"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are."
— C.G. Jung

Knowing your strengths gives you a foundation to be confident. Introverts are generally deep thinkers out of which their creativity blooms. We listen well. This one trait can help us solve problems more easily and, it's something that many people crave.

"The more of me I be, the clearer I can see."
— Rachel Andrews

Having some coping strategies can help you live and work in a mostly extroverted world. Something that's often overlooked is that our world is more extroverted: lots of talking, action and people! But if you can use your strengths to create your personal coping plan you will find you will feel more in control. Energy boosters either as rituals or a top-of-mind tactic will restore your natural energy. For example, on the physical level, you could take a short walk away from where all the action is. To regain your emotional energy you could find an area that you can break to on your own. Mentally you could exercise your mind and work on a crossword puzzle for a few minutes. Spiritually, I love the HeartMath techniques that include putting your hand over your hear and then calling up a memory that makes you smile. What can you create that will help you be more of the real you?

“The commonsense rules of the ‘real world’ are a fragile collection of socially reinforced illusions.” – Tim Ferriss

A few years ago during my speaking engagements I would give away The Introvert's Declaration. It was a laminated, picture of a scroll, with statements about what an introvert really is about. It's a collection of the top illusions that people who don't understand us might think. Because you too may be under the illusion, each illusion is followed by the real truth:

When you think that I must be shy or unknowledgeable because of not speaking immediately in meetings, remember… I usually think before I respond or speak.

When it seems like I’m not excited about brainstorming or bouncing ideas around, remember… I prefer to use analysis and thinking to come up with solutions.

If you think I am unfriendly or quiet… I listen to fully understand, and then speak to be understood.

If I appear uneasy meeting new people, and making friends… With planning and preparation I am self-confident in front of an audience.

You may notice, I prefer to work on my own rather than in a group… I work well with others, especially one-to-one relationships.

If you don’t find me socializing during networking or social events… I prefer in-depth conversation and find little value in chitchat.

When you think I’m dragging at social events… I need time alone to reenergize and recharge.

If you think I come across intense… I’m probably using my strong ability to focus and concentrate.

If you see me as a loner or territorial… Time and space to myself is energizing.

If you think I don’t like people… I am self-reflective, even around others.

If you find that I appear uncomfortable with change… I prefer a thoughtful, creative approach to changes.

Our real world has many stereotype beliefs about the introvert. Once you understand them and let them go you are free to thrive. If you would like a pdf copy of The Introvert's Declaration would you email me for your own printing and laminating? pweber@prostrategies.com

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” – Katharine Hepburn

What are the rules anyway? Who made them? Why don't we just make up our own rules?

The real rule is – there are no rules until you make them up. What would you do if you wanted to be happy? Likely there are some things that you like in solitude and quiet. But also likely is that you enjoy connecting with people for dinner or a small party or any number of activities that you would think are reserved for the more extroverted. In The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning by Gretchen Rubin, the author cites some research to support this. Research shows that we all, introvert and extrovert, feel happier when we act in an outgoing, talkative, adventurous or assertive way. Talking a walk with a friend, getting together for coffee or tea, or whatever way you enjoy connecting with people who you like are fun.

The assertiveness? That comes in part from you asserting yourself as the person who you are instead of apologizing for who you are not. Become clear on what your strengths are. Create some coping strategies that you can use at a moment's need. Let go of the myths, the illusions – you know what the truth is. Do these things and you will have fun and thrive.

Frustrated Introverts Breakthrough Plan to Thriving On Your Terms is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

1. Finish your shopping online. Why would you venture out to the maddening crowds to be frustrated and have your energy drained? It's easy enough to buy all gifts online so finish up that gift buying on your computer.
2. Turn on your favorite holiday music. Whether you are listening on your iPod, like me, or some other mp3 player, turn on your favorite holiday music and close the door to the outside world for a while.
3. Have a cup of tea. There are a couple of herbal teas in particular that are calming, so give them a try: Chamomile and jasmine can help you to relax.
4. Exercise for endorphins. I admit I am a workout addict – it's number one on my list of Top 25 Things to Do That Don't Cost Anything! The truth is, those endorphins are a mood enhancer. Why not improve your mood with all the other benefits of exercise, including, keeping those extra holiday calories from sticking?
5. Be selective about party invitations. Practice this statement, "I so appreciate you thinking of me but I've got a previous commitment that night." No need for any explanations, and people will surprise you by not pressing you further.
6. Express gratitude. Being grateful can make you feel better. You can write an email to someone, telephone them or just think of an event that you have good feelings about. Gratitude has it's own energy!
7. Connect with close friends. Fewer and more intimate relationships appeal to you? Then focus on including those people in your holiday plans before you decide to try and become a social butterfly. It's more rewarding for us.
8. Make plans with new connections for after the holidays. Inevitably the holidays are a time you will meet other people. If you are a networker, save the further connection for a time after the season.
9. Meditate or just take some quiet time to recharge your batteries. I find just 10 to 30 minutes a day is enormously energizing.
10. Be self-sufficient. Challenge yourself to take charge and host your own party. Set the start and end time and make the list. Or, offer the host or hostess of a party you attend to help them in a small way. Anyone, extrovert and introvert alike, would welcome some help during a party where they are the host.
11. Savor the moments. Be the picture taker where you go. As collectors of thoughts, we can take the photo task to a meaningful level of being behind the camera. Then we might email copies or get prints made for the attendees. Lots of quiet time to celebrate after the event with the memories.
12. And some time alone in a beautiful place, just for you. I'm so blessed to be just 5 minutes from a beach. I love getting there early in the morning for just 15 to 20 minutes when no one else is around. Just me and the gentle waves, an occasional breeze and nature sounds. Remember, New Years celebrations are just ahead!

The Twelve Days of Christmas song, in some people's thinking has no meaning at all, except a catchy and memorable tune. But the ideas here, in introvert style, are meant to have a positive way of taking care of you and me.

What would you add to the list if it where your song?

Sing the 12 Days of Christmas like the Introvert You Are is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

Image via Wikipedia

As someone who is an introvert, yet spends a significant part of her days with people, either coaching them, networking or otherwise engaging them, I know first-hand the challenges of balancing my business needs with my innate tendency for solitude, and the impact of ignoring it.

When I forget to balance the two, I find myself quickly frazzled, my mood deteriorates (I become quite snappy! Just ask my husband), and I start to get fewer and fewer things done, because I just want to drop everything and go hide in a cave away from everyone.   But when I give myself the alone time I need, everyone benefits: my clients, my family, my productivity, and, most importantly, myself.

As a productivity and work-life balance coach, I have met many clients who are like me and need to balance their introversion with an extrovert career or simply living in an extrovert world. Here is what I teach them:

Balancing moments of solitude and calm with moments of interaction is absolutely necessary for everyone. The difference between the introvert and the extrovert is in the amount of time needed. Introvert need a lot more of it. In a extrovert’s career (sales, marketing, representation, etc.), it is particularly difficult to find those moments, since the job requires you to be on representation all day long. However, there are still ways that you can do it, so that you can enjoy your work and balance it with your need for recharging alone time:

-  Block in your calendar, every day, alone time. This is not time to focus on your work without interruption, even though you need this too, this time is for recharging your batteries in solitude. It can be time you choose before or after work; it could be lunch taken alone, in a quiet place; time spent going to the local library and read a book in a calm environment; time walking in nature.

-  Take advantage of the natural slow moments to do a mini-recharge session. For instance, try to go to a client’s office on your own, as a solitude time. After a meeting with someone, take a couple of minutes alone to recenter.

-  When you can’t be away from people, for instance if you work in a cubicle, use relaxation and meditation techniques for a few minutes several times a day, if possible with earphones on your head to drown out the ambient chatter - just make sure to listen to relaxing music or noise such as white noise or the sound of ocean waves rather than rap or hard rock.

-  Make sure to sleep enough. Sleep is the most important element to being able to face the more challenging aspects of our lives. Sleep deprivation dramatically reduces our resiliency and makes it much easier for us to have difficulty dealing with the challenges that people around us come to us with. 90% of the population needs between 7.5 and 8.5 hours of sleep. Take them, you will see a dramatic difference within a day or two.

Following those tips will allow you, as an introvert, to engage more fully in the extrovert world - and to be much more productive as well. And if you are an extrovert reading this article? Put those tips in action as well. While you may need less of it, and your recharging activities may be different, you too need regular time to recharge.

Do you want to learn how to truly master your day so that you can have the life you want and enjoy it?

Visit DailyMastery.com to download your three gifts, The 5-Minute Time Management Solution, Daily Mastery’s 10 Top Time Management Mistakes and The Best-Kept Secret for Peak Productivity.

Karin Stewart, Ph.D., is a specialist in time, stress and energy management and work-life balance, and shows service professionals, solopreneurs and working moms how to get more done, in less time, and without the stress every day, so they can fully enjoy their lives. Working both in person and by phone, Karin’s clientele spans the country and the globe and includes individuals as well as organizations.

Productivity Secrets for the Introvert in an Extrovert World is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

Reason #1 - Networking

Having an extrovert friend at a networking event makes walking in the door much easier for the introvert.  Instead of resting by the punch  bowl waiting for someone else to reach out, tag along with your extrovert friend.  You'll be introduced to their circle as well as meet new people right along with your extrovert friend.  It's a great way to take the pressure off.  It also helps you conserve your energy so you can enjoy more and longer networking opportunities.

Reason #2 - Brainstorming

When it comes to developing new ideas, two heads are better than one - especially if they are different kinds of heads. Having an extrovert friend to help you brainstorm increases your potential ideas exponentially.  Let me explain.  You may come up with an idea.  Then your extrovert friend adds to it or adds two or three ideas to it.  Then you can look at the idea again and add multiple thoughts to it, too.  However, without the inclusion of your extrovert friend's differing viewpoint, you would have only had your single idea to start.

Reason #3 - Marketing

Nothing beats an extrovert friend to help you market your ideas, your business, whatever!  Once an extrovert gets excited about a concept or product, they want to share.  With the social media outlets available today, you want your extrovert friends to share their excitement with their large circle of friends.  With a little encouragement, they'll be sharing your ideas and connecting you with people who need you.

Reason #4 - Encouragment

While we extroverts seem a little crazy and a lot over busy (as my introvert husband reminds me), it is encouraging to see what can be done.  Extroverts will be the first to tell you, you can do it!  Having an extrovert friend, to help you garner some speed and enthusiasm just when you need it, is a blessing!

Reason #5 - Balance

Since I live with a strong introvert, I am constantly confronted with his desire to stay at home and recharge.  In fact, over the years, I've learned to protect the time he needs to rest and re-energize.  However, I sometimes need to provide the counterweight with my desire to get out and see people.  While my introvert may fuss at the process of leaving home, he finds he enjoys the time to share with friends and business associates.  Without each other, I would be an on the go, non-stop, all the time extrovert and he would huddle in his man cave letting the world pass him by.  Together, we have balance in our lives.

As an introvert you don't have to marry an extrovert to enjoy the balance, just recognize the need to have some close extrovert friends.  You'll be glad you did.

Theresa Wagar is the owner of Premier Design Websites.  With 15 years experience in helping small business successfully market themselves online, she has worked with extroverts and introverts alike.  Her latest video training project, www.blogkickstart.com is designed to help anyone starting  in online blogging overcome their technical challenges without a webmaster.  Theresa lives in the Virginia countryside with her introvert husband (thus the countryside) and two teenage sons.

5 Reasons Every Introvert Needs an Extrovert Friend is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

Reason #1 - Networking

Having an extrovert friend at a networking event makes walking in the door much easier for the introvert.  Instead of resting by the punch  bowl waiting for someone else to reach out, tag along with your extrovert friend.  You'll be introduced to their circle as well as meet new people right along with your extrovert friend.  It's a great way to take the pressure off.  It also helps you conserve your energy so you can enjoy more and longer networking opportunities.

Reason #2 - Brainstorming

When it comes to developing new ideas, two heads are better than one - especially if they are different kinds of heads. Having an extrovert friend to help you brainstorm increases your potential ideas exponentially.  Let me explain.  You may come up with an idea.  Then your extrovert friend adds to it or adds two or three ideas to it.  Then you can look at the idea again and add multiple thoughts to it, too.  However, without the inclusion of your extrovert friend's differing viewpoint, you would have only had your single idea to start.

Reason #3 - Marketing

Nothing beats an extrovert friend to help you market your ideas, your business, whatever!  Once an extrovert gets excited about a concept or product, they want to share.  With the social media outlets available today, you want your extrovert friends to share their excitement with their large circle of friends.  With a little encouragement, they'll be sharing your ideas and connecting you with people who need you.

Reason #4 - Encouragment

While we extroverts seem a little crazy and a lot over busy (as my introvert husband reminds me), it is encouraging to see what can be done.  Extroverts will be the first to tell you, you can do it!  Having an extrovert friend, to help you garner some speed and enthusiasm just when you need it, is a blessing!

Reason #5 - Balance

Since I live with a strong introvert, I am constantly confronted with his desire to stay at home and recharge.  In fact, over the years, I've learned to protect the time he needs to rest and re-energize.  However, I sometimes need to provide the counterweight with my desire to get out and see people.  While my introvert may fuss at the process of leaving home, he finds he enjoys the time to share with friends and business associates.  Without each other, I would be an on the go, non-stop, all the time extrovert and he would huddle in his man cave letting the world pass him by.  Together, we have balance in our lives.

As an introvert you don't have to marry an extrovert to enjoy the balance, just recognize the need to have some close extrovert friends.  You'll be glad you did.

Theresa Wagar is the owner of Premier Design Websites.  With 15 years experience in helping small business successfully market themselves online, she has worked with extroverts and introverts alike.  Her latest video training project, www.blogkickstart.com is designed to help anyone starting  in online blogging overcome their technical challenges without a webmaster.  Theresa lives in the Virginia countryside with her introvert husband (thus the countryside) and two teenage sons.

5 Reasons Every Introvert Needs an Extrovert Friend is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

Based in Australia, iPerform, is a leadership training company who has staff onboard who on occasion bring a blog post to me I just want to share with you. You know how we talk about being sales reluctant often because of make-me-sick kind of extroverted selling tendencies taught to us? Here are some ideas to help you dust of that feeling and continue to be authentic to yourself.

Manage your introversion without compromising personality issues

Introverts have more control over situations and on-the-job issues than they usually think they have. Introverts also have one huge social advantage – They recognize and respect other people’s space and sensitivities in any social environment. If you've never done sales training, you may be surprised to hear that's very good sales technique. "Managing introversion" really means adapting it to situations and issues.

Introverts often feel that they're being pushed into being pseudo-extroverts by social situations. This is a particularly irritating concept, and almost personally insulting in that it feels like you're actually being asked to be somebody else.
As a matter of fact, it’s a version of a far more familiar situation – The general cluelessness of non-introverts who simply don't understand even the basic ideas and emotions involved.

If you're asked to make a presentation or interact with a large group of people, you may feel you’re being asked compromise some core values and preferences.

This is where the “recognition and respect” sales technique approach comes in and it's very effective. Sensitivity and awareness of the space and feelings of others also means heightened social skills. Introverts, by definition, are better social navigators than most people.

When making a presentation a statement to a group, you have full control over where that situation goes.

For example:

• You can choose the topics
• You can choose the information available
• You can direct the logic of the situation
• You can ask questions

This is actually a sales technique. Good sales people don't charge up to customers and talk to them to death. Quite the opposite. They simply raise the issue of what the customer wants, provide information as required, and make suggestions.

Instead of "This is a terrific product…", They’re far more likely to start a dialogue with the simple control question, "Can I help you?" This approach is exactly what it looks like – Managing social interactions. The good salesperson is very much aware of the likely sensitivities and reactions to a hard sell sales pitch.

Some of the best motivators in the world will tell you that intrusive spiel and invasive babble are the worst possible techniques for talking to anyone about anything. They can be extremely counter-productive and often lead to conscious sales resistance. These are the behaviours that introverts avoid on principle. The introvert’s best social mechanism in these environments, ironically, is simply to be oneself.

These are situations where compromising personality traits really would be a bad move for an introvert. In customer service training, the common factors between customer service and introversion are that customer service training teaches people to listen to others and exercise their own their judgment, as introverts do naturally.

You don't need to be "fizzy" and outgoing to manage any social and business situations. Best practice, ironically for introverts, is to stay in character. You will get more respect for being yourself and not being superficial. Claude Hopkins, the father of American advertising, said long ago that people strongly resist hard sell. The introvert’s natural approach, which is soft sell with substance, always works better in any social environment.

What other natural tendencies do you have that you believe will help you in your marketing, sales and networking?

Manage your introversion without compromise is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

Tiffany Miller clearly demonstrates an understanding of how it can feel in the business world when even the label introvert might hold you back. In this post, You Don’t Have To "Get Over" What You Can "Go Around", it makes you wonder if all this talk about being at a disadvantage is nothing more than - a feeling. So from my online networking at My Guest Blog, meet Tiffany's tips.

Sometimes it can feel like an introverted personality is at a distinct disadvantage in a fast-paced business environment. If you don’t have that “take no prisoners” attitude, you’ll just never get ahead, right? While that kind of personality can help in some cases, the simple fact is that an introverted personality has the same chances for success as someone who is far more outgoing. Common sense and dedication to your business can take you much further than a simple affinity for being comfortable in a room full of people.

Even so, should you express your concerns that your introverted nature may be holding you back you can find yourself bombarded with a lot of “just” advice. By that, I mean people will tell you things like: “Just do this,” or “Just try that,” or worst of all: “Just get over it.”

No one “Just gets over” anything. Overcoming any issues, whether it’s a tendency to be shy around new people or a habit of telling customers what you really think of them, will require a lot of effort and commitment. On the bright side, you don’t have to go over everything if there is a nice, clear path that will take you around it, and there are a few professional business resources that can help with things that are often particularly troubling.

Taking Calls

Nothing ruins a perfectly good work day like having to deal with rude, overbearing people on the phone. Sometimes it’s hard enough to deal with people face to face when you can see their expressions, let alone putting up with their rants on the phone. It’s not uncommon for people to develop an all-consuming dread of a ringing telephone.

There’s a simple way around this, though. Taking calls is a natural part of doing business, and you can’t cut it out completely, but you can get someone to do it for you. Whether you are an entrepreneur working from home or in a small office, you can get a small business answering service to take your calls, screen out the irate or irrelevant calls, and only send on the ones that are really important. This can free up a lot of your time to get on with running your business instead of answering unproductive calls.

Presentations

What could be worse than standing in front of a group of people and presenting your business plan or pitching a new product? The “just get over it” advice comes up a lot here, which may, in fact, be a little worse than the “picture everyone in their underwear” or “practice in front of a mirror” advice.

A little more practical advice is to use a good PowerPoint presentation. There are a range of business PowerPoint templates on the market and they will help you look professional (even if you don’t feel it yourself) and keep your thoughts organized. Also, a bright, shiny presentation will take their eyes off of you which can reduce a lot of the pressure.

Just Advice

If I were to leave some “just” advice about succeeding in business even with an introverted personality, it would be this: Just be yourself. You may have to work on developing some new skills and processes, any you may have to employ some new resources, but you shouldn’t pretend to be someone you’re not. That kind of act rarely fools anyone. If you are dedicated to your business and are determined to make it succeed, you can use a few of these options to go around those personal obstacles and reach your final goals.

Tiffany Miller is a mother of two from Salt Lake City, UT. Her and her husband have had many small business ventures over the years and will soon be launching their seventh website anniversaryhelp.com

Besides taking calls and making presentations, where else does the advice, "Just be yourself," work for you?

Could Introverted Personality Disadvantage Be Just a Feeling? is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

As both an introvert and a highly sensitive person I've been slow to get a new routine while my mom is visiting. But with my energy at an almost all time low, writing bubbled up to the top of my list. It seemed an appropriate day, National Pig Day in the USA. Whew. Here's looking at those Three Little Pigs to get piggish about being more of an introvert. Which little pig are you?

"The first little pig built his house out of straw because it was the easiest thing to do." Some who are more introverted go along day to day believing there must be truth to all the common criticisms of our type – we're shy, aloof, anti-social and more. So going through the motions of a more extroverted society as we have in the USA is the easiest thing to do. Even with the ability to think these criticisms (myths) through, it's often just easier to go along: party, network and push ourselves. Attending to who we really are and what we may need doesn't fit in when you are on cruise control. I think I've been this first little pig at various times in my life, all to cause me problems. Remember how the straw house was the first one to get blown away by that wolf?

"The second little pig built his house out of sticks. This was a little bit stronger than a straw house." This introvert person found some great ideas to help him move along more successfully in life. The thing is, while he didn't just go along with the extrovert way, he learned how to act like an extrovert; you know – work a room, give a back-slapping and spiel all over you kind of networking elevator pitch. The seductiveness of it all. Without thinking things al the way through and acting on the little inside voice of warning, I can say, I was this pig for quite some time.

"The third little pig built his house out of bricks." My kind of pig! Go Piggy! When it comes to business, he thinks through his strategy, and he listens even more so to his true inner guidance. In life in general he is regularly recharging his energy, as he is aware and respectful that it is what it is. He asserts himself by saying "No," if needed. He plans for those required times of socializing – whether it's a family reunion or an association meeting – with purposeful alone time before and after. It's also a good idea to occasionally sneak in an unneeded trip to the restroom during activities with a good deal of extroverting. The wolf couldn't blow down this house.

Even the moral of the nursery rhyme has wisdom for the introvert, "The way to get along in the world is to do things as well as you can." Operative phrase is - as well as you can, not like someone else.

Be piggish today my introvert friend – it's National Pig Day and the Three Little Pigs want to play. When that hungry wolf knocks and says, "Are you in?" just answer that you prefer to rest right now. Or do something creative to raise your energy - that was my choice. What's yours?

Introverts and the Three Little Pigs: Happy National Pig Day is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

Please welcome my guest blogger today, Jeannette Paladino. How do you welcome her? You can say, Welcome. You can comment on her blog post. You can SHARE her blog post. I'll let Jeannette tell you the rest of the story.

Pat and her recent guests have discussed how introverts see the world and how they can work collaboratively with extroverts. I’m an extrovert. In fact, my good friend Shoya Zichy, creator of the Color Q personality profiling system, calls me a “raging” extrovert.

By that she means that I need to be involved with community – people at work and in my personal life. I’m very outwardly focused. But I personally think the differences between introverts and extroverts in the business world are exaggerated. My recent collaboration with Pat on our ebook “Repairing the Elevator Speech to Burnish Your Brand” is evidence that introverts (Pat) and extroverts (me) can have stress-free collaborations that work.

Pat and I met on LinkedIn and neither one of us can remember who reached out first. We both belong to the Bloggers Helping Bloggers Group on LinkedIn and our relationship first started by our commenting on each other’s blogs. You know, one blogger helping another.

Discovering a Shared Interest

Soon we discovered that we shared a common distaste for most of the “elevator speeches” we are victim to at networking events. We started talking about how elevator speeches could be so much better. Eventually we interviewed each other in a series of blog posts that appeared on each of our sites. Then we decided to take all this good advice on what makes for a good elevator speech and turned it into ebook, “Repairing the Elevator Speech to Burnish Your Personal Brand.” We’re using it as an incentive to build our subscriber base and to promote our companies.

We also appeared as guests on Free Webinar Wednesdays about how we leveraged our relationship on LinkedIn. Now we’re cooking up ways to repurpose the book and get it more exposure – and more PR for ourselves.

So how did Pat and I get along? Splendidly. We agreed on a common goal – turning our blog posts into an ebook and we each pulled our own weight in dividing up the tasks. The fact that we are different personality types didn’t even register on the radar screen.

You know, introverts and extroverts have more in common than you think. We like alone time, too, but we usually don’t plan for it. We just fall down dead tired. Small talk annoys us too. I’m an ENTJ and I’m always ready to move in for the kill. “Let’s get this thing going!” I have to be careful that I respect introverts who need more time to think things through before acting. Just because they don’t speak up right away doesn’t mean they don’t have anything meaningful to say.

And if Pat hadn’t told me, I don’t think I would have guessed that she’s an introvert. She’s full of energy, outgoing and talkative. Just like an extrovert.

Jeannette Paladino is Writer-in-Chief for Write Speak Sell. She helps clients leverage social media to make more money.

Reflections on Being an Extrovert Working With an Introvert is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy

Another year has passed by, the holidays are over and thank goodness! For an introvert all the get-togethers, parties and celebrating into the wee hours is exhausting. Now we get our holiday: Introvert Day, January 2nd. Here's a short introvert-preferred gift list:

- Less small talk. When we are communicating, in particular in-person, let's have more meaningful conversations. Oh sure, I love jokes and humor as much as the next person, extrovert or introvert. But let's have less small talk.
- Hold on a moment. Before you think about interrupting me if you associate my quietness with taking a break, hold on! Don't interrupt me because it is likely I'm processing something in my mind.
- Be comfortable with silence. When were talking there is no need to fill a quiet gap with babble. We kind of like a quiet rest once in a while.
- Do use email and voice mail. I welcome communicating this way. It gives me time to think, if I need to, about what I want to say. You'll appreciate the answer better too!
- Allow me to be friendly, in my way. Just because I don't stay until the end of the networking event or the end of the party does not mean I wasn't friendly and having a good time. I just do it differently.
- Admit it: you relish some down time too. In particular after the hectic frenzy of holidays, I don't know of one person who doesn't welcome a breather, some down time or just a little alone time.

Are you an introvert? What's remaining on your preferred gift list?

Happy Introvert Day! is a post from: Business Sales Coach for Introverts and Shy