What are the differences between introvert and extrovert communication?

Using the introvert and extrovert model of styles, while not the only model, is the most often referenced work of Carl Jung, whose work dates back to 1921. He is acknowledged as the first person, a Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist, whose work typed people into the introvert and extrovert styles. Since this finding, the fascination with the introvert and extrovert spectrum of temperament is being referenced in many studies.

Through research, studies, and observation, we can identify some key differences in the communication styles.

Extrovert and introvert communication preferences are as follows:

Extrovert preferences	Introvert preferences
Talk out loud to sort through their ideas Communicate freely with anyone about themselves Visibly gregarious Prefer communicating on the telephone or in-person Usually prefer getting input from as many people as possible	Think things through before speaking Openly talk about themselves with people they know and trust Visibly stay in the background Prefer to communicate in writing including e-mail exchange Prefer one-to-one conversations over meetings

As you read this table, you may have a question in mind about whether the introvert preferences either indicate someone is shy or that introvert equates to shy.

The way psychologists and introvert authorities explain the difference between the two styles comes down to this.

Extroverts get energy from everything around them, including activities like talking and interacting with others.

Introverts get energy from the playground of their mind, including being alone in and with their own mind in reflecting and thinking.

Someone more introverted is not necessarily less socially engaged because of shyness. It's more a situation that an introvert does not need much outside stimulation to be engaged. But when a shy person is not socially engaged, it is more because of anxiousness over the socializing.

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Bernardo Carducci, psychology professor and director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, uses a party scenario to illustrate the difference between an introvert and a shy person.

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The introvert isn't afraid to talk to people but might stand in the corner to take a break from the crowd. The shy person stands in the corner because he feels he has no choice. And the shy person can be an introvert or an extrovert.

In my own management training of different theories about people styles, there is one relevant point, which also applies to effective communication. Your greatest power in communicating lies in your awareness of the how and what of differences. Once we are aware of how an extrovert communicates differently to an introvert, then we can either make a conscious choice to modify our style to be more like theirs or accept those differences.

As you consider this communication preference can you understand how the preferences are energy-based and are at the heart of communication differences?