I got a lurch in my stomach, every time anyone asked me why am I so quiet. My heart pounded whenever I heard “You haven’t uttered a word yet”.

Should it bother anyone if I sit by myself limiting my conversation which is not fake and formal? Isn’t it hint enough that I want to be left alone or enjoy listening to the conversation happening around me?

That prepared me for the next time to be more conscious & rehearse open ended and close ended questions before reaching any place or meeting any person, so that nobody forces me to speak, making me awkward.
I later realized that I am not alone in this situation. There are many people like me who find solace when they are left alone. This doesn’t mean that I don’t talk. I am more comfortable talking to people like me or on a topic that I am interested in.

With time, I felt that could be my area of development. However I reckoned that’s innate behavior, and have to put an effort to change it if I come across an extrovert or if my profession demands it. Whereas an extrovert will be energized by talking to people, sharing ideas, they feel their energy is drained when they are quiet.

They feel that introverts keep secrets and have some attitude issues.  People have differences in opinion. And these differences lead to clashes and misunderstandings in both our professional and personal lives.

Here’s an interesting thing that I came across called MBTI. MBTI is the most respected personality type tool recognized globally. It is a tool that helps to discover the differences and acknowledge working and understanding the differences. It helps appreciate the contribution by each individual. MBTI toolprovides managers support to give appropriate feedback. It is a tool that categorizes and helps you identify your innate type. It tells you what you prefer. What would you do, think; react, in a given situation. What you prefer when you take your shoes off.

MBTI helps you resolve sensitive issues.

MBTI enhances leadership.

It helps you choose your career/ pathway.

It smoothens the communication.

It avoids & resolves conflicts.

Identifies strengths & development areas.

Work together with team members.

Develops expertise.

Identification of personal development plan.

“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” Carl Jung

“If you don’t know what an extrovert thinks, you haven’t been listening. If you don’t know what an introvert thinks, you haven’t asked them!” Isabel Briggs Myers

More information about MBTI