A recent Facebook post of mine concerning people being more social today, rather than less, through social media generated some discussion among my Facebook friends.
I thought I would share my take here and see if my chamber of commerce colleagues and association friends have given this topic some thought.
Introverts versus extroverts in the age of social media
Back in the day, before the internet and the social media revolution, if you were extroverted you were considered normal.
You were comfortable in crowds, you could hold court and get noticed, you could sell things, you got the girl, etc.
Introverts, on the other hand, were considered shy, uninterested and uninteresting, they needed to “come out of their shells” or “be part of the group”. Sometimes they even needed “treatment” or medicine so they wouldn’t be so uncomfortable in crowds.
They got a computer.
With social media, introverts blossomed. They build relationships over the computer with friends from around the world, they enjoy reading and then sharing (providing value), they write well, they are techy, and they can network online without feeling overwhelmed or out of place.
Extroverts today, it seems to me, feel like they posted…now let’s go get a drink and chit chat. The idea of spending hours and hours on the computer each and everyday is daunting to many of them.
The time of the introvert has come.
Chambers and association boards that used to look for an extroverted personality to lead the organization might want to start looking for geeks rather than salespeople.
What do you think? Comment below.
