Being extraverted is definitely viewed as an advantage when it comes to working in teams. A new study highlighted 4 benefits for people who possess this personality trait.

Psychological diversity at workplace

The report about study results was provided to the Journal of Applied Psychology, an academic open access international periodical.

According to Michael Wilmot from the Department of Management at University of Toronto (U of T) Scarborough, the head of research, the goal was to establish how the personality type of a worker influences their workplace performance and behavior.

It is one thing when this topic is speculated in popular literature, but quite a different matter when it is thoroughly investigated by professional psychologists.

“Our main goal was to prove or reject the idea about connection between being extravert or introvert and a person’s success at workplace”, explains Wilmot.

Extravert person tends to enjoy interactions and being optimistic, conversable, easy-going and self-assured. Such people prefer to take charge and seek new experiences.

“Introverts are, on the contrary, calm, not so active, often reserved and shy people”, clarifies Mr. Wilmot.

4 advantages of being an extravert

The team tried to investigate the linkage between extraversion and job-related variables such as work and life harmony, motivation, efficiency and emotional welfare. The research became possible thanks to the extensive information provided by scientists from numerous countries around the world. They gathered data relating to people engaged in different pursuits at their various career stages: while studying, or looking for a job, or working.

Wilmot and his fellows from the Minnesota University discovered that about 90% of “job” variables highly prefer extraversion. Their study indentified the next four categories where extraverts’ advantage is most pronounced: motivational, emotional, social and efficiency-related.

“These four areas seem to be the most important for successful performance at workplace”, continues Mr. Wilmot, who wants to understand the way organizations employ personality datum to resolve workplace problems.

Extroverts prefer to take responsibility and seek new experiences.

Why extraversion is an advantage at work

Mr. Wilmot points out that extraverted people are usually more motivated for professional achievements, and their job performance is easier recognized. They more often experience positive emotions and job satisfaction. According to the scientist, a satisfied worker is not only fulfilled and happy person, but usually a hard worker and a bellwether. Positive emotions block extraverts from pressure, depression and conflicts at work.

Their social advantage is explained by their easy going natures, sociability and forthcoming manners. Extraverts often have much better communication skills, which help them to be more adaptive to various social situations. Most extraverts are very good at persuasion, which is one of most meaningful leadership abilities.

The efficiency-related advantage refers to the extraverts’ work performance. Mr. Wilmot reveals that conclusions of present study differ from the past research data. The earlier study assumed that a person’s performance at any workplace was closely connected to mindfulness and emotional stability.

The present research proved that the level of job performance depends on all three recently identified advantages of extraverts. “If you are motivated, get along with everybody and happy with what you are doing, you are likely to be more efficient at work”, explains the researcher. “This seems to result in a cumulatively beneficial effect on their entire career.”

Human nature is not that simple

But what about introverts? How should they go about scientists’ conclusions?

From the perspective of Mr. Wilmot, the study does not imply that the lack of the above characteristics is automatically considered as certain disadvantage.

To begin with, modern psychologists share a view that there is no clear line between introverts and extraverts: majority of people correspond to the mixture of character traits.

The workplace success depends on number of other reasons such as mental abilities, diligence, confidence and ability to manage negative emotions.

A limitation of this research is that it studied mainly extraversion and job-related variables. There are tons of professional areas, Mr. Wilmot reveals, where skills typical for introverts are required.  It suffices to recall composers, sculptors, writers, software engineers and many other occupations, for which ability to create or concentrate is preferred to other strengths.

Mr. Wilmot comments, that since each person is a blend of different personality traits, we cannot judge his or her vocational aptitude from “extraversion-introversion” point of view. “If you are more introverted, but at the same time subtle, efficient, creative and have other valuable qualities, you have good chances to succeed at workplace.”

“On the other hand, if the person is more extraverted, but lacks discretion or diligence, his or her work progress might be suppressed”, the researcher concluded.

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