The Introvert 360 Podcast

Rebecca Anderson / Kari White

The Introvert 360 is a podcast that circles around the things that matter most to introverts. The wise INFJ Kari is all about continual improvement. The wacky INTJ Rebecca just wants to discuss the inner minds of cats. Hop onto the Introvert 360 for discussions about careers, famous introverts, and cake. We’ll get your wheels turning or maybe just send your mind spinning.

  1. Birth Order Personality and the MBTI: Stereotypes and Statistics

    05/16/2019

    Birth Order Personality and the MBTI: Stereotypes and Statistics

    With the plethora of personality-type tests out there we get the opportunity to publicly define ourselves in numerous ways. I (Kari) am a proud slytherclaw, INFJ, and an Enneagram Nine. I am also an only child, but you won’t find that anywhere on my social media. Instead, birth order seems to be the one theory we love to assign to other people rather than announce to the world where we fall in our familial units. “Hm. Typical only child. Their such a loner.” “Oh man, youngest kids are so lucky - my little sister got away with everything.” “He seems very insecure, I bet he’s a middle child.” So where did the birth order personality theory come from, anyway? Around the early 1900s, Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychiatrist, first hypothesized that birth order could have a lasting effect on a child’s personality. Later, fueled by several popular books published in the 90s and 00s, birth order types became a popular topic of discussion at watercoolers and in living rooms around the world. But do the theories about birth order really hold up or is it just another pop-psychology fad that won’t die? And if birth order personalities are accurate, how do they correlate up with the reigning Queen of all personality tests - the MBTI? Tune into this month’s podcast as we dig into the stereotypes of birth order personality and how they correlate with Myers-Briggs type (MBTI). Do first-born kids really all resemble Type A personalities like Alex P Keaton ? Do middle children just need a hug? Are youngest children really magical unicorns (Rebecca says, bwa ha ha, neigh, neigh, neigh). Calling All Introverts Are you an introvert who loves to talk about your MBTI type? As the hosts, we only represent about a quarter of the introvert MBTI types and we'd love to be able to include more diverse opinions! Join our "Hush" of Introverts Facebook Group and weigh in on upcoming show topics, polls, and more! Not into Facebook? No problem. Join our email list or send us a note at introvert360podcast@gmail.com Stuff We Talked About Does birth order affect a person’s personality? Born to learn or born to win? Birth Order Traits Birth Order INFJ Personality Birth Order Personality Study

    37 min
  2. Introvert Spotlight: Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers

    04/15/2019

    Introvert Spotlight: Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers

    Speaking of introverts: Did you know that Kari is an INFJ idealist and Rebecca is an INTJ benign mastermind? Okay, that’s a little sarcasm there. Listeners will, of course, know that we throw these four-letter combos around like they’ll mean something to you. And, chances are they do. While there are over 2,500 personality tests out there, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the one that seems most deeply entrenched in our personal and professional lives. We introverts proudly declare our MBTI types on Twitter and Facebook as a friendly nod to our tribes, as well as a warning to those (cough, cough, extroverts) who can’t possibly understand why we behave the way we do. As introverts, we spend an epic amount of time in our own heads. So, for a change, we thought we’d get into other people’s heads instead. No, nothing as fun as brain surgery! Simply put: we have decided to spend time on our podcast delving into the lives of famous introverts. Given our zealous allegiance to our MBTI types, we figured there was no better place to start than with the grand dames of navel gazing: Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, the creators of the MBTI? How did this mother and daughter—neither of which had formal education in psychology—create a self-assessment tool that resonates with so many? Sure, they both read a lot of Carl G. Jung—in fact the MBTI could be considered a practical application of the theories Jung outlined in a work titled Psychological Types. But there’s a big gap between reading a book and creating a cultural touchstone as pervasive as the MBTI. Listen to the podcast to learn about these two remarkable—yet decidedly flawed—women who spent decades guiding the MBTI to maturity. And, based on what you learn, see where you stand on the ethics of liking something that was created by a not-so-likeable person. References Uncovering The Secret History Of Myers-Briggs Isabel Briggs Myers wikipedia Katharine Cook Brigg wikipedia The Myers & Briggs Foundation website The Remarkable Story of the MBTI®: How Two Unlikely Theorists Created the World’s Most Popular Personality Test

    39 min
  3. Networking as an Introvert Doesn't Have to be Scary

    03/15/2019

    Networking as an Introvert Doesn't Have to be Scary

    As introverts, networking isn’t exactly something that we look forward to. Even when we make an effort, we might end up talking about wrapping paper for 10 minutes instead of providing any meaningful information about ourselves. But networking is important, especially as we transition careers. In our latest podcast, we take the top advice for introvert networking, package it up, and put a bow on it. We also put some cat ears on it. But that’s to be expected, isn’t it? Step 1: Figure out why you hate networking This was an area of “learning” for us. Despite a fifteen-year friendship, Kari was under the impression that Rebecca was an expert at networking. Unfortunately, this is not the case; Rebecca just has different types of social anxieties. While Kari struggles to feel worthy of participating in a conversation, Rebecca can’t quite figure out how to identify and conform to networking expectations. So while Kari says nothing, Rebecca says nothing of significance—choosing instead to make people smile and laugh. Yes, people might remember Rebecca as the goofy redhead who compared the appetizers to different video game characters. But is anyone going to want to hire someone just because they talked about how the Goombas in Super Mario games were modeled after mushrooms? Likely not. Our conversation also meandered into a discussion of the differences between introversion, shyness and social anxiety, highlighting that even extroverts can be shy (gasp!). So, chances are that only outgoing extroverts are really comfortable in networking situations. The rest of us? We need to muddle through. Step 2: Setting yourself up for networking success One piece of advice is to expand your definition of networking to include other relationship-building activities that don’t require awkward conversations and name tags. But when you need to jump in to the deep end of a networking event, there are definitely tactics to help you succeed. These may or may not include: Choosing your event wisely Planning ahead Setting a goal Creating an elevator pitch Gushing on and on about your obsession with Simon Sinek Wearing cat ears Developing preset conversation starters Transitioning out of conversations by farting (seriously, Kari! What were you thinking?) Using power poses Fact-checking anecdotes about Mark Hamill's facial scars before sharing them in a public forum. Tune in to learn about proven networking strategies for introverts as well as ones that likely won’t take off, despite the obvious potential. Come on, people! Wearing a cat shirt to a dog convention is clearly networking gold. Stuff we talked about We looked at gobs of articles to prepare for this cast. Here are some of our top sources: Shy people aren't always introverts. How to survive parties as an introvert. Kick-butt tips for introvert networking you've never heard. Millennials Network Differently. Networking for the socially anxious.

    32 min
  4. Why the Hiring Process Needs More Snails, and Other Introvert Job Search Tips

    02/15/2019

    Why the Hiring Process Needs More Snails, and Other Introvert Job Search Tips

    If you long for the days when you wrote a cover letter to an actual person, printed out your resume on fancy paper, and put both in a matching envelope before – wait for it – adding a stamp and mailing it via (gasp) snail mail, there’s a good chance: You're probably of a certain age You think applicant tracking systems are synonymous with black holes You've heard about video interviews and decided you hate them on principle You think robo-recruiting only happens in sci-fi movies The hiring process may be broken, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t figure out a way around it. In this episode, we talk about the ways that introverts can tackle the ins and outs of the modern hiring process, and even though Rebecca is the one advocating for snails to return to their former glory as postal workers, Kari’s the real reason why this podcast went off the rails (not). So what’s the big deal about referrals? If you’re looking for a new job, there’s a good chance you’ve heard that the best way to find one is by networking to get a referral. For introverts, hearing the word networking might just be the equivalent of scraping your nails across a chalkboard. In this podcast, we talk about the pros and cons on hiring by referral—and getting hired as a referral. Are job seekers part of the problem? Today we can apply to a job with a click of a button from LinkedIn, forcing companies to wade through hundreds of applicants for a single job posting! It’s no wonder that a referral from a current employee can help get you in the door – it saves recruiters time sifting through oodles of data. The whole conversation leaves Rebecca daydreaming about snails carrying the mail until Kari squashes them and gets the podcast back on track. Do interviews really matter? While most introverts may dread interviewing, many companies are waking up to the fact that even with a referral, one interview isn’t always enough to ensure a good fit. This is ultimately good news for anxious or nervous introverts who don’t perform well under pressure or have trouble connecting on a personal level with an interviewer. Knowledge is power! Tune in to hear about the research and learn about ways introverts can circumvent the issues of the modern job search—without using snails or applicant tracking systems. Stuff we talked about: Eight Most Important Employee Referral Statistics The Truth About Employee Referrals 60 Hiring Statistics You Need to Know "Death by HR" HireVue, Video Interviews, and AI Job Searches

    25 min
  5. Interviewing for Introverts. Can We Win?

    01/15/2019

    Interviewing for Introverts. Can We Win?

    Interviewing is hard. It’s even harder when you’re shy—like Kari—or just want to talk about cats—like Rebecca. While it seems like the odds are stacked against introverts in the hiring process, is there a way for introverts to gain an edge? Before you get any bright ideas, there are apparently rules against using a stand-in for the interview, even if they are Helen Hunt and share your haircut. And, while hiring a Introvert Interview Advocate seems like a good idea, you may end up offending people when they say something like, “What Rebecca clearly knows is that you obviously have no influence on her future career prospects and therefore will not be able to help her provide shareholder value.” Just listen to the episode; Brutus is kind of a tool. While this cast doesn’t provide the introvert’s guide to taking over the world—or even providing shareholder value—you should walk away with a few interview tips for introverts as well as some laughs. Here are the top things we covered: The Challenge of Being Authentic We often discuss the value of authenticity in developing and strengthening relationships. Ironically, the interviewing process seems to encourage people—especially introverts—to be anything BUT true to themselves. Only a narcissist could be authentically excited about bragging on themselves for an hour, right? We discuss how a strong personal brand can help you communicate your value and survive interviews. Digital Interviews - Introvert Friendly? Like it or not, digital interviews are here to stay. The question is: do digital screenings provide an edge for introverts? Maybe just the ones that are half robot—AKA INTJs—like Rebecca? In the episode, Rebecca gives a blow-by-blow of her digital interview experience and shares some insights as to how digital interviews work and ways to prepare if you’re one of the “lucky ones’ selected to participate in this form of impersonal interaction. Job Auditions - Letting your Skills Shine We discuss our thoughts on practice assignments. One the one hand, they can be great for people that don’t interview well. On the other hand, if the process isn’t set up to allow two-way communication, it can be challenging for people who value collaboration as part of the development process. INFJ vs. INTJ Face-off We also do our first INFJ vs. INTJ face-off on the topic of civility as a goal for department teams. It would be ironic if we weren’t civil when discussing this topic. Alas, we didn’t come to literal or figurative blows. Perhaps there will be a future topic that inspires Kari to push Rebecca down. Perhaps the matter of cats vs. dogs? Intro theme by Salty Bits.

    40 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Introvert 360 is a podcast that circles around the things that matter most to introverts. The wise INFJ Kari is all about continual improvement. The wacky INTJ Rebecca just wants to discuss the inner minds of cats. Hop onto the Introvert 360 for discussions about careers, famous introverts, and cake. We’ll get your wheels turning or maybe just send your mind spinning.