When Albert Einstein — a known introvert — was a child, his teachers thought he was a quiet loner who seemed a million miles away, lost in his thoughts. “It’s that I stay with problems longer.” <ul><li>This ability to focus intensely is a key characteristic of introverts, who often have more extended focus than extroverts.</li></ul>

2. Introverts can focus longer.

Don’t get the author wrong: Both extroverts and introverts have wonderful qualities. But research shows that introverts may have the upper hand.Here are four highly coveted skills that set introverts apart from everyone else:

What sets introverts apart from extroverts

<ul><li>Gray matter, which exists in the outer most layer of the brain, serves to process and release new information in the brain.</li><li>One <a href="https://friederikefabritius.com/resources/">Harvard study </a>found that introverts’ brains work differently, and have thicker gray matter compared to extroverts. </li><li>Another <a href="https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ajp.156.2.252">study </a>that scanned brains of both introverts and extroverts found that, even in a relaxed state, the introverted brain was more active, with increased blood flow.</li></ul>

1. Introverts think more.

<ul><li>Respect boundaries. Don’t expect people to answer every email or Slack message immediately.</li><li>Brainstorm alone. </li><li>Shorten meetings. </li><li>Don’t force a certain type of communication. Encourage people to decide how they want to communicate (e.g., turning cameras on or off), even if it differs from yours.</li><li>Provide the option of privacy. </li></ul>

How to create a workplace where introverts thrive

<ul><li>Introverts tend to be less swayed by external events and driven more by their inner moral compass.</li><li>A <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.590748/full">2013 study </a>on social conformity found that extroverts are more willing to go along with the opinion of the majority, even if it’s wrong. </li><li>The researchers concluded: “The higher the pressure, a larger number of conforming responses are given by extroverts.” </li></ul>

4. Introverts do the right thing.

<ul><li>On average, introverts and extroverts are the same in terms of intelligence. </li><li>But statistics show that around <a href="http://highability.org/the-gifted-introvert/">70% of gifted people are introverts </a>.</li><li>People are considered “gifted” when they exhibit above-average intelligence or a superior talent for something, such as music, art or math.</li></ul>

3. Introverts are often “gifted” in a specific field.

Neuroscientist Friederike Fabritius has worked with companies like Google and Deloitte on how to retain top talent. While many leaders prefer to hire extroverts, she says introverts are often more successful at work.