Can't Introverts Do Public Speaking?Who says it?

By Irina Dewi – TALKINC Facilitator

Some people think that extroverts are talkative people and introverts are quiet people.That's why when there is someone who speaks very fluently in public, the assumption is: "Oh, he must be an extrovert, it's natural that he can speak fluently in public."This is a misconception regarding personality type assessment that we often hear and in this article we find out the answer, yes!
OK, let me disclaim first.I am an introvert who has struggled in the worldpublic speakingfor more than 20 years.The first time I realized that I was an introvert was when I read Carl Jung's book entitled Psychological Types.In this book, Jung describes introverts as people who focus more on the internal world, tend to process information with self-reflection and prefer time alone to recharge.Meanwhile, extroverts tend to focus more on the outside world, process information through interactions with the social environment, and gain energy from these social interactions.So if we return to the question, are introverts necessarily quiet and extroverts necessarily talkative?The answer is: NO.The only difference is how you recharge your energy.So if you are the type to be energetic when you meet lots of people, chances are you are an extrovert.If you are more energetic after spending time alone, you are most likely an introvert.

In the book Understanding People, Erwin Parengkuan, founder of Talk Inc, separates introverts and extroverts in the context of communication styles, that there are 4 general types of people, namely, the agile, the detailed, the strong, and the peaceful.For details, please read it yourself and do the test to get to know yourself better.In essence, the communication styles of introverts and extroverts are very different.

Nah, kalo kembali lagi ke topik kita tadi, bisakah seorang introvert menjadi Public Speaker yang baik? Jawabannya adalah: BISA BANGET. Memang, seorang ekstrovert kecenderungannya lebih nyaman berbicara di depan umum dan bahkan menjadi enerjik berbicara di depan audience dalam jumlah besar, tetapi introvert juga banyak kelebihannya lho. Introvert cenderung memiliki kemampuan yang baik dalam mendengarkan, cenderung memperhatikan detil, memahami sudut pandang orang lain dengan lebih baik, memproses informasi secara mendalam untuk mengembangkan perspektif yang matang, dan cenderung memiliki kemampuan observasi yang kuat.

So how can an introvert be more comfortable speaking in public, even though he is absorbed a lot of energy by the presence of many people, let alone being the center of attention?What I usually do is first, prepare the material thoroughly.By having in-depth knowledge about the topic to be discussed, we will feel more confident when speaking in public.Preparation is key.Second, rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse.Do practice and repetition before speaking in public.Rehearsal helps build self-confidence and strengthens the ability to speak fluently.Next is to focus on content.Introverts tend to think more about the content of the message than the attention given by the audience.Maximize this power by focusing on the core message you want to convey.Last but not least, give yourself time to recover.After public speaking, introverts tend to feel emotionally exhausted.Give yourself time to recharge your energy by spending time alone.

So there's no longer any reason not to want to speak in public by labeling yourself as an introvert.Basically all personalities have the same opportunity to become a Great Public Speaker.We can do it!

Editor: Alyezca Disya Rahadiz