TED Talk Tuesday number #80: The power of the introverts

Watching TED Talks is a popular pastime at CN&CO. We visit TED.com regularly to clear our heads, have a laugh or get inspired. TED Talks open our minds, spark new ways of thinking and can lead to some very interesting conversations. Each week we pick a favourite and publish it on a Tuesday, because we like how “TED Talk Tuesday” rolls off the tongue. This week’s talk was posted by CN&CO events guru Rikus Kok. Here’s why he chose it…

I was scrolling along, searching for a nice TED talk to share when I stumbled across this one about the power of introverts. Our own Carel Nolte keeps on telling me and his good friend Michelle Sparks (and anyone actually) that he is an introvert and we of course, just laugh at him. The fact that he regularly speaks in front of massive crowds and generally takes control of board room meetings seems to have escaped him when describing himself as such.

There are two perceptions that I repeatedly encounter in my working world.

• It’s so important to be different and stand out in your business to get a promotion.
• You have to have the best personality, that everyone must see and hear you to ensure that you will get to the top

But this TED talk opened my eyes to the introverts in the world and that most of the times the people you think are extroverts really aren’t.

After watching this talk by Susan Cain I might have a different outlook as why Carel describes himself the way he does…