Extroverts are extremely useful to teams and make excellent partners. They love being at the center of attention, participating in social events, and meeting new people.
While they are often viewed in a positive way, many also mistakenly believe extroverts as arrogant people or loudmouths.
You may be wondering: how can I maximize my potential as an extrovert? Am I an extrovert? Which of my extrovert qualities are useful, and which are holding me back? To answer these questions and gain a deeper understanding of your personality, consider taking the HIGH5 strengths assessment. This comprehensive test not only helps you identify whether you’re an extrovert but also reveals your unique strengths, allowing you to leverage them effectively. In the following article, we’ll explore common extrovert traits and how understanding your strengths can enhance your personal and professional growth.
Who are Extroverts? Meaning & Definition
An extrovert is the opposite of an introvert. Extroverts are often described as talkative, action-oriented, ‘people person,’ friendly, enthusiastic, and outgoing.
The negative traits of extroverts include attention-seeking behavior and dependent on others or needy, but these traits are usually only associated with an extreme extrovert.
Extroversion as a personality trait is associated with spending more time with others and taking charge in social situations. Extroverts often excel in team sports and other group events, preferring to get their energy from others as opposed to themselves. However, it’s important to note that extroversion exists on a spectrum, and each individual’s experience is unique. The HIGH5 strengths assessment can help you understand your specific extrovert tendencies and how they relate to your core strengths. By identifying these strengths, you can better leverage your extrovert qualities in various aspects of your life, from team collaborations to leadership roles.
In fact, the very distinction between introverts and extroverts lies in where one gets their energy and how they spend their energy. Extroverts get excited and energized by communicating with and spending time with others.
When they feel exhausted, they turn to others to feel relaxed as opposed to turning to quiet environments. Extroverts thrive in more hectic and high-energy environments and enjoy group work as opposed to constant independence.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Embrace your extrovert nature by aligning your strengths with social activities. If the HIGH5 test reveals you have strong communication skills, consider joining a public speaking club or taking on a mentoring role to maximize this strength in a social context.
8 Most Common Signs of Extroverts
Now that you understand the basic definition of extroversion, you might be wondering: am I an extrovert? While the following signs are common among extroverts, it’s essential to recognize that personality is complex and multifaceted. The HIGH5 strengths assessment offers a more nuanced approach to understanding your personality. Instead of simply categorizing you as an extrovert or introvert, it identifies your top five strengths, providing a comprehensive view of your unique traits. This knowledge can help you recognize how your extrovert tendencies interact with your core strengths, enabling you to harness your full potential in both personal and professional settings.
Below are a few of these habits and major personality traits that could be signs you are an extrovert:
You Enjoy Talking with Others
Many individuals enjoy having stimulating conversations with their friends, family, and colleagues, but extroverts go beyond that. This type of personality enjoys speaking with virtually anyone, including strangers.
You may find yourself loving conversations with people you do not know very well. Your friend group will likely be large and diverse. Since you enjoy speaking with others and are naturally charismatic, making friends will likely be quite simple for you.
Throughout your conversations, you will likely speak before thinking as opposed to the introvert’s more thought-oriented approach.
Socialization Gives You Energy
Extroverts find interactions refreshing and genuinely enjoy speaking with others. In fact, they get their energy from such interactions.
When they spend time alone, extroverts often feel uncomfortable, uninspired, or bored. Whenever possible, extroverts will take advantage of opportunities to be with others as opposed to being alone.
You Like to Debate and Discuss Issues
If a problem arises, your first instinct is to speak and discuss the possible options with someone you trust. Speaking about this issue with others allows you to see new perspectives and figure out which options are preferable.
Having conversations about public issues or personal problems helps relieve some of the stress of decision-making for extroverts. On the other hand, introverts enjoy making decisions in solitude and dislike input from others.
You are Often Viewed as Approachable and Friendly
Socializing with a large group of people and being friendly to everyone you encounter often leads to extroverts being viewed as friendly. Extroverts are often the individuals starting conversations, inviting others, or making introductions.
They understand social norms and have a good understanding of body language, such as maintaining eye contact to remain engaged. For this reason and others, extroverts usually find making friends easy.
You are Open
Introverts are usually more closed off and enjoy spending more time alone. Sometimes, they may be socially awkward. On the other hand, extroverts are typically willing to share their emotions and thoughts with others.
They enjoy discussing these topics with others, and extroverts create environments where open communication is possible for themselves and others.
You are not Afraid of Risks
Extroverts are more prone to participating in risky behavior to get a thrill. In fact, some studies show there is a distinct brain difference between extroverts and introverts which leads extroverts to thrill-seeking behavior.
The study found that dopamine levels peak when extroverts take risks, showing extroverts receive a neurological reward for risk. They may be more willing to take risks because of the function of dopamine.
You are Flexible
Extroverts are able (or at least willing) to adapt to anything life throws at them. Sometimes, extroverts proceed to take action without a plan, simply because they are quite action-oriented. Spontaneity is welcomed by this type of individual.
You are Optimistic
Extroverts are stereotypically outgoing, happy, cheerful, and people-oriented. They dislike spending time stressing about things they cannot control, dwelling on their failures, or pondering about issues that have no impact on their lives.
Like all individuals, extroverts experience negative emotions and challenges. However, they are able to overlook negativity and stay positive.
Types of Extroverts
While the term “extrovert” encompasses various personality types and characteristics, it’s crucial to understand that extroversion isn’t a one-size-fits-all trait. Some individuals are deeply involved in social interactions, while others are less socially oriented extroverts, sometimes referred to as ambiverts. To gain a more precise understanding of your unique extrovert type, consider taking the HIGH5 strengths assessment. This tool goes beyond broad categorizations, identifying your top five strengths and how they interact with your extrovert tendencies. By understanding your specific strengths profile, you can tailor your approach to social situations, work environments, and personal development in ways that truly resonate with your individual extrovert style.
There are many ways to display extroversion. People usually have both extroverted and introverted traits.
However, you can categorize more extroverted people into the following groups:
Extroverted Sensors
These individuals are stimulated by their senses and enjoy being connected to the environment around them. They learn best through their 5 senses (hearing, tasting, feeling, seeing, and smelling).
Extroverted sensors are action-oriented and bond best through activities as opposed to discussing ideas. This type of extrovert is often the least risk-averse and is often adventurous.
They dislike stagnation and enjoy change, meeting new people, and experiencing new events. This type of individual prioritizes exciting and sometimes hectic environments to keep them entertained and engaged.
MBTI examples of extroverted sensors include the ESTJs, ESTPs, ESFJs, and ESFPs.
Extroverted Intuitors
This personality is usually more balanced and less extroverted than extroverted sensors. Often, they are similar to ambiverts. They enjoy thinking about possibilities and pondering about abstracts and ideas, instead of focusing on the physical world.
Debates and intellectual conversations are more appealing than physical activity to intuition. Instead of participating in social events purely for the thrill, extroverted intuition enjoys analyzing how social events could unfold.
They are stimulated by asking: what could possibly happen at this event? Intuitors generally focus on the future and abstracts as opposed to current events.
MBTI examples of extroverted intuitions include ENTJs, ENTPs, ENFJs, and ENFPs.
Extroverted Feelers
This type of person is very people-oriented and friendly. They enjoy social events, establishing a collaborative team, meeting new people, learning about new acquaintances, and sharing their own experiences.
Like all people, extroverted feelers do need alone time, but they do not enjoy long periods of solitude. They can easily feel lonely, for they get their sense of purpose from helping and being around others. In social events, extroverted feelers have no problems with speaking to strangers.
They are very accommodating and accepting of people. These individuals are skilled at maintaining both deep/in-depth conversations as well as small talk.
MBTI examples of extroverted feelers include ENFJs, ENFPs, ESFJs, and ESFPs.
Extroverted Thinkers
Extroverted thinkers are fantastic leaders due to their natural confidence and charisma. They are skilled at making decisions in high-pressure situations and focusing on achieving goals they and their team truly care about.
Being both extroverted and a thinker leads individuals to seek out challenges and find solutions to today’s toughest problems. Extroverted thinkers usually attend social events for career-related reasons, such as to network with others.
They get excited when they see the impact they leave on others, and advancing up a company’s hierarchy also adds thrill to the thinker’s life. Goal achievement is this personality type’s main source of energy.
MBTI examples of extroverted thinkers include ENTJs, ESTJs, ENTPs, and ESTPs.
Extrovert Traits of Male and Female
Male and female extroverts share a large number of traits. They both enjoy bustling environments, prefer working in teams, embrace hectic situations, and get energy from social events as opposed to themselves. However, a few traits separate the two sexes when it comes to extroversion.
Here are a few key differences between male and female extroverts:
Traits of a Male
Tend to take on more leadership roles.
Extroverted men, especially extroverted thinkers, make the best managers and leaders. They are able to inspire their workforce, have a clear vision, and are extremely motivated to achieve their goals. They are willing to discuss company plans with their employees and communicate tasks effectively.
Charisma is evident.
Male extroverts are typically viewed as charismatic, for they have a wide array of positive traits. This includes friendliness, openness, honesty, direction, drive, and so on. They can be extremely effective at getting their point across and participating in public speaking events.
Dominant.
While some more introverted men have a tendency to be submissive, extroverted men are dominant in relationships (whether it be work partnerships or with their spouses). They typically talk more in conversations and make most of the decisions in a relationship.
Traits of a Female
Open and honest.
Extroverted women are willing to be upfront and honest about their thoughts, feelings, and desires. This is also associated with volunteerism in women. Job attainment and career success are typically a side effect of directness and honesty as well.
Easy to get along with.
Extroverted women typically enjoy peace more than men, but they still enjoy excitement and change. To get the best of both worlds, extroverted females try to remain agreeable yet also voice their opinions. Whoever they discuss issues, they value maintaining good relationships with their colleagues/friends over the thrill of proving a point.
They think out loud and speak their minds, which is usually an attractive quality.
Women are more likely to encounter prejudice in the workplace and extroverted ladies are willing to stand up for themselves. They voice their opinions and enjoy playing an active role in their organization’s success, unlike more introverted people, who prefer to take a more hands-off approach and avoid confrontation at nearly all costs.
Extrovert Traits of a Child
Many people begin to show signs of extroversion at an early age. Most children show a mix of extroversion and introversion in their personalities, though.
They develop a more dominant source of energy as they age, gain experience, and interact with others. With that said, here are a few of the most common characteristics of extroversion in children:
- Enjoy taking risks and trying new things.
- Often very enthusiastic and outgoing.
- Like to socialize and interact with others, sometimes even strangers.
- Maintain a large group of friends at school.
- Have an easy time adapting to changing environments.
- Communicate well with others.
- Make decisions, think, and act quickly.
- Spontaneous and flexible; their desires are often changing.
- Work well with others.
- Capable of solving problems and mitigating conflict with others.
Negative Traits of Extroverts
All personalities have positive and negative traits. This is true with extroverts as well. Although they can be extremely great partners are friends, introverts also have some unappealing traits that should be noted.
Certain people may find their confident nature as a weakness. Others may simply overlook introverts as less skilled in independent roles, or other technical and non-people-oriented jobs.
Some other negative traits include:
- Needy of other’s attention, approval, or assistance.
- Often rely on others’ emotions and reactions to stay happy themselves.
- May participate in overly risky behavior.
- Could continue talking, even when it is inappropriate.
- Gives others little time to speak in conversations.
- Sometimes lack emotional control.
- Get lonely and bored easily.
- Could come across as controlling, harsh, or arrogant at times.
- Do not think before they speak.
Extrovert Vs. Introvert – Main Differences
While most people exhibit a mix of introversion and extroversion in their overall personality, individuals typically have a dominant energy style that leans towards either introversion or extroversion. However, it’s important to recognize that personality is far more nuanced than this binary classification suggests. The HIGH5 strengths assessment offers a more comprehensive approach to understanding your personality. By identifying your top five strengths, it provides insights into how your extrovert or introvert tendencies interact with your core capabilities. This deeper understanding allows you to leverage your unique combination of traits more effectively, whether you’re navigating social situations, tackling work challenges, or pursuing personal growth.
Here are a few key differences:
- Introverts enjoy solitude and recharge when they are left alone. An outgoing and talkative individual who enjoys spending lots of time interacting with others is more extroverted.
- Introverts are reserved, quiet, and mellow. Extroverts are more energetic, gregarious, and talkative.
- Introverts listen more in conversations. They think before answering questions, sometimes double-checking their thought process before making replies. Extroverts are more impulsive and speak their minds almost immediately.
- Introverts recharge and gain energy through alone time in peaceful settings, while extroverts gain energy from conversations with others.
- Introvert usually spends more time thinking and less time voicing their opinions. Extroverts verbally communicate well and enjoy physically handling situations as opposed to just thinking about their actions.
- Extroverts embrace change and like excitement, while introverts are resistant to change.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
After taking the HIGH5 test, examine how your top strengths manifest differently in extroverted versus introverted settings. This awareness can help you create strategies to thrive in various environments, regardless of where you fall on the extrovert-introvert spectrum.
Extrovert vs Ambivert – Main Differences
Ambiverts are often misunderstood, as they are neither introverts nor extroverts. Instead, this personality type balances elements of extroversion and introversion, often viewed as an ambivert advantage as neither personality is overly strong in ambiverts.
In essence, an ambivert is someone who does not strongly identify with either extroversion or introversion and whose energy source depends on the situation and often changes.
On the other hand, extroverts continuously get energy from social interactions and rarely enjoy spending time alone. There are many ways ambiverts balance their level of extroversion/introversion.
For instance, extroverts would immediately take charge in meetings and talk a significant amount.
However, ambivert will share their thoughts but also listen to feedback from employees, giving the ambivert time to rest, consider other opinions, and give employees a voice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Extroverts
Can an Extrovert Be Shy?
Yes, extroverts can be shy at times, but they are typically more outgoing, friendly, and open than introverts. Extroverts can still feel shy, as most people exist on a continuum of extroversion/introversion.
Even if someone identifies as being an extrovert, during some circumstances, they may prefer to stay quiet. If this occurs relatively often, that person may actually be an ambivert and not an extrovert.
How Extroverted Kids Behave?
How do Extroverts Become Alone?
Extroverts usually avoid being alone. Solitude brings about feelings of loneliness and boredom in those with an outgoing nature. However, extroverts feel most alone after separating from others as a result of a fight.
This occurs almost inevitably at some point in time, and extroverts try their best to avoid separation, using it only as a last resort. However, when it is necessary, extroverts struggle with reflecting on the fight’s root cause and begin to feel isolated and alone quite quickly.
