Introversion vs. Extroversion
Michael Abernathy
Mohammed Aldaghir
Alan Brady
Abdulrahman Aseery
Prospective
 In today’s business marketplace the need for top human
capital (employees) is a necessity.
 Excellent human capital can aid organizations in innovating as
well the transference of knowledge.
 Organizations must learn ways to manage their human capital
effectively.
Introverts & Extroverts
 When managing a diverse group of employees
organizations should learn how to deal with differing
types of personalities as well as cultural backgrounds.
 Two Categories of personalities that organizations
manage are Introverts and Extroverts
Introvert vs. Extrovert
 The traditional concepts regarding introverts and
extroverts are not necessarily accurate.
 Traditional Concepts - extraverts and are loud and
introverts are shy. Instead extraversion and introversion
relates to where people get their energy and motivation
from: other people or within themselves.
Introvert vs. Extrovert
Which are You?
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
For each number, select either A or B as best describing you.
1. When asked a question,
A. I usually jump right in and start to answer.
B. I usually like to think about it or "chew on it" before I answer.
2. After a stressful day,
A. I generally want to go out with a group of friends to unwind.
B. I generally want to have time to myself to unwind.
Which are You?
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
For each number, select either A or B as best describing you.
3. Which of the following better describes you?
A. I'm rarely at a loss for words.
B. Sometimes I struggle to find the right word or phrase.
4. How do you relate to people?
A. I consider a lot of people to be my friends and make new friends
easily.
B. I consider just a few people to be friends (and think of most
people as acquaintances) and make new friends gradually.
Which are You?
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
For each number, select either A or B as best describing you.
5. Which of the following better describes the way
others view you?
A. Others often see me as a go-getter or a people person.
B. Others often see me as calm or reserved.
Which are You?
If you have more A answers than B answers,
there's a good chance that you have a
preference for extroversion; more B
answers than A, a preference for
introversion.
Is this you?
Word
Extrovert’s Definition
Introvert’s Definition
alone, adj.
Lonely.
Enjoying some peace and
quiet.
Bored, adj.
Not frantically busy.
Stuck making small talk, and
unable to escape politely.
Friend, n.
Someone who makes sure
that you're never alone.
Someone who understands
that you're not rejecting
them when you need to be
alone.
Home, n.
A place to invite everybody
you know.
A place to hide from
everybody you know.
Internet, n.
1) Another medium for
advertising.
A way to meet other
introverts.You don't have to
go out.
Is this you
Extroverts
 Extrovert usually;
 Show energy and enthusiasm.
 Respond quickly without long pauses to think.
 Allow talking out loud without definite conclusions.
 Communicate openly - do not censure.
 Focus on the external world, the people and the things.
 Allow time for bouncing around ideas.
 Take words at face value.
 Do not assume commitment or decisions made.
Introverts
 Introverts usually:
 Include introduction time to get to know you and trust you.
 Encourage responses with questions as, “What do you think?”
 Use polling techniques for input and decision making.
 Allow time for thinking before responding and decision-
making.
 Make use of written responses where practical.
 Concentrate on one-on-one activities.
 Do not assume lack of interest.
Personality Success
 One style isn't necessarily better than the other;
they're just different. But by understanding the
challenges and recognizing the strengths of each
style, you can manage yourself or team
effectively. You in sense can become Ambivert.
Who’s Who
 Extroversion - "the act, state, or habit of being
predominantly concerned with and obtaining
gratification from what is outside the self" An extraverted
person is likely to enjoy time spent with people and find less
reward in time spent alone. They tend to be energized when
around other people, and they are more prone to boredom when
they are by themselves.
 Introversion - "the state of or tendency toward being
wholly or predominantly concerned with and
interested in one's own mental life" They prefer to
concentrate on a single activity at a time and like to observe
situations before they participate, especially observed in
developing children and adolescents
Extroverts in the Business World
 Become energized by social contact
 Thrive in team settings
 The standard in American society
 Tend to speak their thoughts outloud
 Interested in and concerned with the external world
 Make up about 75% of American population
Introverts in the Business World
 Make up about 25% of American population, but about 60%
of “gifted” population
 Drained by social encounters and energized by solitary
 Not the same as “shy”, They just prefer not to be social
 More concerned with the inner world of the mind.
Business Advantages of Being an
Extrovert
 Comfortable with communicating and relaying




information
Excellent motivators and work well in teams
Better customer relation skills
Usually does well in sales
Thrives in environments where there is a lot of people
interaction
Business Advantages of being an
Introvert
 Tend to talk less and listen more
 Some of the best ideas have come from introverted people.
 Gets excited about ideas and it shows in their work.
 Thinks things over before saying things out load.
 When a normally quiet person speaks people tend to listen.
 Make good leaders in the right environment
Business Advantages of Having a
Mixture of Both
 Introverts can get good ideas from extroverts that speak their
mind.
 Without extroverts the knowledge would not get shared as
much
 Both share information very well in very different ways
 When working together they can regulate each other's
strengths and weaknesses
Career Examples
 Business and Marketing
 Introvert: Market Research Analyst
 Extrovert: Public Relation Specialist

Information Technology



Healthcare



Introvert: Computer Programmer
Extrovert: Computer Support Specialist
Introvert: Medical Records
Extrovert: Registered Nurse
Finance


Introvert: Accountant
Extrovert: Personal Financial Advisor
Which Am I?
 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
 Test to break down personality types into four separate buckets
 Used in employee selection
 Used for team selection
 Used for training and coaching
 Different personality types tend to appeal to certain professions
worldwide
Introvert Leaders?
 Extrovert leaders tend to butt heads with extrovert
employees
 Introvert leaders listen to their employees and do not feel
threatened by employee ideas
 Most people are more happy working for an introverted
person
 Only applicable in some situations. Some areas require and
extrovert personality
Sharing Knowledge
 Extroverts
 Presenting information in front of crowds
 Sharing information through training and coaching in person
 Very comfortable speaking
 Introverts
 May be more comfortable with online social media
 May share information in other ways than face to face,
databases, websites, blogs, etc
Sharing Knowledge
 Successful businesses need all types of personalities to share
information in their own way
 Introvert or Extrovert: Both are very important in the way
knowledge is stored and shared
Resources
 Macaro, A., & Baggini, J. (2012). What's the problem with
introversion? FT.Com
 Nadel, L. (2008). Introverted intuitives: Managing diversity
in the workplace. Interbeing, 2(1), 1-10.
Questions & Discussion