Components
All Extraverts have most of the areas of Extraversion as a Component, if not a Strength. This is what makes them an Extravert. If they had less than half, that would mean more than half of the areas of Introversion would be Components for them, making them an Introvert. For an area to be considered a Component, a person need simply score between 0.01 and 19.99 in that area. Due to the bell curve of probability theory, scores are expected to be distributed normally. This means that most people will score closer to the center, or 0, in most areas, so if you have many components and only a few strengths, don’t be disappointed. That’s normal.
Maintenance
Sometimes people get out of touch with their personal aptitudes. As mentioned in the article “Collaborativeness, the Second Part of Extraversion”, unused skills result in dystrophy. As people stop doing the things they used to, it can lead them to believe that they are now a different kind of person. Sadly, the fact is that they are simply a paler version of themself. To maintain our vivid colors in our dominant Traits, we need to do something with those aptitudes. This is one of the skills we seek to teach people here at Developer Level.
Gregariousness, Extraversion’s Third Domain
Extraverts are perhaps best known by their ability to talk to people with ease. It’s no coincidence that words such as “genial” and “warm” are associated with being gregarious, because simply approaching someone and talking with them can help someone feel less alone and even cared for. Extraverts can contribute greatly to an atmosphere of kindness and acceptance as they flit from person to person expressing interest, compassion, and positivity. And at the same time, they can form connections: personal, professional, and political. The following three areas are strengths of Gregariousness.
Conversation Initiation
It should be made clear that starting a conversation is more than simply greeting someone and asking about their health. Conversations may be personal or technical, involve controversial issues or small talk. But in each there is some degree of opening oneself, respecting conversational etiquette, and creating a space where one can speak and be heard, and where ideas and opinions may be shared. One may say that conversation is the foundation of civilization. Extraverts also excel at first impressions, since they often orchestrate their introductions. They are, in turn, skilled at introducing others and at initiating other forms of contact, business as well as personal. Texting and using social media are second nature to Extraverts, as are virtually all other forms of communication.
Ease of Conversational Transition
as they converse, Extraverts slip seamlessly between topics. Unbeknownst to them, in doing so, they may leave others behind. Introverts and less conversation-savvy Extraverts may get lost in the morass of words and ideas as the speaker shifts from a personal story to celebrity gossip to a recent dream to a denunciation of the school board and an idea for change. Facility of transition allows Extraverts to speak extemporaneously on any subject they know anything about. They can draw on stories, anecdotes, personal thoughts, and opinions of authorities on the matter. In addition to conversations, Extraverts can easily transition between tasks. Many Extraverts are multitaskers, capable of dividing their attention to do multiple things at once. Most of these are women (the strongest correlation for multitasking being found for women), but there are also quite a few men among them. The downside is that those skilled in multitasking commonly find concentrating difficult.
Eagerness to Share
Extraverts want the world to know who they are, what they like, and what they believe. They want people to be aware of the groups they belong to, and may be driven to seek public office, either in school, government, church, or some other organization. They will promote a cause (or several), becoming involved locally if not nationally. Or they will try to get their name out there in some other way. Because to Extraverts, fame is important. The more famous one becomes, the more opportunities they can have in the world for themselves and their families. They are also irrepressible when it comes to their projects. Having an idea of the opinions of different types of people helps them figure out what they want and how it will be received, and knowing those things frees them from worry and allows them to focus on completing their work.
Share Yourself
Here at Developer Level, we believe in building people–or rather, helping people learn how to build themselves. There is a simple joy and sweet satisfaction that comes from meeting small goals regularly and seeing ourselves grow. And it can be even more enjoyable if you have someone else along for the adventure! We invite you to continue learning about yourself by taking the Trait Spectrum. And when you’re done, share it with someone and get them to take it, too.