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How to Use Introversion as a Secret Weapon in Your Career

by Guest
October 9th, 2017

How to Use Introversion as a Secret Weapon in Your CareerWhy is it that only extroverts get to enjoy professional success? Extroversion is only one side of the same potentially valuable coin of personal energy utilization, and discouraged introverts are falling to the wayside. Rise up, introverts! Here are some of the most effective ways in which your unique perspective can help you become more professionally successful.

Self-reflection

Being an introvert immediately gives you a greater capacity to reflect on yourself and figure out more valuable things about the way that you fundamentally work as a human being. In your solitude, you can come to a greater understanding about the machinations of your mind and how they can culminate into the kind of habits that are conducive to success.

Productive down-time

The time that you spend on your own doesn’t have to be time that you spend just sitting on your hands and staring at the wall. While you are recharging and alone with your thoughts, you can productively use that time to get things done that you may not have been able to during the bulk of the day. From chores around the house to personal creative projects, indulging your introversion with a little bit of alone time can be great for getting more done.

Better listening skills

Because introversion means that you are less focused on just getting all of your words out into the air, being a good listener will come more naturally to you. While a lot of extroverts are talented at getting people engaged in their interesting stories, people appreciate a person who makes them feel interesting even more. As an introvert, you have an innate power to validate people with the feeling of being around someone who really cares about what they have to say; in many cases, this will make them want to interact with you even more.

Mindfulness

Though many extroverts can have a very energizing aura, one of the downsides of always being “on” as the center of social attention is that it can steal attention away from the little important things. Introversion lends itself to mindfulness, giving you a greater ability to step back and become fully cognizant of the minor elements in your surroundings and your state of mind. Through mindful inward analysis of your environment, you can potentially gain an even greater ability to thrive in it than you would if you tried to actively control it with overwhelming outward energy.

Summary

Nowhere in a set of leadership program requirements will you find extroversion as a prerequisite for career success — only a “drive for upward career mobility” (WGU). Mindfulness, productivity, listening skills, and self-reflection are all powerful tools of the successful introvert. Just as extroverted people can utilize their personality to leverage more connections in their careers, introverted people are just as capable of using their unique disposition to benefit themselves professionally.

Shae Holland
 
Shae Holland
is a single mother and professional copywriter. She’s passionate about healthy living, loves hunting, and adores her ​two springer spaniels.

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5 Reasons Getting an Online Masters Degree is the Best Choice for the Working Introvert

by Guest
September 25th, 2017

online educationToday, if you want to earn a master’s degree there are several ways to go about it. One option is to take courses online. For an introvert who works at a full-time job, taking classes online may seem like a dream come true. Consider five reasons why earning an online master’s degree is an excellent option for an introvert who’s holding down a full-time job.

Learn at Your Own Pace

When extroverts socialize, they get a surge of energy from the interaction. However, for introverts, it’s just the opposite. Socializing drains the energy of an introvert. The back and forth discussions that take place in a traditional classroom tax an introvert’s supply of energy.

Online courses take this sort of interaction out of the equation. Plus, students can learn independently at their own pace. If a student doesn’t understand a portion of a lesson, they can review it over and over again until it’s clear. When that happens, the student can move on to tackle the next lesson. This type of learning makes it easier for an introvert to get the most out of each class in a master’s program.

Study Independently

In a traditional classroom, an introvert may feel obligated to join a study group or go to the library to pair up with another student in the same course. Sometimes, the distraction of fellow students in a study group can detract from an introvert’s ability to absorb lesson material.

In an online course, students usually study independently because there aren’t many (if any) other students nearby. They also don’t have to worry about classes conflicting with work schedules. This independent study means they can dictate how fast they progress on various lessons, and they’ll have better success at earning a master’s degree.

Avoid Traveling to a Traditional School

One of the biggest advantages of earning a degree online is students don’t have to get into the car and drive to a school. Instead, someone earning an online master of business administration degree can simply participate in class from a quiet room at home or in a study room at the local library.

All the student needs is a suitable learning environment with reliable access to the Internet. In addition to being convenient, an introvert with a full-time job doesn’t have to spend time on the road commuting to work as well as to school and juggling classes with their job. They can spend more time on studying.

Get Questions Answered Promptly

Asking questions about a lesson, homework or a chapter in a textbook can help clarify confusing topics in a course. In a traditional classroom, you might wait until the class period is over to ask the instructor a question, not wanting to draw attention to themselves. But if you’re in an online course, you can ask questions at any time. Send an email or even ask questions via private message. Getting prompt answers helps students move through the material at pace with the instructor.

Conserve Energy for Study Time and Work

Socializing with other students in a traditional classroom can drain a lot of energy from an introvert. Taking online courses to earn a master’s degree allows you to focus on learning as much as possible, when you can. In a way, online learning streamlines the process of earning a degree, especially for individuals who work full-time.

Finally, choosing to earn an online degree can help an introvert or any other professional move up in their current occupation. It can also be the first step on a new career path in the field of your choice. Online learning puts a master’s degree within reach of more people than ever before.

Claire Stewart
Claire Stewart
is a freelance writer and blogger focused on writing about health, travel, and business among other topics. She graduated from Washington State University and currently lives in Seattle with her goldfish, Merlin. Follow her on Twitter: @clairestewart08

 

Photo credit: Mr_Stein Online Test = Open CHEAT! via photopin (license)

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Tags : career, education
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Career Management: Top 10 Networking Conversation Starters for Introverts

by Guest
January 26th, 2016

Among the challenges associated with networking is the simple act of how you start-up a conversation with a stranger. Add to that challenge the fact that you might be slightly introverted where pointless conversations are like staring into the black void. Nothing comes to mind. You don’t have a relationship, no common ground, you aren’t yet even sharing a common experience – so how to you do strike up a conversation?

conversation

Here are 10 conversation starters that have worked for me:

  1. If you are at a party: “How do you know Bob?” This one is great. It acknowledges that you both know the same person and allows them to talk about themselves. From the story you are told, you will have a gold mine of other threads to follow. Asking questions shows interest.
  2. If you are at a professional group: “Are you a member?” If they are, you can ask them about activities the group has had or how long they have been a member. If they aren’t, ask them what brought them to the group meeting.
  3. If there is a speaker: Introduce yourself to them. People tend to ignore the speaker, especially before they speak. Read up on their topic so you can ask them about the topic or their profession. They appreciate getting to know the crowd they are speaking to.
  4. If you’re at any meeting: Find the person in charge and introduce yourself. Be mindful that they may be busy organizing things, so you shouldn’t linger unless they signal otherwise. Make sure you let them know why you are attending their meeting.
  5. If you’ve been to the meeting before, ask to volunteer for a task, like signing people in. Introduce yourself to the people you are coming into contact with- Indicate you’re new and would like to get acquainted. Follow up later by using their name and asking them about their participation.
  6. Anywhere you are, consider saying: “I couldn’t help but notice your (fill in the blank- handbag, coat). I really like that style.” Then introduce yourself and ask them about what you’re both participating in.
  7. Anywhere you are: “Hi, I’m ________. What line of work do you do?” Once they have answered that, good follow-up questions are: How long have you been doing that work? How do you like it?
  8. If you’re at an event where there are booths or similar: Introduce yourself and ask them to tell you about their business or group they are representing. You want to ensure you share information about yourself so they have it for future reference.
  9. If you’re a regular at a place like a gym or church – look for new faces: Introduce yourself and ask them if they are new. If they are new, tell them about your involvement and ask what might interest them. If they aren’t new, but you just never crossed paths, find out what has changed in order for you to now be participating at the same time.
  10. If attending any event and you see someone you know speaking with someone you don’t know: Walk up to them, wait for a break or acknowledgement. Say Hi to your acquaintance and ask them to introduce you to the unknown person or be ready to introduce yourself. A logical next question is to ask about how they got to know each other.

To create a greater sense of comfort when going to any gathering of people, think through the various scenarios you are likely to run into and how best to handle them. You don’t have to “work a room” and try to meet everyone. I pick a goal of meeting 3 people per event and having high quality, fairly in-depth conversations with them. For people who are uncomfortable with these types of situations, narrowing your focus, making a goal and knowing how to get started can turn dread into enjoyment.

Bottomline: I want to help you accelerate your career – to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to 5 Video series The 5 Most Common Ways Introverts Commit Career Self-Sabotage and How to Avoid Them. Unique and practical advice you can start using today. Go here to get them: http://www.introvertwhisperer.com/careergoals

Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill Moran dedicated to help you unleash your professional potential http://www.introvertwhisperer.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_Tannahill-Moran

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Outrageously Successful Introverts

by Chris
September 3rd, 2013

Laura Schocker of The Huffington Post has given us a list of outrageously successful introverts, some of which may surprise you.

emma watson2

 Emma Watson  “It’s interesting,  because people say things to me like, ‘It’s really cool that you don’t go out and get drunk all the time and go to clubs,’ and I’m just like, I mean, I appreciate that, but I’m kind of an introverted kind of person just by nature, it’s not like a conscious choice that I’m making necessarily. It’s genuinely who I am.”

eleanor3 Eleanor Roosevelt  “Friendship with oneself is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.”

 

christina2

 Christina Aguilera   “Because, besides being petite, she is, it seems, shy. She tells me that she has always been ‘intense and introverted’ and that, as a result, she’s felt like an outsider her entire life.”   (Gaby Wood)

lincoln2

 Abraham Lincoln  “In the nation’s earlier years it was easier for introverts to earn respect,” Susan Cain said. “America once embodied what the cultural historian Warren Susman called a ‘Culture of Character,’ which valued inner strength, integrity, and the good deeds you performed when no one was looking. You could cut an impressive figure by being quiet, reserved, and dignified.”

xx2a David Letterman  used to marvel at “the aerodynamic properties of toast.”

 

y2

 J.K. Rowling   “The Harry Potter author has described herself as an introvert, particularly when she refers to her childhood.” (Susan Cain)

g2 Bill Gates   “Bill Gates is quiet and bookish, but apparently unfazed by others’ opinions of him: he’s an introvert, but not shy.”  (Susan Cain)

 

c2Courteney Cox  “I’m a homebody. I like to have people over, but I’m a little socially not — I don’t love it. David — he doesn’t drink anymore, he’s completely sober — but he likes to go out and dance. He really is a very gregarious guy. He’s very outgoing. I’m much more of an introvert.”

e2

 Albert Einstein  “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”

 

ga2

 Mahatma Gandhi  “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

 

 

laura2

 Laura Bush  From USA Today: “For an admitted introvert, Laura Bush remarkably has evolved into a very effective speaker.”

 

rosa2 Rosa Parks  “When she died in 2005 at the age of 92, the flood of obituaries recalled her as soft-spoken, sweet, and small in stature. They said she was ‘timid and shy‘ but had ‘the courage of a lion.’ They were full of phrases like ‘radical humility’ and ‘quiet fortitude.‘”

a2

 Audrey Hepburn   “I’m an introvert … I love being by myself, love being outdoors, love taking a long walk with my dogs and looking at the trees, flowers, the sky.”

 

wb2 Warren Buffett  “Success in investing doesn’t correlate with IQ. Once you have ordinary intelligence, what you need is the temperament to control the urges that get other people into trouble in investing.”

 

roy2 Roy Rogers  “I’m an introvert at heart. And show business — even though I’ve loved it so much — has always been hard for me.”

 

cb2 Candice Bergen  “I’m an introvert and my husband is like the mayor.” 

 

gs2 George Stephanopoulos  “Despite my job chatting people up, I’m an introvert.”

 

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Tags : abraham lincoln, albert einstein, audrey hepburn, bill gates, business, candice bergen, career, christina aguilera, courteney cox, david letterman, eleanor roosevelt, emma watson, george stephanopoulos, j.k. rowling, laura bush, laura schocker, mahatma gandhi, popularity, power, rosa parks, roy rogers, warren buffett
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Living Proof that Introverts Can Achieve Success

by Janet
November 9th, 2009

If you’ve been reading this blog for a long time, you might recognize the name Nancy Ancowitz. Nancy is a Business Communication Coach who specializes in helping introverts excel through one-on-one coaching, presentations and workshops, and her blog, Self-Promotion for Introverts®.

Nancy has recently written a 13-page manifesto in which she dispels many of the myths and stereotypes around introversion and offers 10 strategies to help introverts succeed in a job search, which can be applied to other situations as well. She does a wonderful job of explaining what introversion is – and what it is not – making it a valuable resource for extraverts as well as introverts. You are welcome to download a copy of Self-Promotion for Introverts®: Get Heard More. Even If You Talk Less.

She has sent me a copy of her new book, Self-Promotion for Introverts®: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead, which I’m looking forward to reading, so be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss my upcoming review.

In a recent article in the New York Times, Success Isn’t Only for the Extroverts, Nancy described the dramatic changes that took place in her career after realizing she is an introvert and learning how to make the most of her strengths, instead of trying to be something she is not. It really is inspiring, and I encourage you to read it, especially if you face similar challenges.

Nancy Ancowitz is just one of thousands of successful introverts! If you feel that your introversion is standing in the way of your success, check out her resources and learn how introversion can actually be an asset.

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Tags : book, business, career, introversion, introvert, manifesto, Nancy Ancowitz, Self-Promotion for Introverts, success
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We explore and celebrate introversion as a healthy personality type, defined by C.G. Jung and later by the Myers Briggs MBTI type indicator. Click on About and FAQ to learn more about this type. See if it fits you or someone you know. Add your comments to our posts, or join us in online or email discussion with other introverts.

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