Does the hustle and bustle of the holidays make you cringe as you anticipate it? Does a full engagement calendar make you feel like running for the hills? Does the thought of Christmas shopping turn you into a Grinch? Chances are you are an introvert like me.
I really care for my family and friends so much, and I love being with them, but not all at once! During the three weeks before Christmas, I am expected to be more social than I am for the rest of the year combined. Every couple of days there is something "special" to go to. I confess that I really would enjoy each event -- if they were spread throughout the year!
There we were sitting at the table: five introverts with three extroverts. The two dynamic extroverts each positioned themselves at opposite ends of the table with the introverts and the older, quieter extrovert seated between them.
What happened? Everyone ate, enjoyed being together as a family, and the introverts listened as the extroverts carried on their piercingly loud conversation with each other from opposite ends of a long table. Supposedly, they were trying in include all of us in their conversation.
Were the introverts quiet because they just enjoyed listening and had nothing to say? As one of those quiet introverts, my answer is, "No". I would have liked to ask a few questions and talk with people that I haven't seen in nearly a year. Why didn't I? I tried to slip in a few words. I even tried to interrupt, but my words were drowned out by the extroverts' jubilant chatter.
Many people drag home each evening exhausted from a day at work. Why? Of course there some jobs which are inherently stressful such as police, fire, and emergency rescue work. Also, there are jobs with stressful work environments such as working with strong chemicals, or offices with poor ventilation. Unfortunately, there are also unreasonable bosses and negative co-workers, but, I believe, that the major source of job stress is personality type misfit.
There seems to be the right person for most any job and many wrong fits. Envision the classic "absent minded professor" (an INFJ) in a job where he is required to fill out many forms and submit them on time. Talk about a set up for failure! Not only that, what a waste of his abilities. Now envision that same job with an ISTJ. He strides in, briefcase in hand, ready to tackle, and master, the mountain of paper work in front of him. At the end of the day he leaves for his home energized by a job well done.
First - Learn Your Personality Type
So how do you find that job which is a perfect fit for you?
