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Hi Reader,

Today, we’re talking about people. And how much they actually talk… or don’t talk at all.

Who’s doing most of the talking in your work meetings? And at home, who can’t stop chatting at the dinner table?

What about that quiet observer who is watching everything unfold without saying much?

Then there are those who sometimes jump into the conversation, and other times just sit back and take it all in.

Showing our personalities

All of this comes down to personality, and how differently each of us shows up in various situations.

In a past article a few weeks ago, I spoke about how spending time alone can make us more productive. I mentioned, “I very much enjoy my social time, but I need alone time to help me process, problem solve and be creative. Your balance might look different, because everyone’s path is unique.”

Everyone’s path is unique because we all have different personality traits. This brings me to the topic of extraversion, a favourite topic of mine if you’ve ever been trained by me, either live or online.

Extraversion explained

What is extraversion? Extraversion is a fancy word where we find introverts, extraverts, and ambiverts.

Extraverts thrive on social interaction and bring a lot of energy to group settings, while introverts prefer quiet reflection and recharge by spending time alone.

Ambivert is a term I didn’t even know until a few years ago. Ambiverts fall somewhere in the middle. I learned I'm an ambivert because I can enjoy being around people and chatting with a group, but also need my quiet time to recharge.

Learning about these differences has really helped me understand how the people in my projects think, feel, and act so differently, and why I myself sometimes switch between being outgoing and needing space.

Introverts, extraverts, and ambiverts

Each of these personality types bring huge value to a project team.

Introverts are special. They’re constantly processing, and when you build a trusting relationship with them, you get the privilege of tapping into all kinds of insightful and excellent ideas.

Extraverts are hard to miss. They speak up, draw people in, and are often the ones bringing everyone together, whether it’s for a brainstorming session or the next company party.

Ambiverts, like me, can be the secret weapon on a project team. We know when to join the conversation and when to buckle down and focus.

Now that you know more about extraversion, take a moment to think about yourself. Are you the one leading the discussion in meetings, quietly observing, or somewhere in between?

And how about around the dinner table - what’s your style there?

Regardless of your personality type, it’s perfectly fine to be the chatterbox or the quiet one… or even the one who does a little of both and keeps everyone guessing.

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