8 signs you have an introverted personality that many people underestimate

Introverts are often underestimated.

We live in a society that values the loud, the exciting, the spectacular. In a world like that, people who prefer a little peace and quiet are often seen as being less capable.

There are lots of stereotypes going around about introverts. People say things like:

• They are shy
• They just need to break out of their shell
• They don’t like other people
• They lack confidence

But actually, none of these are true.

The only thing introverts share with one another is that they recharge their mental energy by spending time alone, as opposed to extroverts, who recharge by spending time with other people.

Unfortunately, people often underestimate introverts.

Here are some signs that you may have an introverted personality that causes people to underestimate you.

1) You think more than you say

It’s a myth that introverts are always quiet. Famous introverts like Stephen Colbert and Oprah Winfrey aren’t exactly anyone’s idea of shy.

On the other hand, it is true that introverts often prefer to let others take the lead in a conversation.

That doesn’t mean introverts don’t have anything to say. Far from it.

Being comfortable with silence, introverts tend to be deep thinkers. They are often given to introspection, and are great at analyzing their thoughts and the actions of others.

Lots of people take being quiet as a sign of weakness, lack of confidence, or having nothing to say.

This can cause people to often underestimate introverts. After all, other people can’t see inside your head to know how much you are thinking.

When you’re usually quiet, people may stop asking for your opinions on things, assuming you don’t have any. 

It’s a shame, because introverts often have the best worked-out thoughts of anyone around.

2) You observe everything

Because introverts are happy being silent, they are often the most observant people in a group.

Think about it: if you spend less time thinking about what you’re going to say, you have more time to observe what others say and do.

Also, because introverts don’t need to be the center of attention, they have the mental space to pay attention to everything that’s going on around them.

This is part of what makes introverts such good judges of character. It also means they often pick up on the moods of other people quicker than more extroverted types do.

However, it can often lead to introverts being underestimated. 

People who are content to quietly observe the world around them often make less impression on other people, and so people don’t realize just how much is going on inside an introvert’s head.

3) You analyze yourself

Introverts like to spend time alone thinking. This means they have an unusually good grasp on their own thought processes, and are prone to analyzing themselves intensely.

The trouble is, all this mental effort doesn’t show when other people look at introverts.

When others see a shy person who avoids social engagements, they miss out on the fact that an introvert usually has a deeper understanding of what makes them tick.

And knowing yourself really well can be a superpower.

Understanding your strengths and weaknesses can make you more successful in the workplace and in academic environments.

Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, writes that introversion predicts academic performance better than cognitive ability.

In other words, introverts are better at learning than extroverts.

But this isn’t obvious to people who can only see you from the outside. That’s why people often underestimate the analytical abilities of introverts.

4) You formulate your thoughts carefully

All that introspection helps introverts to be very knowledgeable about their areas of expertise.

Spending time alone helps introverts to formulate their thoughts and base their opinions on evidence. It also means that they look at things from every angle and learn to express their views very eloquently and forcefully.

This often surprises more extroverted people, who assume that introverts have nothing to say.

But actually, introverts often have plenty to say if they feel like talking.

While the well-reasoned views of an introvert may surprise someone who assumed there wasn’t much going on in their head, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who understands what introversion really means.

5) You aren’t interested in self-promotion

These days, it seems like everybody on earth is building their own personal brand.

From social media influencers to self-proclaimed experts on everything from nutrition to politics to science, we are surrounded by people who can’t wait to share their opinions – and hopefully get a few likes and followers into the bargain.

However, introverts aren’t interested in promoting themselves.

An introvert doesn’t see a need to be well-known. They are secure enough in their own opinion of themselves that what other people think of them becomes unimportant.

But because introverts don’t brag about themselves, people often underestimate them.

Unfortunately, many people only see the virtues of others if they are told about them loudly and repeatedly.

Because introverts don’t do that, many people assume there’s nothing there to brag about, when in fact, the opposite may be true.

6) You don’t have a lot of friends

Introverts are just as capable as anybody else of forming friendships. However, generally, they prefer a few very deep and meaningful relationships over lots of superficial ones.

To an extrovert, this can make introverts look like they are not a friendly person, or that they are not likable.

It’s not true. It’s just that introverts would rather focus their limited energy for socialization on the relationships that matter the most to them.

But it can cause more extroverted people to think that introverts have few friends because there is nothing about them worth liking.

7) People sometimes think you are rude

Introverts are individuals. That means some of them are rude, and some of them are very polite.

Unfortunately, some of the characteristics of introverts can come across as rudeness to people who don’t know any better.

For example, being quiet in a social setting can sometimes make an introvert seem aloof. 

Also, often turning down social engagements can make people think that introverts don’t like other people.

If you are always finding reasons not to spend time with others, they may start to think you are rude. That’s because they don’t realize that to introverts, alone time is sacred.

And those people who think you are rude for not wanting to go to every social engagement they propose may be surprised when they get to know you a little better and learn that you are actually a nice person, but you just don’t have a lot of energy for social engagements.

8) You underestimate yourself

Finally, one of the biggest reasons why people may underestimate an introvert is because the introvert underestimates themselves.

This is not a trait that is specific to introverts by any means. Many introverts have high self-esteem, and many extroverts don’t.

However, if you often find that people underestimate you, it might be because you are underestimating yourself.

Partly, that’s because we live in a world that values the loud and the outspoken.

If you’ve always been told that you’re too quiet, too shy, or not outgoing enough, you may have internalized these negative opinions.

And people tend to take their cues from other people. If you underestimate yourself, it’s likely others will underestimate you too.

Being an underestimated introvert

Although introversion is better understood these days than it used to be, there are a lot of people out there who don’t quite get what it means to be an introvert. 

That can cause them to underestimate the introverts that they meet.

But that doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Sometimes, being underestimated can actually be good, since it can take the limelight off you and allow you to achieve your goals more quietly.

If these signs seem familiar to you, it may well be because you are an introvert that others underestimate. 

But don’t worry. There are plenty of good sides to being an introvert, too.