Cult of Personality

Learning your personality type can go a long way to understanding who you are and why you do the things you do. I always knew that I was an introvert. I don't like crowds or crowded places. I don't like to be up front with anything. I don't like public speaking. I am a homebody. I don't always like going out. I am very, very, very quiet (quiet as it is kept!) I have a hand-full of people that I would consider "friend"--I don't usually go out of my way to make new ones. I guess that's why I have the same ones from high school even now and even though we live in four different parts of the country. I could stay home, I would be just fine, no complaints from me. All I need is my cell phone, my laptop, Internet access, and I am good. Most people would call me a "loner." In all actuality, I am a married "loner." I think that it's interesting that I married a person who is the total opposite of what I am. My wife is a talker. There is never a time when our home phone or her cell phone isn't glued to her ear. She is the social butterfly of our relationship. She likes socializing and going out. She doesn't like me saying this, but she is the friend-magnet....She would befriend a stray dog and bring it home if she could. The interesting question is "How does it work out?" I think that I purposely wanted to date or marry someone who was the opposite of who I was. Why? What would it have been like dating another "loner?" (Interesting question!) Possibly, very boring. We probably wouldn't have talked to much. And we would have been home all of the time, just sitting there. And let's not talk about friends. Wouldn't have any to break the silence or the boredom. One word-comedy.

Knowing personality types can make working together with others in the workplace a lot more confortable. Whe co-workers know how each other is, it makes for better relationships. For example, as an introvert, I cannot stand when people put me on the spot. I need time to think and to get my thoughts together. Most times, my reactions is a little cold. If that person knew that, he or she would not barge into my office and put me on the spot or call me out at a meeting. He or she would have allowed me time to think and come back to me. As an introvert, I cannot expect people to just want or need time to think or react. many extroverts in the workplace can think and act on a dime and so I must make concessions for that.

Knowing one's students' personalities would work well too. It would help in how one approaches students, what is said, and the expected response.