The power of introverts | Susan Cain

The apartment had fulfilled its original function, serving as a storage area for stacks of books. Like everyone in my family, my grandfather preferred to read. But he also loved the congregation, and you could feel his love in the sermons he gave each week during the 62 years of his life as a rabbi. He would take the fruits of his weekly readings and weave intricate meanings from ancient and humanistic thought. People came from all over the world to hear him speak. But let me tell you something about my grandfather. Beyond his ceremonial role, he was truly modest and very introverted, to the point that when he delivered his sermons, he would not look you in the eye even though it was the same congregation he had addressed. been speaking for 62 years.

And outside the podium, when you called to say hello, he often ended the conversation quickly, fearing to take up too much of your time. But when he died at the age of 94, the police were forced to close the streets of his neighborhood to accommodate the crowds of people who had come to his funeral. And these days I'm trying to learn from my grandfather's example in my own way. I recently published a book about

introverts

and it took me 7 years to write. For me these 7 years have been very happy, because I wrote, I read, I thought, I investigated.

It was my version of the long hours my grandfather spent alone in his library. Now suddenly my work is very different, to talk about it, to talk about

introverts

. (Laughter) And that's hard for me, because while I'm honored to be here with you today, this is not my environment. I prepare for moments like these as best I can. I spent the past year practicing public speaking whenever I could. And I call this year "the year of dangerous conversations." (Laughs) And she really helped a lot. But I will tell you that what helps even more is my sense, my belief, and my hope that, when it comes to our attitudes toward introverts, solitude, and quiet, we are on the verge of dramatic change.

We really are. That is why I leave you now with three calls to action for those who share this vision. Number one: stop the constant teamwork madness. For. (Laughs) Thank you. (Applause) And I want to be clear about what I'm talking about, because I firmly believe that our offices should encourage relaxed, unplanned interactions, like people meeting and casually exchanging ideas. This is really good. It's also great for introverts and extroverts. But we need more solitude and freedom and more independent work. Schools, the same. Naturally we have to teach children to work together, but it also seems that we teach them to work alone.

This is also important for extroverted children. They just need to work because that's partly where deep thoughts come from. Number two: Stay away from others. Be like Buddha, create your visions. I'm not saying we should all go into the woods and build log cabins and never speak to each other again, but I am saying that each of us should get inside our own heads a little more often. Number three: Take a good look at what's inside your suitcase and why you put it there. Extroverted, maybe your suitcases are full of books or maybe they are full of champagne glasses or skydiving equipment.

Whatever it is, I hope you bring those things out whenever you can and make our lives more beautiful with your energy and joy. But inverted, you, as you are, probably store very carefully what you carry inside your suitcase. And that's fine. But every once in a while, just once in a while, I hope you open your suitcases for other people to see, because the world needs you and it needs the things you carry. So I wish you all the best on all possible journeys and I dare you to speak softly. Thank you so much. (Applause) Thank you.

Thank you. (Applause)