Extroversion is one of the most widely talked about personality characteristics of all time. There have been books written about extroversion and introversion, TED Talks have been given, and there are dozens of online tests and opinions about this every present personality characteristic. It might be the most widely talked about personality characteristic because it makes a lot of sense and people can easily self-identify their own level of extroversion.
In this post, we'll discuss the relevance of extroversion as it relates to the workplace, the pros and cons of extroverts on the job, and how to become extroverted.
What we'll cover
Extroversion is the quality of being outgoing and directing attention to things other than yourself. It’s characterized by sociability, assertiveness, talkativeness, and excitability.
People who are high in extroversion seek out social stimulation and love to engage with others. Those who are low in extroversion (introverts), on the other hand, tend to be more quiet, reserved, and less involved in social situations.
In the simplest terms, extroversion and introversion refers to the way a person “recharges” and processes stimuli. People with high extroversion gain energy by spending time with other people, while introverts gain energy through solitude.
Western society often values and celebrates extroverts, but that doesn’t mean that extroverts are better in the workplace. Introversion and Extroversion both have strengths and weaknesses that can affect performance as an employee, manager, or leader.
People with high extroversion tend to relate well to others, and are often well-liked in their teams and offices. They form quick and easy friendships, and their outgoing nature leads to effective group-work.
People with high extroversion may struggle with keeping their emotions in check. At times, they can come across as aggressive or abrasive, but are also intent on pleasing people. This can lead to easily swayed opinions and unfinished projects.
People with low extroversion are precise and detail-oriented. They depend less on encouragement and are good, logical leaders. Their ability to focus on projects leads to high group effectiveness.
People with low extroversion can come off as unfriendly or shy. They struggle in social events and can struggle working in groups with people they do not like. Once they have an idea in their head, they can be difficult to compromise with. They are often perceived as unfriendly and elitist.
Testing for extroversion is one of the easier characteristics to spot in people. Look for the following attributes when interacting with individuals you work with and you'll start to get a good sense of how extroverted someone is.
Looking for these signs can help you spot those high in extroversion vs. low. The reality is that everyone is on a spectrum. Some people are in the middle or sway one way or another. The important thing is to look for the tendency to pull one way or another.
There will likely be times in your professional career when it’s advantageous to be more extroverted. For example, it can help to be more comfortable with groups, meet people easily, and hold conversations naturally without wondering what to say.
That begs the question: can an introvert become more extroverted? The answer is yes, with certain strategies. The five tips below can help bring out your more extroverted side.
Sometimes people who are more introverted feel negatively toward those loud, disorganized extroverts, and vice versa. Realize that both tendencies have strengths and weaknesses. Expanding your ability to behave more extroverted when the situation calls for it is a valuable skill in the workplace.
Identify the extroverts you interact with personally and professionally and observe them closely. See what they do differently than you, and learn from their actions.
While “fake it till you make it” is just a saying, there is some truth behind it. Practice behaving like an extrovert—strike up conversations even if you don’t have specific reasons to talk, make eye contact and smile, be more present and get out of your head, share information about yourself, etc. The more you do what may not come naturally, the more comfortable you will become.
Social situations or times when they are the center of attention are draining to introverts. If you know that you have something coming up that requires you to be more extroverted, give yourself the time and space to prepare beforehand and recharge afterward.
People enjoy being with those who actively listen when participating in conversations. Since introverts are often gifted listeners, this is an area where you can excel. Instead of simply listening, though, use this natural ability to join in and ask questions that show genuine interest in what others say. You might be surprised how others respond, and that when you put your mind to it, you can converse like an extrovert.
We all have tendencies that typically fall somewhere in between pure extroversion or introversion. Plus, it’s natural to act differently in different situations.
So can you be shy and an extrovert? Yes. Shyness doesn’t mean you want to be alone, just that you have a fear of social judgement. An extrovert can crave being with people but fear possible judgement.
And if you’ve heard of being an introverted extrovert, or an extroverted introvert, that’s when you need to remember that this personality trait is a spectrum. It’s natural to be more extroverted in certain situations, and more introverted in others.
Recognizing this has given rise to the term ambivert—a person who has a balance of both introvert and extrovert qualities. The truth is, as humans we like to neatly categorize and label, but personality is often more fluid than we’d like.
There is no right or wrong amount of extroversion to seek for in the workplace. We all have strengths and weaknesses. The goal is to learn how to best work with people of different levels of extroversion so we can utilize their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses.
Understanding someone’s level of extroversion/introversion can be a valuable tool when hiring, especially for positions that require a lot of social interaction, like sales or customer service. Journeyfront’s pre-employment assessments can help you find candidates that are the right fit for your job and culture.