Magda El Dada | Staff Writer
“You may think I’m small, but I have a universe inside my mind.” – Yoko Ono
In my head exists a voice so loud that it is deafening. In my head there lives a girl with passion embedded into her essence, guiding her through the little bubble she has taken to inside my thoughts. She lives through me, and I am driven by her; we are one and the same. However, like many of her kind, her voice is often muffled amid the chaos of the world.
We live in an extrovert’s world – a place where only those who network thrive and only those who speak up enjoy the sweet taste of success. Allowing oneself to be an open book to their surroundings is favored, and every attempt to voice out thoughts and opinions is encouraged. While a society built on extroverted traits is undoubtedly fruitful for collective success, it is not all-encompassing. In fact, and in brutal honesty, it is somewhat biased. It has created an image of the “optimal” human as a social powerhouse with enough energy to network with anyone at any time, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, it has belittled those whose voice rests faint and labeled them as liabilities.
Introverts are often misunderstood. We have been labeled as shy, dull, unhappy, and rude, and at times, we are perceived of less value than those with superior “outgoing” values. We have been anchored to false assumptions all our lives to the point where we are coerced into perceiving them as true. Whether it be at a social event or in a classroom, we are called out for being bad conversationalists and never having anything to say, but little does anyone know of the power we hold beyond our contemplating eyes. When you notice that one friend sitting shyly in the corner of the room, laughing at the group’s jokes and throwing in a few words from time to time, approach them. Talk to them. Make them feel heard and watch a world of brilliant ideas unfold around you. We are not mute, we are not dispassionate, and we are not soulless – we are a universe awaiting to be unleashed.
To unlock the true potential of introverts, it is necessary to encourage more inclusive opportunities in the classroom or the workplace. An action I consider of the utmost importance is the implementation of diverse participation approaches (Abrams, 2023). Consider a room of over 30 people, all asked to contribute with their unique input to a discussion. Before the question is even posed, a handful of arms will shoot up, and the words will slip off the tongues of the extroverts in mesmerizing tones enough to impress anyone. The asker will smile in awe as they admire the fluency and courage of the speaker, and the introvert who’s still panicking over having to speak will have forgotten what the question was altogether. If they had been provided with an opportunity to express their thoughts on paper or even just given an extra couple of minutes to sort their thoughts out, their ideas would’ve been limitless. However, instead, they sit in silence as their voice goes about unheard for the millionth time, questioning whether their opinion matters at all. They leave the room self-satisfied with their apprehension of the knowledge learned, but unrest lies at the pit of their stomach, aware of the bad impression they left on those who only witnessed their silence.
It can also be very beneficial to divide an intimidatingly large group into smaller ones where those who struggle to speak can express themselves more comfortably (Davies, 2022). When engaged in a one-on-one conversation, for instance, the pressure of pleasing everyone in the room is weighed off the speaker’s shoulders, and they can truly focus on the content of their words rather than the effect it’ll have on them after they speak. When we feel grounded among the people around us and find a grasp on what it is that we want to voice out, we will speak up and we will do it beautifully. Our quietness is not to be mistaken by diffidence – when given an opportunity, we will take it.
The ways of the world are not uniform, so approaching its different aspects must be met with equally diverse perspectives. Outgoing individuals form a significant pillar of society, but its foundation also necessitates unique features that only introverts can bring to the table. For that to happen, we must be allowed the space to contribute in ways best tailored to our characters. You cannot arm an archer with a sword; give them their bow and watch them seize the day.
Sources:
Abrams, Allison. “How to Create a More Introvert-Friendly Work Culture.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 12 June 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nurturing-self-compassion/202306/how-to-create-a-more-introvert-friendly-work-culture.
Davies, Gareth. “6 Ways to Make Meetings More Inclusive for Introverts.” Fast Company , 16 June 2022, www.fastcompany.com/90760260/6-ways-to-make-meetings-more-inclusive-for-introverts.