Thinking
What connects the following?
• The theory of gravity
• The theory of relativity
• Peter Pan
• Chopin’s nocturnes
At first glance, it might seem difficult to find a common thread running through this diverse list of literature, music, scientific theories and technology. Perhaps their shared global fame and impact on society come to mind as a possibility. Whilst all these items are indeed world-renowned, they share another, more surprising, connection: Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Frederic Chopin, J.M. Barrie and Larry Page – the brilliant minds behind these transformative creations – were (or still are) introverts.
Why might it be surprising to us that these creative and technological advancements were created by introverts? I believe it is because we live in a world that teaches us that people who are loud and talkative are the most successful in life and contribute most to the world. Writer and former lawyer, Susan Cain, in her book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, calls this the “Extrovert Ideal”, which she defines as the belief that there is an “ideal self [that] is gregarious, alpha, and comfortable in the spotlight”. This “ideal self” is someone who prefers action over contemplation, enjoys risk-taking and socialises in groups.
For years, society has conditioned us to believe that people who display traits of introversion – people who are quietly contemplative, who spend time thinking and observing before they speak and who are comfortable working and being alone (and, in fact, who might need to spend time alone to recharge their batteries after socialising) – are shy, under-confident and, therefore, not as successful. As Cain says, introversion is often seen as a “second class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology”. But this negative view of introversion could not be further from the truth.
Research has shown that introverts make good leaders precisely because they spend time reflecting, are inclined to listen to others and have a lack of interest in dominating social situations. They are more likely to hear and implement suggestions and, thereby, motivate their followers to be even more proactive. Introverts can be extremely outgoing and confident but, unlike extroverts, who thrive on interaction with others, introverts tend to need periods of quiet time to recharge.
It is important, then, in the world of education that we do not privilege extroversion over introversion. There is room – and indeed a need – for both approaches in schools and, later, in the world of work. At NLCS, we recognise that all of our students – and staff – have different personalities, some extroverted and some introverted and, for many of us, a mixture of both. We do not fall into the trap of equating introversion with shyness (although the two can often look similar) and we celebrate the fact that everyone approaches work – and life – differently. It is important that we do not label our students as “quiet” telling them that they should speak up more, as if to suggest that the people with the loudest voices always say the most interesting things. There is as much power in the quiet reflection of an introvert, who observes carefully the actions and thoughts of others before coming to their own conclusions, as there is in the out-loud thinking and public decision making of an extrovert.
– Richard Queripel, Head of Junior School
