An Introvert’s Advice for Getting Ahead | Hacker News Reader

An Introvert’s Advice for Getting Ahead

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26 pointsprostoalex16 comments

This article mischaracterises introversion by confusing it with shyness. Yes, there is probably a significant correlation between the two but they are separate issues. You can be an introvert without being shy. Furthermore, shyness can be overcome (as I have) but an individual's level of introversion is for the most part unchangeable.

It's not hard to find examples of excellent public speakers who are also introverts. Mohandas Gandhi and Barack Obama are two examples which spring to mind.

Thank you.

I am very much an introvert, but not shy at all. Social interactions just mentally drain me, so I avoid them if possible.

I think that introverts who can fake extroversion make the best leaders. Natural born extroverts are often selfish and can't relate to others on a deeper level - Only on a superficial level (catch phrases and the like).

I think that good leaders need a high level of self-reflection otherwise they will sound like a self-absorbed, out-of-touch jerk - These people are just not motivating to work with.

Extroverts self-reflect, form genuine connections and can relate on a deep level. You're thinking, perhaps, of narcissists? But I think even they self-reflect.

What makes you think extroversion/introversion are related to the capability to self-reflect?

It's a personal observation and also a big generalization. I think maybe it's because extroverts often derive their self-worth from their interactions with others instead of basing it on intrinsic characteristics that nobody else can see.

Splitting people into either the introverted or extroverted category seems really simplistic. I think that's why these debates are a bit hollow since no one really knows what they are arguing.

For anyone reading this article or wanting to dig deeper into the subject of extroversion and introversion checkout "Quiet" by Susan Cain.

It talks exactly about introversion and how it has its values.

BTW: The introvertion/extroversion thing is really a mix of elements. Rarely you are a 100% extrovert or introvert, but a complex mix of both.

My tactic in a room full of jabberers - ask someone a question (as simple as 'why?') about what they've said. It can expose nonsense, or alternatively expand useful information with only oblique confrontation.

Previous 303 threads about this on HN: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=introverts&sort=byPopularity&p...

What? Searching instead for [introverts advice ahead] returns only one result.

https://hn.algolia.com/?query=introverts%20advice%20ahead&so...

What's your point? I can do a simple search of any keyword and get back hundreds or thousands of results. There's no harm in sharing a recent article about a topic to spark discussion.

If you ignore the GP's tone, it's actually a useful search link. Along with accumulating insight and conclusions, to referencing previous articles and discussions helps to avoid specific redundancies.

Somehow I feel PM roles suit introverts more than any other roles in a technical company.

y? PM's need a lot of social skills to protect engineers from a lot of the politics.

Agreed. The role of a good PM to to enable the project members to do their jobs, by shielding them, and getting them the resources they need.

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