Saturday, June 2, 2012

The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking !!

An interesting analogy into the world of Introverts who form 1/3rd of the world's population..From the eyes of an introvert himself

The introvert /extrovert divide is the most fundamental dimension of personality. And at least a third of us are on the introverted side. Some of the worlds most talented people are introverts.Without them  we would not have the Apple computer , the Theory of Relativity or Van Gogh's Sunflowers.

Yet extroverts have taken over.Sensitivity and seriousness are often seen as undesirable. Introverts feel reproached for being the way they are.

The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. Use your natural power of persistence , concentration,insight and sensitivity--to do work you love and work that matters. Solve problems, make art, think deeply

Figure out what you are meant to contribute to the world and make sure you contribute it. If this requires public speaking or networking or other activities that makes you uncomfortable , do them anyway. But accept that they are difficult, get the training you need to make them easier, and reward yourself when you are done.

Respect your loved ones need for socializing and your own for solitude ( vice versa if you are an extrovert)

Spend your free time the way you like , not the way you think you are supposed to. Stay home on New years eve if that's what makes you happy. Skip the offshoot meetings. Cross the street to avoid making aimless chitchat with random acquaintances.

Read !! Cook !! Run..Write a story ( its a fun time pass for me ! ) Make a deal with yourself that you will attend a set number of social events in exchange for not feeling guilty when you beg off.

If your children are quiet , help them make peace with new situations and new people, but let them be themselves.Delight in the originality of their minds.Take pride in the strengths of their rich inner conscience and the loyalty of their friendships.

Don't expect them to follow the herd (gang).Encourage them to follow their passion instead.

If you are a teacher,enjoy your gregarious and participatory students ( We have all the fun in our trainings !). But do not forget to cultivate the shy,the gentle,the autonomous single minded enthusiasm and appreciation for the nineteenth century art. They are the artists, engineers and thinkers of tomorrow.

If you are a manager, make the most of introvert's strengths---these are the people who can help you think deeply, strategise, solve complex problems, and spot canaries in your coal mines.
If you want creativity to flourish in the organisation , then make use of introverts razor sharp focus and concentration to generate ideas.

If you have a proactive workforce remember that they perform better under an introverted leader than under an extroverted or charismatic one.

Whoever you are , bear in mind that appearance is not reality. Some people act like extroverts, but the effort costs them energy, authenticity and even physical health. Others seem aloof and self contained, but their inner landscapes are rich and full of drama.

So the next time you see a person with composed face and soft voice, remember that inside her mind she might be solving an equation,composing a poem or designing a hat. She might , that is, be deploying the power of quiet

We know from myths and fairy tales that there are many different kinds of power in this world, One child is given a light saber, another a wizard's education. The trick is not to amass all the available powers, but to use well the kind you've been granted...

Introvert's are offered keys to private garden full of riches. To possess such a key is to tumble like Alice down her rabbit hole. She did not choose to go to wonderland---but she made it an adventure that was fresh and fantastic and very much her own

By the way, Lewis Carroll was an introvert . Without him , there would be no " Alice in Wonderland " and by now, this shouldn't surprise us...

Also !!   Also !! the blog writer is an introvert too !! and am privileged to be in this rich conscience club

Raise a toast for all the introverts !!

Sd/-
Roohul Haq