Self-Assessment: Do You Have Introvert Qualities?

Answer the following questions to determine if you recognize any introverted personality traits in yourself.

1. Do you prefer to just start your day quietly or do you like to “small talk” or gossip with friends?

• I despise small talk; just let me get to work.  
• Sometimes, it depends on who’s around to chat.
• I have to talk to people; it’s the best way to start my day.

2. Are you a good listener?

• Yes, it comes more naturally than speaking.
• Sometimes, but I’ll interrupt if I have something to say.
• No, I prefer to take charge of the conversation.

3. Are you super focused on your tasks at hand?

• Yes, it’s easy for me to be productive.
• Sometimes, but I have to turn off all notifications for email and social media.
• No, I get bored working on one thing for too long.

4. Are you easy to please?

• Yes, I’m happy spending a quiet evening with family and friends.
• Sometimes, depending on the situation.
• No, I know what I like and if it’s not exact, I feel perturbed.

5. Can you keep a secret?

• Yes, I’ll never divulge a secret.
• Sometimes, but if it’s a juicy secret it’s tough for me to keep it inside.
• No, I like to gossip.

6. Are you self-sufficient and independent?

• Yes, I can take care of myself, thank you very much.
• Sometimes, but I’m not afraid to ask for help if I need it.
• No, I don’t want to do everything myself; I need my village.

7. Do you enjoy solitude?

• Yes, I love having a quiet evening or weekend to myself.
• Sometimes, but not for too long.
• No, I need to have people around me at all times.

8. How would you describe your friend circle: small and intimate OR large and superficial?

• Small/intimate: I can count on my closest friends in an emergency.
• Not sure, I have some best friends but I also know lots of people in the community.
• Large/superficial: I know lots of people but I’m not sure who I can count on in an emergency.

9. Do you learn best by watching others?

• Yes, I need to watch someone doing the same steps before I attempt it.
• Sometimes, usually if I get stuck or confused while reading.
• No, I just jump in and I’m OK with making mistakes.

10. Do you feel drained or exhausted after being in large social situations?

• Yes, I always need quiet time to destress after an event.
• Sometimes, it depends on the reason for the event.
• No, I live for big social events and parties!

Now that you’ve answered each question honestly, go back through your answers and reflect on how these traits affect your personal and your business lives. 

There aren’t any point values involved and no one will come back to check on your scores but if you answered mostly “yes” to these questions, you just might be an introvert. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert and this knowledge might bring you more awareness into why you feel or act a certain way during different scenarios.

For questions number 1 and 8 which are not yes/no questions, introverts prefer not to have gossip sessions and often have a very small group of close friends. Extroverts love to chat with people and often have very large friend groups.

If you’re interested in doing a more comprehensive personality test, try the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).