Misperceived: Understanding the Introverts Among Us

Session # C-145

“There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.”-- Susan Cain, author of

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking

NACADA National Conference – NashvilleOctober 2012

Sarah May ClarksonJuniata College

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Understanding, Assumptions, Definitions, Prejudices

Introvert: (psychology) a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings. // Introversion: the quality, tendency, or disposition of being introverted; (psychology) the act of directing one’s interest inward or to things within the self.

In the world of psychology, an introvert is identified by his or her response to, and preference for, stimulation (less of it). Introversion is not to be confused with being shy, or shyness, which is fear of social judgment.

According to Susan Cain, author Quiet, one half to one third of us are introverts.

Personality versus temperament. From Cain (page 101): “Temperament refers to inborn, biologically based behavioral and emotional patterns that are observable in infancy and early childhood; personality is the complex brew that emerges after cultural influence and personal experience are thrown into the mix. Some say that temperament is the foundation, and personality is the building.”

There has been a change in us. We used to be a culture of character, but we have become a culture of personality. This means that the introvert is often misunderstood, misperceived, dismissed, or devalued.

It is our great loss. History, industry, religion, art, and education have all been greatly influenced by introverts and the transcendent and transformative power of solitude to develop ideas, create new things, be an agent for change, solve big or intractable problems.

Name some such introverts . . .

Quiet Is, Actually, Prominent Persistence isn’t very glamorous. If genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, then as a culture we tend to lionize the one percent. We love its flash and dazzle. But great power lies in the other ninety-nine percent. -- Cain, page 169

Professor Ni defines soft power as “quiet persistence,” and this trait lies at the heart of academic excellence as surely as it does Gandhi’s political triumphs. Quiet persistence requires sustained attention – in effect restraining one’s reactions to external stimuli. -- Cain, page 200 Introverts are more cautious and deliberate. . . . Introverts are better at listening . . . And simply by virtue of their ability to sit still and focus, introverts find it easier to spend long periods in solitary work, which turns out to be the best way to come up with a fresh idea or master a skill. -- Walsh, page 42

Some 70 percent of American workers spend their days in open-plan offices, with little or no separation from colleagues . . . -- Walsh, page 44

By being receptive to employees’ efforts to voice ideas, take charge to improve work methods, and exercise upward influence, less extraverted leaders can develop more efficient and effective practices that enhance group effectiveness. -- Grant, page 545

Jonathan Rauch on “Caring for Your Introvert”

Four Case Studies

With apologies to the introverts here because I know how hard this is, and how much you dislike it. There are instructions for this exercise, though!

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Case Number 1 – Student Tessa

Tessa is a former student from first-year writing/English/composition. That particular class was a raucous group with Juliet as their peer leader – it was a lovefest. But Tessa sat there most days without expression or emotion, and only occasionally joined in the discussion. She was so quiet, even withdrawn, that she seemed an outlier compared to her classmates. Tessa studies French and psychology. Last year – her junior year – she was abroad in France for both semesters. She has spoken to me about graduate school. Tessa is very smart, a talented writer, and a committed student.

Case Number 2 – Co-worker Craig

Craig is one of our longest-serving coaches. He has come through the ranks, starting as a resident director/assistant coach out of grad school and has risen to his present position. Craig attended a peer institution, where he was a student/athlete. Though his job is a very public one, he is quite reserved in person, seldom speaks up in meetings, and it often feels (when you are in his presence) like he is holding back. He’s not the typical coach – he doesn’t yuck it up; he’s serious, and focused. Craig is articulate and thoughtful. Among the athletic department staff, he is, in my opinion, the model of professionalism.

Case Number 3 – Advisee Wendy

Wendy is one of my first-year advisees this fall. I did not work with her at orientation, but assigned her to me because the faculty member who did sit with her at orientation wrote on the inside of the file: “We need to be prepared for strong support of Wendy.” A memo from her enrollment counselor indicates some (emotional) hurdles in high school. Smart, tall, and attractive, she took Calc I and II at the local community college before starting at Juniata. Wendy aspires to medicine and her enrollment counselor said she was a pleasure to work with, and that Wendy was excited about coming to Juniata.

Case Number 4 – Student Willard

Willard is a former student in my first-year writing/English/composition class. As I think back about him, he almost always sat near me or next to me (I teach seminar style, never standing or lecturing). He was born with Noonan’s syndrome, a chromosomal disorder, and gets accommodations for learning differences. A computer science major, he was always engaged, always there, but seldom participated in class discussion. Because of the way I teach the course, it’s a safe place for shy or quiet students to find their voices. One source of frustration for me was that he – as I recall – only turned in a partial first draft for each of the four papers -- .

Reactions, Questions, Suggestions

Group reactions to the four cases.

How do we, did we, come to mis-perceive these folks?

How can we assist advisors, co-workers, family members, and each other in seeing the potential of introverts, and/or adapting our own misunderstanding or prejudices?

More . . . Reading & Resources

Susan Cain. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. New York: Crown Publishers, 2012. {Coming in paperback, January 2013.}

Susan Cain, “All Things Considered,” 30 January 2012: “Quiet Please: Unleashing ‘The Power of Introverts.’” http://www.npr.org/books/authors/145928624/susan-cain

Susan Cain, TED (Ideas Worth Spreading) Talk, filmed February 2012, posted March 2012. Video: http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html

Adam Grant, et al.Adam Grant, Francesca Gino, David Hofmann, “The Hidden Advantages of Quiet Bosses,” The Harvard Business Review, December 2010.

---. “Reversing the Extraverted Leadership Advantage: The Role of Employee Proactivity,” Academy of Management Journal, 2011, vol. 54, no. 3 Sp, pp. 528 – 550.

--- . “Stop Stealing the Spotlight: The Perils of Extraverted Leadership,” European Business Review. http:// www.europeanbusinessreview.com/?p=3941

Jonathan Rauch, “Caring for Your Introvert,” Atlantic Unbound, 14 February 2006. {March 2003} http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/302696/

Bryan Walsh, “The Upside of Being an Introvert (And Why Extroverts are Overrated),” Time, 6 February 2012, pp. 40 - 45. {cover story}

Thank you very much for attending this session.

Please complete an evaluation; your feedback is valuable to me.

This is session # C-145, entitled “Misperceived”

What is one or two (or more) take-aways for you from this session?

Consider the following question as you go about your days and/or your work after this conference: How can my institution/we/I adapt to make more space for the introvert, or be more intentional in validating the contributions of introverts at work, in school, at home, and in my community?

Hand-outs are posted on the NACADA website.

Sarah May Clarkson / Juniata College / Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

clarkss@juniata.edu