I am trying to remember if I have mentioned this in a previous article, but I am naturally an introvert. Social events or just talking to people for a long time really takes a toll on me, and after that, I need to get away and be alone for a while to recharge. You can already imagine that an extrovert feels and does the exact opposite. There is nothing wrong with being one or the other as long as we accept each other and are happy.
Sometimes I realize that even small talk seems a bit exhausting, especially if there is no need (interest) or urgency. I recently found myself in such a situation and began to reflect on what happened and how I felt. Typically, in the workplace, some people come to me to tell me about a problem or find a solution, although it could also be just to talk. At such times, I have to convoke some energy to attend to that person and stop whatever I’m doing; after all, I like to give people my full attention when speaking.
If I start to analyze, the best ideas that have occurred to me have always emerged from a conversation with someone. Not necessarily because the person I was talking to knew the answer to what was in my head (maybe I didn’t even tell them); it just happened spontaneously. In coaching, we call it an aha moment. I will try to explain what I mean by it.
The Aha! moment
When talking with another person, you will always gain something, even if you don’t realize it at the time. I will mention a few examples that come to mind. First, it could be inspiration or new ideas you can apply that you have not thought about before. Perhaps the motivation to continue a path that seemed very complicated (especially when the person you are talking to tells you that something similar happened to them or has experiences to share). You could also enrich or complement your ideas with a different perspective. Maybe an honest opinion or feedback, all of these things help refine your plans.
We have the ability to find the answers to our questions or the solutions to our problems; in fact, that is what coaching is based on. Nobody is more expert in your problem than yourself; therefore, nobody is better than you to solve it. Listening to ourselves verbalize an idea or listening to a person repeating or giving an opinion about it will lead to a different analysis than if we have it in mind. Conversations are a great help in realizing (realizing or discovering) how simple, complex, intricate, or obvious the answer we are looking for is.
Conclusion
With this, I want to motivate all introverts to verbalize their ideas and problems to start conversations with colleagues, friends, family, etc. Be honest about what’s on your mind, share your thoughts, and you will see the benefits. Of course, you must be willing to listen to the other person and be empathic – this is where the energy investment aforementioned is needed. You have to let the conversation flow, not force it.
Obviously, I am not trying to convince anyone to become an extrovert, nor am I implying that being an introvert is bad. I just want to outline some easily achievable benefits that my introverted friends might miss out on.
As I mentioned, coaching is an example of how these moments of realization happen due to a conversation. After all, it is a type of conversation that seeks to impact you significantly. If you want to discover more about it and experience these Aha moments of realization or discovery, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment or see the different packages offered on the web.
Alexander Martinez
