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There’s a word for “people who are in their heads too much”: thinkers. -- Manifesto #1, by Susan Cain.
Shhhhhh!
Introverts have always suspected as much, but their opinions went unheard above the extroverts' clamor. Before Susan Cain spoke out in her acclaimed study, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can't Stop Talking," introverts were considered socially inept and introversion--confused with shyness--was a personality trait to be overcome in order to achieve success. Everyone knew the best ideas came about from group brainstorming, an idea and practice named and promoted by ad executive Alex Osborn in the 1950s. Elementary school children are taught in "pods" and work as adults on teams. Solitary time as a catalyst for innovation is dismissed in favor of collaborative efforts. But why?
The Lies of GroupThink
GroupThink, a term Cain uses to emphasize our culture’s unquestioning emphasis on this method of interaction, can be defined as the mindless acceptance that work, learning and most other activities are best when performed with other people. Thus, most adults serve on at least one work team and 70 percent work in an open-plan office that limits solitude and time to concentrate without interruption. Even elementary school children are educated in groups within their own classes, despite research demonstrating that people learn faster and "are more creative when they enjoy privacy and freedom from interruption." Designed for Extroverts Traditional classrooms and smaller graduate student conference classes are designed for extroverts. Not only does the architecture and arrangement of classroom furniture favor extroverts, the typical class schedule does as well. The collective group of students is asked if there are any questions regarding assignments to have been completed between classes, queries are tendered and responses discussed nearly instantaneously and without any allowance for consideration or contemplation. A lecture then follows, ending with a reminder of coursework expected before the next class meeting. A bell rings or a wristwatch is noted and class is over.
Introversion, Learning & Creativity
Introverted students are not learning-disabled; nor are they neurotically fearful of social interaction. They prefer, however, time alone for contemplation, concentration and creativity. They are not fearful of solitude, but actively seek it in order to work or learn. An online educational opportunity, such as returning to school for a master's degree, can be an enormous opportunity for an introverted student. For instance, while a traditional classroom and class are designed for an extroverted student, engaging in work toward an online graduate degree rewards many of the characteristics demonstrated by introverted students, including:
- Working alone;
- Answering questions with considered and crafted responses as opposed to quick verbal replies;
- Freedom from working in groups and interruptions from team members;
- Solitude and privacy in which to learn and work;
- Peer-to-peer and student-to-professor interactions on a preferentially limited basis.
I'm not saying that social skills are unimportant, or that we should abolish teamwork.... But I am saying that we all need alone time. And that the more freedom we give introverts to be themselves, the more they'll dream up their own unique solutions to the problems that bedevil us."
About the author:
Matt Herndon (@Just_Matt_) lives in the Indianapolis area with his wife and children. He recently completed his graduate work, studying communication and leadership development.
