Introvert or Extrovert - Who Knows You Better Than You? - Red Feather Networking, LLC

Have you ever had one of those moments that are like the Road Runner cartoon where you are going along minding your own business when all of a sudden clarity comes over you like an anvil falling out of the sky? Well that is exactly what happened to me yesterday. If you have followed Red Feather Networking blog posts for awhile you will know that I consistently write about introversion and extroversion challenges. Being an introvert and having raised both an introvert daughter and an extrovert daughter, I tend to know a thing or two about the subject. I am also always trying to learn more by reading blogs, attending webinars and seminars about the subject. I will admit that on more than one occassion some of the blogs/webinars/seminars have left me a bit put off. They are facilitated by “experts” on the topic; people who have studied this subject for years. However, I am very often left shaking my head at the information that I feel is misleading, misspoken or sometimes downright incorrect. This encounter always makes me feel guilty. I wonder to myself (and to any of my friends who will listen), “who am I to question the experts on this?” This is where my Road Runner anvil moment comes in…. Who exactly is an expert? Is it the person who has done the research? It certainly could be. Is it the person who is educated in the field? It most certainly could be. Is it the person who lives day in and day out as an introvert/extrovert and knows all the pitfalls and the perks that comes along with being this type of personality? ABSOLUTELY!

Having had my ahh-haa moment about the definition of “expert” I decided to see what The American Heritage Dictionary had to say about it and to see if it would confirm my notion that I am indeed an expert in this area. Per the dictionary, “expert” is defined as “A person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject.” YES – that’s me! And you know what? ITS YOU TOO!!! And what’s even better? IT’S YOUR ENTIRE NETWORK OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY! YAAA HOOO!

Now that you have hopefully had an anvil moment as well it’s time to take a deeper look at things. If you could name three things that your friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances consistently ask you about what would they be? Now ask yourself, “what three things do I consistently ask (fill in any name of a friend, family member, colleague or acquaintance here) to help me with?” I think you will see that not only are you an expert to others but you are also surrounded by your own private little entourage of experts in so many areas. This is a very comforting feeling isn’t it?

I am not by any means suggesting that I am more knowledgeable than all the people who study and research the subject of introversion and extroversion – I’m not – so there is no need to leave a comment about my ego (I’m sure you will have other opportunities for that down the road). What I am saying is that often we look further than we need to look. We are much more apt to “Google it” than to “phone a friend.” We need to remember that we have great resources surrounding us day in and day out. We simply need to take the time to identify the strengths of those around us as well as to give ourselves credit for the things that we “just know”. These “just know” things are the product of years and years of how we have lived, fears we have faced, challenges we have conquered and successes that we have had in our lives. Our “just knows” are what we are made of, our likes and dislikes, our idiosyncrasies, our unique personality. Our “just knows” are what make us an expert on things – they are what make us… us!

I would love to hear about your area of experise. Hop on over to our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RedFeatherNetworking and just leave me ONE WORD describing what you are best known for with your family and friends. And as always….Thanks for reading ~

Michele