Do you ever feel the need to recharge yourself after a social event? If so, this is your invitation to delve into the insights that awaits you. Have you ever thought about those sitting quietly at a corner in a room full of people, thinking they might just be shy or afraid or maybe someone anti-social, well then let me take you through Susan Cain’s Ted Talk where she invites us to reconsider our biases and embrace the unique strengths of introverts.
Susan Cain is a renowned American writer, lecturer, ex lawyer and co-founder of Quiet Revolution, a movement that advocates for the rights and needs of introverts in a world that can be overwhelmingly extroverted. Cain starts her Ted talk by sharing her experience as a kid at a summer camp, where she was asked to be outgoing instead of just sitting and reading her favorite book which was her family’s way of group activity. It was then she understood that she needed to prove herself that she too could be bold and assertive, after which she decided to be a wall street lawyer instead of being a writer. She always knew that this was not right and she goes on to explain this by giving examples of some great leaders like Eleanor Roosevelt, Gandhi, Rosa Parks who always claimed themselves to be calm, quiet and introverts and was yet leading the world completely fine, through this she explains that being an introvert is not being shy, it is just that, unlike extroverts, introverts function better in quieter environments and in solitude.
Our society usually values extroversion, linking success with being outspoken, outgoing and sociable. Schools today and workplaces as well focuses more on activities that would favor extroverts rather than those quieter minds who usually excel more that the people favored according to most researches. Cain goes on to quote that "Solitude matters, and for some people, it's the air they breathe."
Cain explains how introverts are usually the one who excel in situations that require deep thinking and focus. An introvert’s ability to listen and observe and analyze the situation gives birth to creative and innovative ideas and that introverts are just as capable of leadership and creativity as extroverts, but they approach these roles differently.
Cain concludes her Ted Talk by explaining how important it is to keep a balance between the two and how the society must give space for both introverts and extroverts accepting the fact that both the personalities are equally important to foster innovation and creativity in the society. She emphasizes on the fact that in embracing introversion, we’re not only acknowledging the importance of different ways of thinking but also encouraging a more inclusive and thoughtful approach to life.
Everyone shines, given the right lighting. For some, it's a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk.
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Razia Khatun
2024-2026
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