When I worked at a large corporation, I found that extroverts were a bit uncomfortable working with those of us who are introverts. Perhaps it’s all due to a misunderstanding about what it means to be an introvert. Even though I’m quiet, there’s a lot going on in here. I am an internal processor. I usually only speak when I have something to say. I’m comfortable with independent thought and action. Introverts have an active inner life, imagination, and a strong creative streak. We have sharp observational and listening skills. We don’t need external affirmation and rely on our own inner compass.
Come to find out, introverts may have qualities that make them better suited for entrepreneurial and business success than extroverts. According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ)article, introverts have unique skills that allow for “the ability to focus for long periods of time, a propensity for balanced and critical thinking, a knack for quietly empowering others.” Case in point, take a look at some of the most well-known introverts: Bill Gates (co-founder of Microsoft), Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple), Larry Page (founder of Google), Mark Zuckerberg (co-founder of Facebook), Melissa Mayer (current president and CEO of Yahoo), and Warren Buffett (chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway).
The WSJ explodes some of the myths associated with introverts in this article.
