieve even greater noise? Or is it a sign of closet introverts finding a way of communicating on their own terms?

Interested, but not sure if it applies to you? Not surprising if you're hesitant, given the natural tendency when confronted with 'extrovert good : introvert bad' to mimic extrovert. And it's not black or white... there's a scale with extreme extrovert at one end, extreme introvert the other, with most of us somewhere in between. Me, I'm about here...

And yes, there's a word for people in the middle who demonstrate both extrovert and introvert qualities... they're called ambiverts.

So where are you on the scale? Here are examples to help. If you want to try it yourself just state if you agree or disagree whether each statement is a good description of you.

Statement	Nathan	Beatrice	Dave	Spencer	Anne
1. Life & soul of the party?	Agree	Agree	Agree	Disagree	Disagree
2. Enjoy being the centre of attention?	Agree	Disagree	Agree	Disagree	Disagree
3. Skilled in handling social situations?	Agree	Agree	Agree	Disagree	Disagree
4. Like to be where the action is?	Agree	Agree	Disagree	Agree	Disagree
5. Make new friends easily?	Agree	Agree	Disagree	Agree	Disagree
6. Quiet around strangers?	Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Disagree	Agree
7. Don't like to draw attention to yourself?	Disagree	Agree	Agree	Agree	Agree
8. Don't like to party?	Disagree	Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Agree
9. Like to work independently?	Disagree	Agree	Agree	Agree	Agree
10. Enjoy spending time by yourself?	Disagree	Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Agree
Score	100% extrovert	70% extrovert	50% extrovert 50% introvert	70% introvert	100% introvert

Table courtesy of Wikipedia

Did you try it? How did you score? Add up how many of the first five questions you answered 'agree' and how many of the last five you answered 'disagree'. If your score is higher than 5 you're more extrovert (e.g. a score of 6 would give you a 60% extrovert score).

If your score is less than 5, count the opposite way... how many of the first five questions you answered 'disagree', how many of the last five you answered 'agree'. Your score will now be more than 5 confirming you're more introvert (e.g. a score of 9 would give you 90% introvert).

As an alternative you can try Susan Cain's own quick test by clicking Are You an Extrovert or an Introvert?

Introverts are the new red? What's that all about?

Red is the colour most favoured by extroverts and is associated with heat and power. Blue is more likely to be the choice of introverts, signifying calm, inspiration and serenity.

Watch Susan Cain's amusing and informative twenty minute talk on The Power of Introverts.

Read Susan Cain's sixteen point Manifesto.

Introverts don't like to talk. Theyre rude and shy. Is that right? You'd better read Ten Myths About Introverts.

If you're a teacher, are your views of quiet children who don't participate anything like this?

Of course my attraction to Susan Cain's thoughts has nothing to do with her article Um, Ah, Er: Does Hesitation Make You a Better Speaker... though being an avid user of the term 'errr' to fill pauses it's like manna from heaven. On the last six minute radio interview with the BBC I used a magnificent total of 72. Yes, an unbelievable average of one 'errrr' every five seconds.