When you think of the word “introvert”, what comes to mind? For many of us, we tend to think of someone who is shy, reserved, and who can’t stand being around groups of people.
The truth is, there’s so much more to introverts than that! While introverts do prefer to be on their own, this doesn’t mean that they can’t succeed in a group environment. In fact, when introverts learn to use their talents correctly, they can make fantastic leaders. Did you know that Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Bill Gates were all introverts? Not to mention J.K. Rowling, for any of you Harry Potter fans!
But just how exactly can an introverted child learn to use their talents correctly?
We live in a world where teamwork is a daily part of children’s lives – whether it’s at school, camp, or even among their friends. These types of group environments tend to favour extroverted behavior. But does this mean that introverted children won’t do well in team environments? Not at all!
We’ve listed below 3 tips on how introverted children can learn to work well in a team environment:Extroverts gain energy around other people, and lose energy when they are on their own. Introverts, on the contrary, gain energy when they are alone and lose energy around other people. When an introverted child is in a team environment, it’s important for them to recognize when they need a break. If they begin to feel overwhelmed, a little bit of “alone time” can make all the difference. Taking a bathroom break or stepping outside will recharge their energy levels and help them to feel more at ease when they return to the group.Extroverts have a natural talent for communicating with multiple people at once. Introverts, as you can imagine, are a little bit different – they do much better in one-on-one situations. Introverted children can use this to their advantage by sharing their ideas with one team member at a time instead of with the entire group all at once. This will help them contribute in a way that is comfortable to them, and that allows them to fully express themselves to the best of their ability.When it comes to teamwork, it’s no surprise that extroverts do well when they take on speaking roles. Introverts, on the other hand, do much better when they take on “quieter” roles. In particular, introverts have great problem-solving skills, and can work diligently on one task longer than extroverts can. On top of that, they also tend to be more creative. They are great at spending time on their own and coming up with innovative ideas. It’s important for an introverted child to understand that even though they may not be as talkative, their unique talents are still valuable to the team.Teamwork is a necessary part of growing up, and it doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience for introverts. By following these 3 tips, introverted children will not only learn to develop the life-long skill of working with others, but also start to enjoy it, as well!By Natalie Burns-Holland