The world can be split into thousands of different types of people, hundreds of categories and a slew of defining characteristics. But the one that sets us apart most drastically in terms of our personality and interactions with other people is the important distinction between introversion and extroversion. These words are not strangers to our everyday vocabulary and are often misinterpreted to mean shyness (in terms of introversion) and obnoxiousness (when describing extroversion). In actuality, the concepts associated with these terms have to do with the way we gain and subsequently use our energy. Extroverts are known to attain energy through large groups of people and social activities, and are usually described as outgoing. On the other hand, introverts prefer smaller groups of people in which they are more comfortable and get the negative reputation of being awkward and reclusive.
Extroverts naturally fall into the spotlight in work and school environments, while introverts and their opinions can often be shoved to the side. Because of this stigma surrounding individuals who gain their energy through private introspection, our world has been essentially designed to favor extroverts over introverts. There has to be a different approach when dealing with introversion, and the result of a comfortable environment for this type of individual is simply more efficient, creative, innovative and all around better contributions from them.
Introverts feel most themselves and therefore most productive in a quieter environment. Now, this is not to say quiet spaces are not provided in schools and in the workplace, because there is no shortage of those. The environment tailored for an introverted person is not about the amount of people or the noise level — instead, it concerns the stereotype that people who prefer this environment would not excel in any social situation and that their contributions and ideas are not as valid as those of an extrovert. Introverts don’t miss out on opportunities because they are constantly scared of taking advantage of them. Sadly, the same opportunities extroverts are freely offered often become a point of struggle for introverts to even be considered for because of the unfavorable and imbalanced parameters that exist in society.
In the workplace, introverts have a harder time from the get-go. Networking and essentially selling yourself is a huge part of getting any job, and extroverts have no problem presenting themselves in a positive and charismatic way. When introverts do (somehow) make it into a corporate environment, they actually prove to be very valuable in a team setting. A UCLA and Rutgers study found that people considered more quiet, reserved or neurotic actually contribute more to team projects. One crucial reason for this discrepancy is that extroverts tend to talk more than they listen, and therefore introverts are able to respond better to peers and follow through appropriately in a more efficient manner.
It is not a question of who works better in school or in the workforce but of who is being stereotyped and scapegoated into a maladjusted, odd and helpless persona. Extroverts and introverts both have their strengths and weaknesses, but introverts need to be regarded differently in order to succeed the best they can. When a person is typecast into a certain role, it is extremely difficult to break the mold. If bosses, professors and peers started to redefine what introversion means, cut out the negative connotations and valued introverts as the deliberate, thoughtful and creative individuals they are, the results would be beneficial for more than just the “quiet ones.”