Susan cain introvert ted talk
The underrated power of introverts [TED Talk video]
Whether or not we notice it throughout our lives, so many of our experiences are geared towards supporting extroverted people over introverted people.
From my own point of view, as I’m sure with many others, it always seemed like extroverts were praised more, listened to more, and even liked more to some extent.
In her TED talk, "The Power of Introverts," Susan Cain tries to shift our mindsets about introverts, stating that we all need to “appreciate the introvert inside of us.”
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Susan Cain’s story
Cain starts her talk by telling a story about her experience at summer camp as a child.
Being highly introverted and a self-admitted bookworm, she showed up to camp prepared (and excited) to read through the pile of books she brought with her.
When her camp counselor noticed her preference to read by herself, she told Cain that “we should all work really hard to be outgoing. ”
Not wanting to disappoint the camp counselor, she put her books away for the rest of the summer.
Determined to prove that she could be as bold and assertive as an extrovert as she got older, she put her dream of being a writer aside and decided to become a Wall Street lawyer instead.
(Sounds like a perfect fit for an introverted person, right?).
She explains that many introverts feel this need to prove something to themselves and others, even if it means putting themselves in a “zone of stimulation” that isn’t where they’re comfortable.
Cain notes what a shame this is.
She elaborates throughout the rest of her talk about how valuable it is to let introverts be themselves to foster maximum creativity, innovation, leadership, and so much more.
Not only is this a loss for the person, but for their coworkers, neighbors, and overall community as well.
What is an introvert?
I believe that many people (myself included) have a misconception about what makes someone an introvert.
Contrary to popular belief, introversion is different from being shy.
Shyness, Cain explains, is about “fear of social judgement.”
Instead, introversion or extroversion come down to how a person responds to stimulation, especially in social settings.
Introverts tend to thrive in quiet situations, while extroverts crave the opposite, tending to thrive with large amounts of stimulation.
Cain states that “When it comes to creativity and leadership, we need introverts doing what they do best,'' but they can only do this when put in the “zone of stimulation” that is right for them.
Unfortunately, so many of our important institutions are currently designed for extroverts.
The growing popularity of open workplaces, for example, puts more people in an environment of constant stimulation.
With anywhere from a third to a half of the population being made up of introverts, it would make sense for companies to cater to their ideal working situations as well.
At IMPACT, while we have an open workspace, we also have a number of meeting rooms, private phone booths, lounge areas, and the option for our employees to work remotely.
Ideally, this gives our employees the ability to choose the environment where they will be the most productive.
Introverted leaders
Although introverts are often passed over for leadership positions, Cain references studies proving that introverted leaders often deliver better outcomes than extroverts do.
While introverted leaders are more likely to allow people to take ideas and run with them, extroverted leaders often get so excited about their own ideas they discourage people from introducing additional thoughts.
Some examples of well-known introverted leaders include Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, and Mahatma Gandhi.
These are people who are known for being very good at exchanging and advancing ideas, while also having a “serious streak of introversion in them,” according to Cain.
The more freedom and support we give introverts to be themselves, the more likely they are to come up with their own unique solutions to problems.
Culturally, we just haven’t gotten there yet.
What can we do?
Cain has three important calls to action for us. However, before she lists them off in her talk, she calls the audience’s attention to a suitcase that has been on the stage the whole time.
Opening up the suitcase, she reveals all of the books that she brought with her on this particular trip, why she chose them, and why they meant something to her and her journey to where she is today.
These stories guide her into relaying her three points:
- Stop the madness for constant group work. Basically, don’t force people into extroverted settings. Allow them some time to think by themselves before forming a group. Casual and chatty exchanges are great for both introverts and extroverts and should be encouraged.
- Go to the wilderness.
We could all use some time to unplug and get into our own heads a little more often. - Take a good look at what’s inside your own suitcase. Take those things out every chance you get and show who you are. Open up your suitcases to let everyone else see.
Taking these stories and calls to action, think about your own ideal “zone of stimulation,” and whether or not your environments and decisions are setting you up for success.
The more you listen to and follow your own gut feelings, the better the payoff in the end.
5 TED Talks for Introvert Leaders
introvert life, TED talks
These days I’m a proud Introvert, but there were many years where I tried to ‘make myself’ more of an extrovert. I found watching these TED talks really inspiring and helped me understand more about the way my brain works – it’s now recognised that there are measurable differences in the brain chemistry between introverts and extroverts. I’m passionate about being our true selves and not adapting our true nature to fit expectations from society.
Bookmark this post for future reference to watch these talks!
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Why We Need Introverted Leaders By Angela Hucles“It’s during the time of solitude that introverts can draw upon their strength to lead.”
This talk makes the great point that we need a mix of extroverts and introverts for teams to be successful. That schools and the workplace can often make introverts feel ‘wrong’ for being quiet. Recognising that introverts and extroverts have different needs in order to flourish as individuals. When these needs are honoured, the team can function most effectively as a whole. Anyone of us CAN lead.
WATCH HERE
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2. Blueprint For A Quiet Revolution By Susan Cain
“Many of the worlds greatest leaders are quiet. In fact, some of them are here right now. People like Bill Gates and General McChrystal are introverts.”
This is a classic short talk from 2014 but still relevant today- her book ‘Quiet’ is also equally great.
Susan shares how we can embrace the world as ourselves without having to force ourselves to appear more extroverted. In fact she shares that ‘solitude is a crucial ingredient of innovation and even of leadership.’
She shares about the importance of having quiet spaces within offices and not forcing everyone to be social all the time. We can draw on the strengths of introverts and use this to enhance team performance. Check out her website for more resources for schools and parents.
WATCH HERE
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3. Being An Introvert Is A Good Thing By Crystal Robello
“Society has taught us that being an introvert is the worst thing that you can be and that everyone should want to be extroverted.”
This short talk by 17 year old Crystal questions why we label being an introvert as ‘wrong’ when 160 million people in the US are estimated to identify as introverts. And makes the great point that if everyone was trying to be the leader, no one would truly succeed.
The more we can accept ourselves as introverts and understand what that means, the happier we can be!
WATCH HERE
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4. Confessions Of A Passionate Introvert By Brian Little
“Many of you are like me. We act out of character. We act passionate about projects we care about.”
Extroverts are naturally under the optimal level of arousal in their brains which is why they require external expression / input. Introverts are naturally over the optimal level which means they need the peace and quiet time to process things. When we can understand this more, we can be more understanding why people chose to do things differently to us.
He also shares about how being passionate about something (or someone) can mean we step outside of our ‘default’ way of being.
WATCH HERE
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5.The Power Of Introverts By Susan Cain
“Introverted leaders often generate better outcomes than extroverts do.”
This is the absolutely classic TED talk Susan Cain gave back in 2012.
When it comes to creativity and leadership, we need introverts and the way they work, even though we’ve been given the message by society that it isn’t OK to be more withdrawn and quiet than others. She also explains the difference between being shy and being an introvert (they are not the same!)
Solitude matters to many people, and bringing this understanding into schools, the workplace and our society at large will help us all be at our best.
In the 19th century we lived in a culture of character, and in the 20th century to the culture of personality driven by larger changes in societal set up. It’s time now to shift back the balance.
WATCH HERE
And that’s it- let me know how you find these TED Talks and what insights you get from them!
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Poll: How introverted are you? Community responses TED
Susan Cain is an introvert, but she spoke to hundreds of people to pitch her idea at TED2012.
We wanted to know: how introverted are people? And here's what the TED community responded to. Photo: James Duncan Davidson In her TED Talk, The Power of Introverts, Susan Cain highlights the many clever ways our culture supports extraversion and provides some brilliant insights into how introverts can shine at school, at work, and in everyday life. . Her speech certainly touched a nerve - the video has been viewed more than 8 million times since it was posted in 2012. And we were curious: are there many introverts in the TED community?
Earlier this week we asked you 8 questions about where you fall on the introversion/extroversion spectrum. What you answered was really amazing. Below is a summary:
Over 1,174 of you responded to our first question about how closely you associate yourself with Kane's definition of introverts as those who "feel most alive and productive when they are in more calm and quiet environment." 47.2% of you said that the description fits you perfectly, while 40.
8% answered that such a definition only describes them to some extent. Only 12% did not see themselves in this description.
Amazing things can happen through collaboration, yes, but 49.6% of 948 respondents are more likely to come up with the best ideas when they work on their own. Another 19.5% answered that the ideal situation is to work with one, proven partner, and 25.6% prefer small groups where special attention is paid to all voices, even the quietest ones. Only 5.3% of respondents believe they do best in a large brainstorming setting.
Office space designers also note that about 57.6% of those who answered our questions prefer an office with a real door that closes. By locking it, you choose a less formal office setting with sofas, chairs, nooks and crannies. In terms of open space office layouts that have become commonplace today, 15.2% of you prefer it if they have some sort of divider for their personal space. Only 10.5% prefer a truly open space.
When the TED community needs a mental break, the most popular option is to take a walk (28.
4%) or read a book (also 27.6%). Interestingly, 15% say they unload while doing a creative project - which could no doubt explain why you're so productive.
One of the questions we were particularly interested in at TED HQ: How does the Internet work in the introversion equation? Does it encourage introverts who can't speak up in real life to be able to exchange opinions in text form? You are neutral on this. 41.2% of respondents answered that they consider themselves equally introvert / extrovert, both in real life and on the screen. Meanwhile, 29.4% answered that they would most likely prefer to express their opinions and thoughts on the Internet, while 29.4%, on the contrary, would most likely communicate less on the Internet.
You definitely feel pressured to be a big extrovert. Of the 850 respondents, 36.6% said they felt they were frequently pushed to extrovert, and 43.3% said they felt this push from time to time. As for who pushes introverts, 28.2% said they feel pressure from colleagues to be louder and more social, while 16.
4% said the pressure comes from a boss. Parents, teachers, lovers are a less common answer.
Some of you have written really interesting comments on this issue. Many have mentioned the paradox of parties and networking events – while they are fun and rewarding, they can also backfire. “I prefer to talk to a person one on one. And I am considered rude for not talking to everyone,” wrote one of you, reflecting the general opinion.
Another trend in responses: Many people mentioned that they feel more introverted when they travel. “I only feel withdrawn when I am in a new environment. For example, when I moved to Cambodia, I was very closed while I studied culture and interaction with people, ”writes one of you. "At this time, my colleagues would force me to be more open."
The only thing that is clear from this survey is that although you tend to be introverted, it is not a hard and fast rule for you. Many of you have noted that the main changes occur depending on the situation or mood.
“I go from one extreme to another. I am like yin and yang,” writes one respondent. “When I work on my own, for a long period of time, I start to feel that something is wrong. Oh yes, that's right, I don't have enough people. Then I spend a lot of time with people, and again something is wrong. Oh yes, I need to work. I'm really moving back and forth."
Feel free to review the survey results below. And let us know in the comments if you have any thoughts on this topic.
Translation author: Adel Nureyeva
Source: Blog.Ted.com
Susan Kaine - Biography and Family
502 The word 'introvert' is extremely popular these days, although not everyone who uses it is a true introvert. How easy is it for introverts to live in our extroverted world? The answer to this question in her sensational book 'Quiet' was given by the American Susan Kane.
Susan Horowitz Kane is an American psychologist, writer and lecturer, author of the acclaimed book 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking', which tells about the difficulties of introverts in modern Western culture.
Kane received her Bachelor of Arts from Princeton in 1989; She received her JD in 1993 from Harvard Law School. For some time Susan was involved in legal activities, after which she became a negotiating consultant. Kane worked at that time as the head of her own consulting group 'The Negotiation Company'. Over time, however, a career as a corporate lawyer and consultant began to depress Kane; she left her job to live a quiet life with her family and write books in peace. Now, when Susan looks back, Wall Street seems like a literal foreign country to her.
Kane was repeatedly asked what she would do if she weren't a writer; almost always Susan stated that no less than writing she was attracted by the craft of a psychologist. Kane could have become not a practicing psychologist, but a research psychologist; woman has always been incredibly interested in the mysteries of human nature. Kane was especially keen to understand the nature of introversion; the fact is that Susan herself has always been a completely classic introvert, which greatly complicated her studies at Harvard.
During her time as a legal practitioner, Kane noticed that others were quite capable of using their
traits as strengths; Susan also noted that gender was not directly related to these traits. Over time, Kane realized that the concepts of 'introverts' and 'extroverts' are more of a way to talk about the psychological essence of people, which is not yet fully understood.
Kane claimed that she was driven to write 'Quiet' by the same passion and indignation that once drove the author of the classic feminist work 'The Feminine Mystique', Betty Friedan (Betty Friedan). According to Kane, introverts are in the same position in our time as women have been for much of our history; these undeniably talented and potentially very promising individuals are often treated as second-class citizens. It is not uncommon for introverts to waste their time in ways that are completely unpleasant to them for the sake of social support; in especially severe cases, the whole life can be spent in this way.
For Susan 'Quiet' was not just a book, but a kind of mission; the woman believed that she should change the world's view of introverts and make life easier for this group. Kane touched on a number of important topics, such as the principles of working with introverted children for parents and teachers, the necessary changes in work culture, and much, much more.
At the 2012 TED conference, Kane gave a rather interesting talk in which she used a complex metaphor about the 'treasure chest that makes you you'. In the case of Kane herself, the books she read became such a chest. Only
Susan herself knows how difficult it was for her to speak in front of an audience at TED, but the audience clearly liked her speech.
The 'Chicago Tribune' once noted that a self-proclaimed introvert, Kane struggled with her own introversion as a lawyer on Wall Street. After this experience, the years that took to work on the book became a real paradise for Susan. Altogether, it took Kane seven years to research, study the materials, and think about them; 'Quiet' went on sale on January 24, 2012.
Don't think that Kane is so much introverted and not at all able to communicate with people; Susan is well aware of her shortcomings and is determined to level them as much as possible. Back at the TED conference in 2012, Susan confirmed her earlier voiced desire to become a great speaker next year. Prior to the speech, Kane worked with a TED speech writer and a special acting coach. Susan did not stop hard work in the future; already after 3 months, a woman could confidently call herself a rather absurd at first glance expression - 'public introvert'. Judging by the reviews of critics, the speaker from Kane really turned out to be quite good; her speech was greeted with a standing ovation, and the video with Susan scored the first million views in a record time by the standards of the project.
In the first year after her first TED talk, Kane launched her own public speaking and communication courses for introverts; these courses are conducted through the Net. By
k Susan herself noted several times that the main emphasis in these courses is not on the ability to present oneself, but on the ability to behave naturally.
In 2013 Toastmasters International awarded Susan Kane with the Golden Hammer Award; This award is presented every year to individuals who have made a major contribution to projects related to leadership and communication. In May 2014, Inc magazine included Susan in their list of the 50 Most Influential Leadership and Management Professionals. Kane also enjoys great prestige at TED; she is on the 'TED All-Stars' team. In March 2014, Kane performed for the second time, on the 30th anniversary of the project. Kane's second speech formally announced the beginning of the 'Quiet Revolution'; Susan gave birth to a special organization dedicated to supporting introverts. The organization's task list includes reforming modern office architecture (designed to facilitate concentration and increase the level of privacy for those who wish), launching projects to train introverted leaders, and supporting introverted children. Kane is working with Steelcase to develop new office layouts; Together they plan to develop a new version of the office where introverted workers can feel safe and secure.
