If you haven’t read Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking you need to add it to your reading list. We are a nation of extroverts, at least, that’s how we perceive ourselves, but depending on which study you consult, one-third to one-half of Americans are introverts. As Susan Cain describes it, they are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, who are not comfortable with self-promotion and who prefer working on their own, over working in teams.
In Quiet, Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the extrovert ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts – from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves. – Amazon.com
Cain admits to having a complicated relationship with public speaking. Back when she was in law school, the mere thought of giving a lecture used to make her throw up. After writing her book about introverts, she wanted to share the ideas as passionately as she could – and that meant speaking at events and book signings. She was determined to become the best and bravest speaker that she could be. She likened it to an Olympic event except, “instead of protein shakes and weightlifting, I’ll be getting all the public speaking practice and media training that I can.”
Here’s what Cain has to say about public speaking:
“It’s OK to pretend a little when you’re up on stage. Who cares if you’re not a natural storyteller? You can craft your stories beforehand, practice them, and share them – for the brief moment that the spotlight is on you. Then you can step offstage and go right back to being yourself. But in the meantime, you had the chance to change a whole audience full of hearts and minds. And there’s nothing more authentic than that.”
Cain’s record-smashing TED talk has been viewed more than 12 million times and was named by Bill Gates as one of his all-time favorite TED talks and by the New Yorker magazine as one of the five key talks. Watching the video, you’d never guess that Susan Cain would prefer listening to speaking. The ultimate proof that you can still impact the world as an introvert, as long as you have passion about your topic and a burning desire to share it with others!
If you’re serious about advancing your skills and making an investment in yourself, we invite you to our Excellence in Speaking Institute. Classes are back in person and filling up quickly so don’t delay! Visit this page to read feedback from our graduates about their experience.
