Are You Introverted, Neurodivergent, or Both?

Knowing the Difference Matters for Leaders

Pinpointing what makes communication difficult, whether it’s depleted social energy or cognitive overload, helps you advocate for what you need and handle critical conversations with confidence.

Introversion is a personality trait. Introverts focus more on their inner thoughts and feelings and often prefer less external stimulation than extroverts. Being introverted doesn’t mean being timid or passive. Introverts can be highly confident communicators. However, busy environments or prolonged social interactions drain their energy, requiring quiet time to recharge.

Schwarz reports that many of her clients see their differences as deficiencies. Her introverted clients wonder whether they need to become more extroverted to succeed, while her neurodivergent clients mask and over prepare so others don’t question their capabilities.