Now that the Democratic ticket is set, we can say one thing for sure: Barack Obama and Joe Biden are NOT introverts. We can probably say the same about John McCain and whoever joins him on the Republican ticket. In a nutshell, an introvert is defined as a person who is more interested in their own mental life than the world around them. They are often the quieter people in social settings, if they set foot in one at all. Can you run for office these days and be an introvert? Probably.
I wouldn't have thought that before my conversation with Laurie Helgoe, author of Introvert Power. She's my guest on Say It By Heart the week of August 25th. Laurie shared several things that I found interesting and comforting:
*A majority of Americans are introverts
*Many people we assume are extroverts have introvert tendencies (including yours truly)
*Introverts often make great friends and lovers to extroverts (and vice versa)
Laurie also enhanced my appreciation of the ways introverts listen and process information, which can lead to major benefits for themselves and those around them. The introvert may simply need to better appreciate who they are, find creative ways to take care of themselves in extrovert-friendly settings and effectively communicate their needs to those around them.
So if you are an introvert who wants to run for public office but think dealing with all those people all the time would make your head explode, take heart. OK, you probably won't make a good presidential candidate. But somewhere there is a school board, town council, or water reclamation district that could use your analytical mind and call to service. Start with Laurie's book to rev up your introvert power!
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