Book Review Quiet The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

PUBLISHED January 14, 2014 IN Coaching & Development

WRITTEN BY Myah Shein

Book Review Quiet The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking image

 

Book Review – Quiet:  The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

First things first – yes, this book is worth the read.  It is a business book so its main focus is on work environments but in the final chapters it also touches on personal/marital relationships with introverts and educating/raising introvert children.

Introverted does not equal shy:  One early and important point made in this book is that introverted does not equal shy.  Many people you know are more introverted than they appear.  It just takes them more energy to shift their style to be more outgoing and assertive to “fit in” with the expectations of our increasingly gregarious culture.  This is tiring and so more quiet/alone time is required by them to recover.  Introverts are just as social as extroverts – they just express themselves differently.

Introverts feel things more deeply and want to discuss important topics, not make small talk so they enjoy one-on-one conversations over groups.  In my consulting, this comes up again and again as I encourage accountants (many of whom are introverts) to network to get new business.  We discuss ideas like volunteering for committee work instead of focusing on attending 1,000 person Chamber events as a good strategy for them.  At first even the committee may be over stimulating, but in time the members will become familiar faces and will come to appreciate the introvert’s ideas and contributions.

Introverts think things through.  They consider an idea from every perspective and then formulate questions to get more information before taking action.  The upside to this is that the ultimate movement is made with conviction but the downside to this is that it takes time.  In our extroverted, fast-paced, aggressive business environment of today, there isn’t always appreciation for this thorough approach.  Introverts also often lack the assertiveness or conviction to rise up and be heard in a board room of louder more self-important people so often their ideas don’t even get heard to be considered.   “We perceive talkers as smarter than quiet types.”

Introverts enjoy working alone so that they have time to do things at their own pace.  In work spaces that are increasingly “open” so as to encourage teamwork and groups, quiet space to work independently getting is harder to find.  The book contends that this is a detriment to companies.  It takes great focus to do some jobs that require attention to detail, deep inspection, or problem solving such as computer programming, design or accounting.  Studies are showing that open work environments make all employees less productive and less happy.  It will be interesting to see if there is a reversal of this current architectural trend.

Introverts make good managers.  Introverts manage proactive employees – those who want to do their jobs better and bring new ideas to the company – well.  The book says this is because introverts take time to listen to ideas as well as empower employees to make their own decisions and take action on their own, which is increasingly important in our fast paced work environments.

Introverts learn better with independent study.  Actually, we all learn better with independent study but introverts are better disciplined to this style.  One final note, our school systems are increasingly encouraging and rewarding extroverted behavior so the author expects the current trend to continue.  In younger grades the desks are in pods, not rows, and group idea sharing is rewarded.  In colleges and grad schools, “class participation” is a mandatory, and often heavily weighted, part of students’ final grades, not to mention group projects and class presentations.  If this is what businesses want, then schools are preparing young people for the jobs of the future.  This book contends that there is great importance to allowing for, appreciating, and rewarding different styles.