Overseas teaching teams need all kinds of different people functioning in different ways to be effective. We’re taking a couple of blog posts to explore the unique ways that different personalities contribute to impactful overseas teams.
Today, it’s the introverts’ turn!
Of course, every person is unique and growing, so these won't be the same for every introvert all the time. So let's look at some of the most amazing abilities of introverts in general.
There’s this misconception that introverts are shy or don’t enjoy being with other people. If that is true for some people, it’s not because they are introverted. Many introverts enjoy and seek out time with the people they care about, and can be just as outgoing as most extroverts. But, unlike extroverts, they re-fuel with time alone.
Since the default for most activities (school, work, social life, and even many hobbies) is being around people, introverts have to be extra intentional about balancing rest and social time. As a result, they develop valuable skills that extroverts sometimes miss (or at least take longer to learn).
- They know how to be alone well, which is helpful when you don’t know many people in a new country just yet.
- They can compartmentalize work and rest, which helps avoid burnout.
- They are discerning about how to get the most out of time with people and make deep connections.
Teaching overseas isn’t rocket science, but if it were, introverts would be the fuel gauge, filter, and navigation system of that ship.
Fuel Gauge
Since so many of life’s tasks are done with other people (and are therefore more tiring), introverts often have a better awareness of how much energy they are really using in a day. They know when the fuel is getting low and when to stop and fill the tank. Because their rest has to happen alone, they are good at actually resting instead of filling that time with different “leisure” social activities that can be just as tiring as work.
Extroverts are energized by social interaction, so they sometimes don’t realize that their tank is running low while they are actively with other people. Introverts can help signal their more extroverted teammates that it might be time to rest and refuel so they can be the most effective and available teachers, friends, and teammates possible.
Filter
Introverts know better than most that not all social time is created equal. A party with a crowd, where they won’t have time to really connect with any one person in a significant way (while it does have some value), ranks differently than a couple of hours getting to know a new friend over a cup of coffee.
They can filter through the opportunities to discern which should be prioritized to steward the resource of social time well. They keep the team healthy and running smoothly.
Navigation System
Navigation involves introverts and extroverts in a joint effort, but the introverts' role is an important one. Their “filter” skills help them know the best direction to move, and their “fuel gauge” helps them see how much energy it will realistically take to get to the destination or accomplish the team’s goal. They can help with the details of making a plan to move forward.
All of these are essential tools for a team to succeed. Without introverts, extroverts sometimes miss the signals for needed rest or don’t consider which social activities are most valuable. Most people are not entirely introverted or extroverted, but that range of perspective and experience is what makes a team more powerful than one (even one very capable) person alone.
