Coffee/matcha, HIIT/Pilates, vegan/omnivore … most of us prefer one over the other.
This is also true for introversion/extroversion. But figuring out which category a person falls into goes beyond the shy/quiet vs. assertive/talkative stereotypes. And understanding this can help you discover a better sense of self.
Today we’re talking about extroverts.
“People are often surprised that it is not as easy to predict whether someone has an extroversion preference as we might think,” says Catherine Ellwood, Head of UK Professional Services at The Myers-Briggs Company. “While someone may demonstrate the characteristics we stereotypically associate with extroversion, what we can’t see is the impact this is having on their internal energy levels. We can all adapt our behaviors to suit the situation we are in, but what is much less visible is the impact this is having on the individual’s internal energy levels.”
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is one of the most well-known personality tests. (You can take the assessment online here, but note that it costs around $60.) According to the website, this assessment is “designed to help people identify and gain some understanding around how they take in information and make decisions, the patterns of perception and judgment, as seen in normal, healthy behavior.”
Once you complete the series of questions, your Myers-Briggs type is calculated. It looks at the eight following areas, separated into four preference pairs:
- Introversion (I) or Extroversion (E)
- Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
- Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
- Perception (P) or Judgment (J)
While we use all of these preferences, most people tend to prefer one over the other, according to Myers-Briggs. So someone who prefers extroversion, sensing, feeling, and judgment would be considered an ESFJ type.
For the purposes of this story, we’re going to focus on the E part of this equation. Extroversion and introversion are opposite ways to direct and receive energy, and determine whether you prefer to focus on the outer world or your own inner world.
Key Characteristics of an Extrovert
“From an MBTI perspective,” Catherine says, “the following characteristics are often associated with having an extraversion preference:
- Being energized by interacting with people.
- Moving quickly to action, then reflecting later.
- Communicating verbally, processing their thinking aloud.
- Readily taking the initiative.
- Being expressive in their verbal and non-verbal communication.
- Having a broad range of interests.”
What We Typically Get Wrong About Extroverts
“There are possible misconceptions with any of the MBTI preferences,” Catherine explains. Two common ones for people with extraversion preference are:
- They’re rude. “We often find that they are more likely to interrupt in group conversations,” she says. “The intention behind this behavior isn’t to be rude or aggressive, but is driven by the need to say ideas aloud before they disappear or get lost as the conversation moves on.”
- They lack depth and are indecisive. “Given that they are likely to think out loud, people may assume what they are saying is their final answer,” she explains. “They may even be seen as indecisive if they then change their thinking within the same conversation.”
She leaves us with these tips:
“For those communicating with extroverts, it is useful to remember you’re hearing their evolving thought process as it happens. For those with the extroversion preference, it can be useful to state that you are just thinking aloud, and you haven’t yet made a decision.”