I’m an Introvert—and That Doesn’t Mean What You Think

For most of my career, I pretended to be more extroverted than I actually am.Not because I was ashamed of being an introvert—but because I didn’t want to be misunderstood, underestimated, or held back.

There’s still a lot of negativity and misconceptions around introversion. And when you’re also ambitious, like me, you worry about being overlooked in a world that often favors the loudest voices.

But things are shifting. Slowly but surely, people are starting to see the value introverts bring—especially in leadership. We’re thoughtful, calm under pressure, great listeners, and incredibly focused. Yet the stereotypes persist. So let’s talk about them.

Here are some of the biggest misconceptions about introverts:

🧠 “Introverts are shy.”Not always. Shyness is about fear of judgment. Introversion is about how we recharge. You can be a confident introvert who just prefers quiet environments.

💬 “Introverts don’t like people.”False. We like people—we just prefer smaller groups or one-on-one conversations. Large crowds drain us, but meaningful connections energize us.

😐 “Introverts lack emotion.”Nope. We often feel deeply—we just don’t always show it outwardly or share our emotions publicly.

📉 “Introverts have low self-esteem.”That one’s frustrating. We might not brag, interrupt, or dominate meetings, but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in ourselves.

🎉 “Introverts don’t like to have fun.”Our fun might look different. A night in with a good book or deep conversation might sound better than a big party—but it’s still joy.

👥 “Introverts can’t work in teams.”Totally untrue. We’re often excellent team players—we just thrive in environments with structure and mutual respect.

🗣 “Introverts don’t have opinions.”We do. We just like to think before we speak. Extroverts often talk to think—introverts think, then talk.

🧍‍♂️ “Introverts need to become extroverts to succeed.”No. The goal isn’t to change who we are—it’s to build systems and cultures where everyone, introverted or not, can thrive.

📈 “Introverts aren’t ambitious.”I’m an introvert—and I’m very ambitious. We just go about our goals more quietly and strategically.

👑 “Introverts can’t be leaders.”Absolutely false. There are tons of brilliant introverted leaders—quiet, calm, thoughtful, and highly effective. We don’t need to be loud to lead.

If you’re introverted, I hope this reminds you: you don’t have to change to fit in. And if you’re not, I hope it gives you a better understanding of what introversion really means.

Being an introvert is not a flaw—it’s a strength.