Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Up to one half of Americans are introverts. If that seems high, it’s probably because so many pretend to be extroverts. In this influential book, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the 20th century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture (and how differently introverts are viewed in other, particularly Asian, cultures). She persuasively describes how we undervalue introverts and how much we lose in doing so. For instance, introverts tend to excel in measures of creativity, academic performance, empathy, and self-control. Cain never claims introverts are better or smarter than extroverts, just different, and that these differences should be celebrated and leveraged. She explains how group brainstorms and open office spaces often fizzle, and why digital communications are a boon for introverts. Quiet may fundamentally change how we see introverts and, perhaps more importantly, how they see themselves.
HIGHLIGHT(S): Because of their inclination to listen to others and lack of interest in dominating social situations, introverted team leaders are more likely to hear and implement suggestions of subordinates, thus motivating team members to work harder and remain proactive in their ideas for improvements.
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