Is it possible to be more extroverted?

Everyone has both introverted and extroverted traits, and according to psychotherapists, introverts can learn extroverted behaviors to appear more outgoing. Each personality type also has unique characteristics that can bring value to any workplace or social setting.Learning about the traits of both introverts and extroverts can help you learn behaviors that reflect the strengths of both personality types. For example, here are some key traits for introverts and extroverts:

Introverts

Introverted people are more likely to:

• Seek solitude: Introverted people don’t feel the need to be around others. They recharge themselves when they are alone.
• Enjoy routine and plans: Introverts usually enjoy predictability, and they tend to be good planners, capable of building structures and routines that help themselves and others complete tasks on time.
• Appreciate the company of a few people: Introverts often prefer quiet conversations and small groups. They often prefer to enjoy the company of a small group of close friends.

Extroverts

Extroverted people are more likely to:

• Seek social situations: Extroverts often enjoy networking and find their energy in social situations.
• Enjoy novelty and risk: Extroverts like to experiment with new things. They may be more likely to take risks and seek new ways of approaching tasks, which can lead to innovation and creative problem-solving.
• Appreciate groups: Extroverts often love to work in groups and may prefer the company of a large group of friends or team members.

How to be an extrovert at work

With practice, you can start adopting more extroverted behaviors engaging in more conversations and increasing your social exposure. You can follow these steps to become more extroverted at work:

1. Take the first step

It might be challenging at first to start a discussion, but you can begin by talking about the weather, traffic or a work-related topic. When you engage in a conversation with simple topics, consider it a warm-up for a more in-depth discussion. This approach may give you the courage to become more extroverted.

2. Join a speaking group

Joining a speaking group can help you overcome the challenge of public speaking. It involves having a supportive group of people who also want to improve their public speaking abilities and comfort.These groups provide opportunities to practice speaking in front of others, either by delivering a short, improvised speech on a subject or by giving a longer presentation that you have time to prepare. The more you speak in public, the more natural it becomes.

3. Set practical goals

Set a few practical and specific goals for yourself, such as:

• Have a discussion with one colleague before the end of the day.
• Smile at 10 people every day.
• Eat lunch with one colleague every week.

Setting goals is a great way to encourage yourself to make small changes to your day or week that encourage more extroverted behaviors. Be intentional about developing your social habits, and choose goals that feel realistic based on your level of comfort.For example, if starting conversations with strangers feels overwhelming, you may prefer to start with a smaller goal, like having lunch with a different acquaintance each week.

4. Give yourself an exit time

When attending office parties or other crowded events that make you uncomfortable, you can set an exit time to help you better handle any discomfort you might feel because it sets a time limit for your effort. Commit to attending the party during a specific time after which you allow yourself to leave. This technique can help your brain to adjust as you already know when you may turn it off.

5. Practice your conversation skills

Challenge yourself to have a conversation with a stranger once a day. You may start with, “How are you today?” Then, ask what they think about current news. Try to pick someone you haven’t talked to before or someone you speak to rarely. The goal is to train yourself to do something you’re not comfortable doing so that starting conversations can be more natural when you need to do it in networking situations.