No. 70 · People · Sociology

Introverts vs Extroverts

People differ in where they find their energy, and good teams make room for both kinds.


Introversion and extroversion describe where people tend to draw their energy. Introverts often recharge in solitude and prefer deeper one-to-one conversation, while extroverts tend to gain energy from people and activity. Most of us sit somewhere in between.

Use it to design meetings that suit both styles, such as sharing agendas early and collecting written ideas, to respect different recharge needs in relationships, and to plan your own energy so you avoid burnout.


In the Almanac

“Jung’s Psychological Types”, 1921 · “Campbell Soup”, 2001–2011

Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.

Get the Almanac

Listen · Watch

Introverts vs. Extroverts

Questions

What is Introverts vs Extroverts?

Introversion and extroversion describe where people tend to draw their energy. Introverts often recharge in solitude and prefer deeper one-to-one conversation, while extroverts tend to gain energy from people and activity. Most of us sit somewhere in between.

How do you use Introverts vs Extroverts?

Use it to design meetings that suit both styles, such as sharing agendas early and collecting written ideas, to respect different recharge needs in relationships, and to plan your own energy so you avoid burnout.

When does Introverts vs Extroverts matter?

Introverts vs Extroverts is one of the 60 mental models for people, the situations where you ask: Why do people act as they do, and how do I work with them? Within that, it belongs to “Understanding people”, alongside Frame of Reference, High Context vs Low Context and IQ vs EQ.

What is an example of Introverts vs Extroverts?

Two stories show it at work: Jung’s Psychological Types (1921) and Campbell Soup (2001–2011). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.

Which mental models are related to Introverts vs Extroverts?

Managing to the Person, Manager’s Schedule vs Maker’s Schedule and Tendency to Stereotype. Introverts vs Extroverts itself comes from sociology.