Most of the conferences I attend are IT-related and I represent an IT vendor. There is a demand by both customers and my own co-workers to spend a lot of time together. Some of this is necessary for work but it reduces my ability to recharge. One way I have found to get away to get some “recharging” time however is at lunch. Generally lunches are in a huge ballroom with thousands of your closest friends. The noise inside can be deafening. What I have found is that I can always get a to-go box from one of the serving staff. I load up the box with whatever food seems appealing (another time I’ll write about the food) and then take it somewhere into the conference center. I find an unused breakout room where I can generally eat in peace for a while. Magically at the end of the lunch, I feel recharged and ready to tackle the afternoon.

In the evenings there are almost always events where the conference attendees go. Most of the attendees are in a partying mood while my introverted self is exhausted. Generally I have a need to go as a representative of my employer. I find that I can go without much trouble but I do not necessarily need to hang out with the same group for the entire evening and night. After spending an appropriate time with the group, I’ll usually say something to someone in the group like “Excuse me for a minute”. After saying that, I move on to find a drink and then somehow continue out of the event. Because of the nature of the event your group will think that you ran into someone else that got your attention. Meantime, I’ve headed to a restaurant or food court to pick up some food and head back to my room later for that “recharging” time again. If I see someone from that group later in the evening or the next day I just explain that I got caught up in something else.

While I enjoy the conferences and get a lot of good information, they can be very draining. Add the fact that it’s in Las Vegas where it seems that there are people everywhere, I have found these couple of techniques effective. There are several other things that I do that I will share in another blog post. If you have any tips for handling these big conferences as an introvert please share here as a comment. It will help your fellow introverts to find ways to recharge in a normally introvert-hostile environment.

Extroversion and Introversion

Extroversion and introversion are very popular terms and are widely used in personality tests. People often regard themselves as being either an extrovert or an introvert. Below I have outlined what each type is as well as their strengths.

Extroversion

What is an extrovert?

Extroverts are interested in the external world. Their focus is on people and objects. They enjoy being with others and like group activities. As such, they like to be noticed. Extroverts find it difficult being alone and feel lonely if they are not with other people. Possessions and success are valued by an extrovert.

It is estimated that extroverts outrank introverts 3 to 1.

Research carried out by Twenge (2001) found that extroversion appeared to have become more prevalent in the US over the years. This may not mean that there are more extroverts out there – rather it could be that extroversion has become a more acceptable personality trait than it was decades ago.

What are the strengths of an extrovert?

Extroverts like to focus on concrete reality and as such are practical and have common sense. They make decisions easily and quickly take action. Extroverts are sociable, enthusiastic and eager to try new things. They can live in the present, without worrying about the future. Their desire for success means they relish achievements.

Introversion

What is an introvert?

Introverts are concerned with their own thoughts and feelings. They are quieter than extroverts and prefer to be removed from the social world. As such they are happy being alone. Introverts do socialize but it will be with a few close friends rather than large groups of people. They will probably feel lonelier in a crowd than on their own. Introverts prefer to plan and analyze things and are careful in their decision making.

What are the strengths of an introvert?

Introverts are capable of introspection and self-knowledge. They value their own standards and principles and as such are independent minded. Other people are not needed for their entertainment or stimulation. Introverts are interested in what is going on underneath rather than being concerned with trivial matters. An introvert will be imaginative and intuitive.

Assumptions made about introverts

There is often a tendency to see introversion as a problem that needs to be corrected. This is not the case. Introversion is not about being shy, depressed or lacking confidence. It is not about having bad social skills either. They just do not need the external world as much as an extrovert for their happiness. Introverts are happy as they are and do not need to be taken out of themselves. Introverts may not give much away about themselves. It is therefore important to not make assumptions about what is going on for them or what they really want.

Ambiverts

Remember, we are all unique and have our own set of characteristics. It is unlikely that a person is totally extrovert or totally introvert. In fact most people are probably ambiverts – sometimes concerned with their environment, sometimes with themselves. This idea is important as it can help you see that you are not all or nothing. It is also an idea to reflect on when you hear someone refer to themselves or another as extrovert or introvert.

Reference

Twenge, J.M. (2001) Birth cohort changes in extroversion: a cross-temporal meta-analysis, 1966-1993. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 735-748

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_Barnard

You’re more likely to describe introverts as interesting people than as exciting folks to be around. (To an introvert, that’s a compliment, rather than a put-down.) According to researchers, the percentage of introverts gets higher as you go up the income scale, so if you work with the affluent or with those in professions that attract quiet workers, you’re more likely to run into them. As clients, they may require special interpersonal measures – particularly if you yourself have backslapping, chatty, everyone’s-a-friend tendencies.

1. Respect the Introvert’s Reserve

Introverts understand the need for a handshake as a social greeting, but don’t go beyond that. They dislike social hugs, and even a casual hand on the shoulder may feel out of line to them if they regard you as a business associate. Personal comments, like compliments on what they’re wearing or guesses about the ethnic origin of their name, which might establish rapport with someone else, can feel intrusive to introverts. A jokey style that prods them to respond in kind starts off with them on the wrong foot.

They appreciate it when you get down to business with a minimum of preliminaries. Allow them to talk without finishing their sentences for them or interrupting.

2. Respect the Introvert’s Privacy

Introverts do not relish the idea of others knowing personal information about them, unless it’s absolutely necessary. They’re the ones who come up “private” on caller ID, who have unlisted telephone numbers, who bring up the issue of confidentiality at the outset of a relationship. They may balk at writing a testimonial even when they’re extremely pleased with how you’ve helped them, because it exposes something about themselves.

Don’t expect them to carry on business in a packed restaurant, where the waiter and people at neighboring tables can overhear. Without their permission, don’t disclose even innocuous facts about an introvert, such as the fact that you saw them last Wednesday or that they went to Cornell, to others. Reassure them that everything that goes on in your meetings stays within your four walls. If you set up a working lunch, choose a quiet place and reserve a table in a corner – or order in for your conference room.

3. Deal With an Introvert One-on-One

Introverts come out of their shells most easily with just one other person at a time. In a group, they fear looking stupid or feeling vulnerable. They appreciate having your full attention when face-to-face. Don’t allow telephone or walk-in interruptions, and don’t “unobtrusively” check your BlackBerry or your computer monitor. They notice.

If you’re advising a pair of clients where one doesn’t say much, don’t presume silence means the quiet person has no questions or agrees with the talkative one. Draw out the introvert by asking for their input and waiting for them to gather their thoughts.

4. Don’t Pressure an Introvert

Introverts process information better on their own and may need time and space to make decisions. Expecting them to respond on the spot may get you nowhere. Impatience with their “what ifs” will backfire, big time.

In a setting that suits them, introverts can be funny, creative, warm, congenial, productive and loyal. Create that setting for them, and you can enjoy doing business with them for years and years and years.

A bookworm as a child, Marcia Yudkin grew up to discover she had a surprising talent for creative marketing. She’s the author of 11 books, including 6 Steps to Free Publicity, now in its third edition. To learn more about the strengths and preferences of introverts, download her free Marketing for Introverts audio manifesto: http://www.yudkin.com/introverts.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcia_Yudkin

Sadly, this is how many people react to when their Crackberry vibrates. A personal conversation with someone is interrupted by a piece of technology. What’s more important… the impersonal device or the personal conversation? By the way many people react, you’d think that the piece of technology was the most important thing in the world.  Too many of us treat the Crackberry as our master. When it vibrates we pay attention to it. It’s as though it will deliver to us our winning ticket in the electronic lottery. Rather than being a time saver, it has become a relationship destroyer. It overloads us with information that we don’t really need.  My recommendation is to turn off this beast for a while each day and eliminate its information overload to you. If you do this you will find much more time to work on the relationships that mean the most to you… the ones with the people you care about the most.

There comes a time when we need to shut out the world and allow ourselves to think. I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Albert Schweitzer who responded to a question about what he thought was wrong with men in his day. Dr. Schweitzer supposedly said, “Men simply don’t think!”

We see this a lot today. Many of us are able to get information with a few keystrokes or one click of a mouse. The trick is then knowing what to do with the data. While the brain is an incredible tool, many times we overload it with information and do not allow it the time to process.

Removing the constant bombardment of information to it from time to time allows it to put together information that is already there. By doing this, we allow ourselves to discover new ideas. Take the time to eliminate information overload allow idea construction to take place.