Extroversion is a personality trait but it is not purely behavioral. Extroversion is as much psychological as it is behavioral or personality centric. The obvious signs of extroversion are in one’s personality but it is the psyche, the thought process of the individual and the chosen approach to express that actually makes a person an extrovert.
It is very easy to spot an extrovert. It is also extremely simple to know if you are an extrovert. Here are the common extrovert personality traits.
1. The first sign of an extrovert is talkativeness. The person would talk a lot. But he or she would not be a chatterbox. Extroversion doesn’t include or account for gossiping or futile and senseless chatting. Extroversion accounts of sensible discussions and extremely well articulated conversations. Extroverts can meet anyone, anywhere for anything and can keep talking. They wouldn’t shy away from a conversation, debate or even a verbal argument. They will express their thoughts with amazing ease. They will usually not struggle for the right words nor would have any difficulty in expressing what may be difficult for some people to talk about. Extroverts would almost always communicate by talking. Hand and body gestures may be associated but they are not that important or integral to communication. They would remain almost pokerfaced when switching from one discussion to another because their focus is not on how they appear or gesture but what they talk and how. Extroverts are also good talkers, in the sense that when they talk the others are enticed to listen. Extroverts typically have great intonation and voice modulation skills.
2. The ease of talking makes extroverts natural leaders or team players. As they don’t have any problems talking about what they feel or are thinking, they are often better articulated and understood. They can also talk to others and understand them. This makes them ready to jump in leadership roles. Some people may have great ideas but as they are unable to communicate them, they may remain in secondary roles or as members of a team instead of becoming the leader. Most leaders are extroverts. As a leader, one cannot remain cocooned.
3. Extroverts will have many interests. They will never find satiation by talking about the same thing or by exploring only one discipline. They may be interested in books, films, music, politics, current affairs and technology, all at the same time. They may be equally passionate about all. Although they would not be experts in every discipline, they will gather enough knowledge that enables them to keep talking about them. Also, since they are good talkers and express confidence, their talks are paid attention to even if the knowledge is not extremely vast.
4. Extroverts will always want to be around people. Introverts tend to find comfort when they are alone or with only one person who they are very comfortable with. Extroverts will want to have as many people around as possible. They are very sociable and it is their extroversion that allows them to mingle with many people. They also like to be the center of attention. They like the fact that people gather around and listen to them. Often, extroverts have no purpose or an end plan of why they love doing it or do it but they simply enjoy the moment. This fuels their extroversion further. When extroverts are alone or isolated for a long time, they may get depressed or might be uncomfortable. They want to be in the midst of things, and more importantly amongst people.
5. An extrovert would never shy away from talking what he or she is feeling right now. If they are sad, they would express it, rather well. If they are happy, they would express that as well. A very treasured attribute of extroverts is that they can even communicate complex feelings. They can express a complicated situation in a simple manner. Most people are amazed at how comfortably an extrovert shares what’s in their mind.
6. Extroverts often want to do jobs or be in careers where they get adulations. They don’t like to be shackled, away from the world and without any appreciation or accolades. They may be extremely hard workers but they also demand or need the accomplishments to be acknowledged by others.
7. Extroverts are extremely flexible. They have an open mind. This is not to agree with others but to understand various viewpoints. It is one way they learn new things, by listening to others and by absorbing what they want and by discarding the information or opinions that they don’t agree with.
8. Extroverts often talk first and think later. Because they are accustomed with fast and smooth talks, they often have to revisit their stand later when they actually ponder over what they had said. This may not become obvious in public but an extrovert knows when such instances occur.