Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Carl Jung introduced these terms in 1921, but they are still helpful today as we seek to understand ourselves and others. We don’t want to categorize anyone, but here’s the simple breakdown. Extroverts get energy from outside sources and others while introverts get their energy from internal sources and self-reflection. But there can be a wide range of extroversion and introversion.
If you are an introvert, jump back to our last blog. In it, we shared some presentation tips and reminders for introverts. (Spoiler alert: you can be amazing public speakers!)
If you are an extrovert, we are going to dig into some typical characteristics of extroverts that might hurt or help you when it comes to public speaking.
Don’t Forget to Listen
Extroverts tend to spend more time speaking, while introverts spend more time listening. When getting ready for a presentation, it might be tougher for extroverts to listen to feedback from others. Allow others a chance to talk and give input. Sometimes you’ll be surprised by who speaks up and offers valuable input if you’ll just a wait a few moments before being the one to jump in.
Only Ad Lib When Necessary
Content that is “ad lib” is added on the spot, without previous preparation. As an extrovert, you might find that you are more prone to talk about things in your presentation spontaneously. I call these “squirrels” with my students. They see something or think of something, and all of the sudden, like a dog who spots a squirrel, they are chasing down something they hadn’t expected to. These can quickly derail your presentation, distract your audience, and take away from the important things you had planned to cover.
Make Careful Decisions
Research from Noman in 2016 found that 50% of extroverts make snap decisions. That means, you’ll want to slow down your decision-making process a bit to make sure you are making good ones. Allow yourself time to research and really think about the consequences and outcomes of the presentation decisions you make. Don’t decide just to get it over with.
Lean Into Your Animated Delivery
Studies show that most extroverts tend to use louder voices, take up more physical space, use broader gestures, and make more eye contact than introverts. All of these things are great when it comes to public speaking. Lean into that. Author Ngan Vu says, “Extroverts . . . feed off of external energy that arises from the interaction with others; they genuinely enjoy the presence of other people.” Let your natural love for social situations and the spotlight propel you to be an engaging, animated, warm, and authentic speaker.
Embrace Risks
Research also shows that extroverts tend to be more comfortable with taking risks. Susan Cain, the author of Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking says that most introverts are okay with calculated risks. But public speaking isn’t always a calculated risk. That’s why extroverts might not get as nervous about public speaking as their introverted friends. So use your natural risk-taking tendencies and embrace every chance you get to present in public.
I don’t know about you, but I love that we are all wired a little differently. I love that we can celebrate the things that make us unique while also learning more about things we have in common. Like introversion or extroversion. When we study ourselves and others for the sake of being more aware and sensitive communicators, everyone wins.
Need more tips or tricks to take your presentation to the next level? Get in touch with us now.
