Psychologists have explained that humans are divided into two broad personalities according to how they build their energy. If you build your energy by interacting and mingling with other people, psychologists say that you are an extrovert. On the other hand, if you prefer spending time with yourself and doing things on your own, you are an introvert. Do you know that quiet people, the “introverts,” tend to get more things done?
Historically, we are accustomed to thinking that entrepreneurs and charismatic leaders that are extroverts are way closer to success than introverts because they have a less complicated time dealing with situations that are traditionally linked with successful people. For instance, public speaking, networking, and negotiating.
So it can be pretty surprising that quiet people have the tendency to get more things done. In fact, successful people in the spotlight are self-proclaimed introverts— for instance, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, and Bill Gates.
Here are the 7 reasons why quiet people get more things done:
1. They listen more.
Instead of talking about why something went wrong or complaining about how challenging a particular assignment is, quiet people would rather listen for feedback and consider them as constructive criticism. This factor makes quiet people easy to work with.
Everybody desires to be seen and heard, but before that, it is important to listen attentively to what other people have to say. Of course, this does not mean that people who don’t talk a lot aren’t good listeners. Some people just don’t enjoy talking so they would rather listen to you.
Listening more than talking becomes a habit in the long run, which in turn turns them into intent listeners who can read body language and catch on to every detail.
2. They are a sponge of information.
Have you ever wondered what introverts and extra-quiet people do with their time? They don’t party and hang out in bars as most extroverts do, so what do they do with their time?
Most quiet people utilize their time as an opportunity to learn new things. They read books, watch documentaries, play games, and learn how to use new software. Quiet people usually use their time to do something that would make them feel productive, turning them into a sponge of information who knows a bit about everything.
Most importantly, they know how to obtain this abundant information for their careers and personal lives.
3. They have a learner mentality.
Being quiet will replenish quiet people with the necessity to always learn. Even though everyone around them is partying, they prefer staying in their homes to finish up a task. And wherever they are, they have this strong belief to always have something new to learn from a situation.
Having a learner’s mentality makes it easier for quiet people to get more things done and so they are able to make life-changing improvements for themselves in accordance with what they have learned.
4. They take notes, both physically and mentally.
Taking notes is essential for learning and every quiet people knows this. They rarely get ahead of themselves, thinking that everything they heard will remain in their heads. Because they know all too well that they might lose the information forever, they always write things down.
Moreover, they are also great observers so they also have the tendency to take mental notes. Quiet people are usually the first ones to notice the slightest things about other people— for instance, you like more milk than sugar in your coffee or you prefer drinking hot beverages over cold ones.
5. They know their priorities.
You will eventually see things that are important to you once you get holed up in your bedroom without any human connection. Let’s say you have lost your job. Rather than being frustrated all day and dwelling on your failure, you prioritize learning how things ended up that way and how you can make things better the second time.
Typically, quiet people tend to prioritize their “quiet times” instead of hanging out with their friends. Although not every circle understands this perspective, quiet individuals still see it as a priority that sits above everything else.
6. They are great at planning.
Quiet people have a lot of time on their hands and they wisely make use of it by making careful plans. Since they have things well-organized in their heads, they know exactly how long it would take them to complete a task, what they need to do to complete it, and the conceivable challenges that will come up along the way.
These quiet folks make a solid plan for their aspirations in order to be successful. Even though some strive for spontaneity, careful planning is what gives people control over various situations— leading them to success.
7. They use obscurity to grow.
Most of the time, quiet people prefer obscurity because it enables them to grow and improve on their own terms. Perhaps because even though being in the spotlight can be a great way to acquire feedback and constructive criticism, it also places a particular level of pressure on your shoulders.
Quiet people are more inclined in seeing results instead of shouting to the world about the process they are taking. They like confusing people in their silence and love shocking them with the results.
