You took a personality test and learned that you're an introvert.
This discovery makes a lot of sense given the many of the ways you react and feel on a daily basis.
You do some research on introverts, and while some articles describe you perfectly, others don't even come close. There are introverted behaviors that don't fit you at all.
- You don't hate socializing.
- You don't want to spend all of your time by yourself.
- You feel comfortable meeting and talking with other people.
- People think you're talkative and outgoing.
- You have close-knit group of friends.
Sure, you'd rather send a text message than make a phone call, and you may even prefer to have quiet alone time over being in a loud and rambunctious crowd.
So how do you know if you really are an introvert or an extravert?
What Is an Outgoing Introvert?
Introversion and extraversion exist on a scale, so your introversion score may be slightly lower than the “typical” introvert.
Introversion and extroversion are personality traits that are part of a wide spectrum, and you can fall anywhere in between.
So you can still be an introvert — just a more outgoing one. While some people do fall close to an extreme end, others are more in the middle, giving them qualities of both.
If you're an outgoing introvert, that means that deep down you are an introvert, but you may behave like an extrovert in certain situations or with specific people.
Here are 11 signs you may be an outgoing introvert:
1. You find people interesting.
You love to people watch. You also love meeting new people and asking them questions about their life's journey. You want to know them on a deeper level.
But you probably don't want to do this every night. As much as you are interested in people, you prefer a little bit of socializing at one time before you need some time to yourself.
After a busy weekend, you feel the need to be alone and recharge your mind in peace and quiet.
2. Once you recharge, you reach out to your friends.
You have had some time to yourself now, and you are actually itching to get your friends together — especially friends who enjoy more intimate gatherings.
When you're the host, it allows you to create your social plans on your own terms. You can set the time, the place, and the invite list.
As soon as you start to feel drained, you can slip out for the night and go home.
3. You enjoy meeting new people.
One of the difficulties for outgoing introverts is that you want to socialize, but it takes you a bit of time to warm up in a crowd.
However, once you feel comfortable being around certain people, you have no problem at all chatting up a storm.
Also, you tend to not overshare with someone after first meeting them, but as time goes on, you are able to loosen up and build some trust.
The more you get to know someone, the more comfortable you are with letting the quirky side of your personality show.
4. You are selective with your friends.
You may be comfortable socializing with a variety of people at parties or other events, but your true friends are few and well-vetted.
You find there are a limited number of people with whom you authentically connect, but that doesn't bother you. In fact, you prefer it that way because it allows for deeper, more meaningful friendships.
You can put more energy into these few close friends rather than spreading yourself thin with a large circle of people (which would exhaust you).
5. Some people think you're an extrovert.
When you're an outgoing person, people often assume you are an extrovert.
They don't initially recognize the deeper, contemplative soul hidden behind the warm smile and easy personality.
Other introverts who aren't as outgoing may find you “too much” at first until they have a one-on-one conversation with you and realize your true nature.
Outgoing introverts have an advantage in social settings because they can easily relate to both extraverts and introverts. But at the end of the night, you'll likely find the outgoing introvert sitting away from the crowd with another introvert.
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6. You prefer text or email but can talk on the phone for hours.
It's not that you don't want to talk to people. It just takes so much energy to invest in a long phone conversation, especially if you're quietly reading a book or watching a movie.
More often than not, you would much rather email or text to send a quick message.
When you absolutely have to call someone on the phone, you're probably hoping they won't pick up, and you can just leave a voicemail.
On the other hand, you have those days when you can spend hours chatting with your best friend because you feel lonely and crave some human interaction. Or you have something profound and interesting to discuss.
7. You love deep and meaningful conversations.
Every conversation is different, especially when considering how much energy it takes to be a part of it.
Not every type of conversation wears you out. It may energize you to talk about big ideas or deep topics with someone who also enjoys these kinds of chats.
But making small talk with someone you hardly know is often challenging and draining for you.
You can manage it graciously for a few minutes, but you lose steam if you can't get to a topic that has more substance.
8. You'll do crowds but small ones.
While your other friends can't wait to go to the giant arena to see their favorite band, you have to mentally prepare yourself to be in a huge, loud crowd for the night.
In fact, you don't mind missing the encore if it means getting out of the arena quickly at the end of the night.
But a small jazz ensemble in an intimate venue? You're all over that. You can get in and out quickly and find a quiet corner to enjoy the music.
Spending the day shopping at a crowded mall? Not your thing. You'd rather pop into a boutique or order online. Hanging out at a loud, crowded bar? Ugh. Not so much. Unless you can stand on the patio and chat with a few friends.
Places that are noisy and packed with people feel overwhelming and draining to you. You can put on your game face for a while, but inside you can't wait to escape.
9. You don't mind being in the spotlight, sometimes.
If you're an outgoing introvert, you don’t always hate getting attention or briefly being in the spotlight.
You might secretly enjoy getting attention for things you're passionate about.
This could be a little extra praise from a boss for a project well-done or a “congrats” from someone you admire. Not all personal attention is bad, but a little goes a long way for you.
10. You like going out but don't mind when you can't.
While you enjoy going out to dinner with a group of friends on a Friday night, you aren't devastated if the plans are canceled or pushed back.
This gives you a great excuse to be alone while still having the satisfaction of knowing you tried to get out for the night.
Sometimes you're thrilled about your plans mid-day, but by 5:00 you're not so excited about the idea. When the party is canceled, you may feel relieved. Then again, you may be the first to reschedule the outing — on your terms.
11. You can be a successful leader.
While many introverts prefer to take a supporting role at work or in their social lives, you possess the best of both worlds when it comes to leadership qualities.
Your outgoing personality allows you to communicate well and motivate others in a traditionally social way. But your introverted qualities of observation, thinking before speaking, active listening, and self-awareness make you an exceptional manager, role model, or friend.
You may not love giving a speech or glad-handing at the big sales meeting, but you can do these things with aplomb when you must.
Are you an outgoing introvert personality?
Maybe you've been confused about your personality type and wondered, “Am I outgoing?” If you've always tested as an introvert, you may wonder if the signs of being an introvert don't apply to your personality.
If any of the descriptions here ring true for you, then celebrate your unique personality traits as a socially outgoing introvert. Because you have a foot in both camps, you are in an excellent position to relate to many people — on your own terms.
Introverts have many strengths like deep thinking, introspection, active listening, and quiet confidence.
If you are an outgoing introvert, you have all of these strengths plus the ability to feel comfortable in a variety of social settings, at least for a period of time.
You can merge your introverted strengths with a level of charm and charisma that makes you attractive to a wide variety of people.
