Introvert in need of help!

tk21769
Sat, 12 Jun 2010 07:30:48 +0000

In many scientific and technical fields (medicine included) important work is accomplished in teams. So one way to approach your goal is to focus on team interactions, not on changing your personality traits. Understand that your every contribution to a team does not need to be awe-inspiring. Start by smiling and making a little small talk with people. Ask one or two simple, focused questions to clarify the task. Go off and do your part of the work. Then share your results. Acknowledge the work of others. Sit back and watch the process move toward a goal; do your little part to nudge it along. When it reaches a conclusion, reflect on what worked and what did not.

A classroom discussion is just another team process like this. The focus is not and should not be all about any one person. You will gradually become more extro-verted not because your basic personality changes but because the way you approach team problem-solving matures, one little interaction at a time. As you develop serious interests in significant problems, you’ll learn to see them from different perspectives and not depend on your initial intuitions. This is all part of the process of becoming a good scientist and doctor. These professions are full of introverts but the good ones learn to interact effectively with others. A small college is a great place to work on this skill.