Life of an Ambivert  

Are you someone who likes to go out and meet new people every day? Or, are you someone who likes to stay alone on weekends in the comfort of your own house?  Or, are you someone who likes to go out on a few days but also prioritize your time? If you are someone who chose option three, then you might be what psychologists like to call as – Ambiverts.  

If you are not exactly someone who likes to miss parties and stay alone but also not someone who likes socializing every day then you fall under the category of ambiverts. The word Ambivert was first coined by Edmund S. Conklin, a psychologist in 1923. Ambiverts fit somewhere in between introvert and extrovert. You might feel that them being the most talkative in the group of friends and also see them being very shy on the first day of college among all the strangers. Now that we know what Ambiverts are, let us take a closer look at their life.  

Characteristics of Ambiverts  

Since ambiverts are a mixture of both introverts and extroverts, they possess the characteristics of both of them. Some of the characteristics of ambiverts include – 

• They are very adaptable  
• They are both a good listeners 
• They are great speakers  
• They are good negotiators  
• They are well-suited for the role of leaders 
• Ambiverts take on the role of peacemakers during conflict situation
• They are compassionate
• They create a balance in social situations 

Difference between Ambiverts, Introverts and Extroverts 

How exactly are Ambiverts different from introverts and extroverts? To answer this question and better understand the difference between the three personality types, let us look at their definitions.  

Introverts are the people who get energized by spending time with themselves. They are the people who would prefer dinner with their few, close friends over large gatherings. They have smaller social circles and love to do solo activities. On the other hand, extroverts are the people whose energy tanks get filled by being in large groups. They are the people who love interacting with everyone and meeting new people. They love to do activities that involve being with a lot of people.  

And then there are Ambiverts. 

Ambiverts are the people who change into introverts and extroverts depending on the situation. They like interacting with people and also love having a quiet dinner with a few close ones.  For a deeper understanding, let us look at an example. Imagine walking into a large party with two rooms. In one room there are a lot of people, talking, dancing, and laughing. This is the room where you will find the extroverts.  

In the next room, there is no loud music, and not many people are talking loudly with each other. The environment of the room is calm and peaceful. This is the room where you will see the introverts hanging out. Now Ambiverts are the people who can easily transition between both of these rooms. They can mix up with new people, and dance with everyone but after a while, they might want a small break. This is where they move to the other room and recharge their social batteries. They move into both rooms depending on how they feel.  

Advantages of being Ambiverts  

Being ambivert comes with its benefits. Since ambiverts are in the middle of two personality types, they can have the best of both worlds. Advantages of being ambiverts include –

1. Flexibility  

Ambiverts are like water. Just like water gets the colour of whatever it is mixed with in the same way, ambiverts change into introvert traits or extrovert traits the way the situation demands. For example – imagine an ambivert in a group project. In the beginning, they take the lead, discuss themes and organize everything – this displays their extrovert side. But later, when they have to work on their own assigned sub-topic, they are comfortable working alone. This shows how according to the need, ambiverts flexibly transition from extroverts to introverts.  

2. Independent yet a great Team Player  

Ambiverts are independent but still, they are amazing team players. This may sound like an oxymoron but it is true in the case of ambiverts. Ambiverts can thrive when they work alone but when the time comes for them to work together with a team, they are amazing. They are understanding, they listen when the other person shares his thoughts or opinions. For example – an ambivert in a relationship will enjoy both – quality time with the partner as well as alone time. They would love spending weekends with their partners and going to social events but then during weekdays, they would love spending time alone,  giving time to activities that they like.

Read More: Psychology Behind Teamwork

3. Calculated Risk Takers 

When it comes to making bold decisions, ambiverts take very calculated risks. Unlike extroverts who might get impulsive and regret the decision later or introverts who would give it so much thought that the time would run out, ambiverts do neither. They would assess the pros and cons of the situation and then make the decision. They wouldn’t get overexcited and jump to the decision like extroverts or ponder too much over it like introverts. Rather they would decide based on the situation and what seems the best approach at that time. 

4. Challenges in the life of ambiverts  

As great as it sounds, the life of ambiverts is not as hunky-dory as it sounds. They have to face several challenges because of their ambivert personality.  Like – 

• They might feel that they neither belong to introverts nor extroverts. This may create an identity crisis for them, which can lead to feelings of confusion. 
• Since ambiverts’ extrovert traits change according to their mood and situation people around them might feel confused and have difficulty understanding them. 
• Ambiverts try to constantly find the right balance in where to stay quiet and where to assert themselves, this may lead them to overthink about every situation.
• This flexibility between being introvert and extrovert, might drain them out and  cause them exhaustion.  
• Ambiverts may agree to a lot of plans but on the day they might feel like they don’t want to go at all.  

As these challenges do make the life of ambiverts tough, overcoming them will lead them to  live a fulfilling life. Having the perks of both the personality types.  

Ambiverts in Relationships  

Relationships are an integral part of every human beings life. How exactly are Ambiverts in interpersonal relationships?  

To answer this question, ambiverts can have great, meaningful relationships. If their partner is outgoing, ambiverts can be the life of every social situation. They can dance and engage in discussions with everyone sitting. But if their partner is someone who likes to stay at home and spend quality time, Ambiverts are happy to sit on the sofa and binge-watch movies.  

Since ambiverts are both great listeners and speakers, they will give their partner great advice if they come to ask for it or just patiently listen to their partner vent out their frustration until they feel better. Do you think it is important that your partner is friends with your friends?  

If yes, then ambiverts can easily do that. Ambiverts can adjust well to every environment. They would find it easy to be friends with your friends. Ambiverts are very much self-aware. They keep a strict check on their own words and actions. This makes them less likely to hurt their partners. So we can say that ambiverts are great people to be in a relationship with. They can be great partners.  

Ambiverts in Workplace  

It is not just relationships, but ambiverts can shine at workplaces too. Ambiverts can prove to be a valuable employee for their organization. They can easily adapt to situations. They are highly focused when it comes to their work.  They can maintain good relations with their coworkers. 

They are great team players but they also do not mind working alone on a project.  Ambiverts are enthusiastic towards their work. Since ambiverts have an understanding of both introvert and extrovert personalities they can also make great leaders. Their good communication skills come in handy in their workplace. We can say that ambiverts can be effective employees at their workplace.

Read More: 10 Habits of Highly Focused Individuals, According to Psychology

Strategies for Ambiverts to Thrive 

Here are some strategies for Ambiverts to thrive in their life.  

• Try finding the right balance between your introvert and extrovert traits.
• Think before committing to all the plans. Agreeing to every plan might make you feel burnt out. So, plan things and only say yes to plans that will not make you feel exhausted by the end. 
• Say No. it might be difficult for you to say no to anything. Be it invitation for a social gathering or doing the work of someone else for them, learn to say No. this will help  you get your required amount of alone time to recharge.  
• Ambiverts tend to feel a lot of FOMO- fear of missing out. This makes them want to attend every event because they overthink that they will miss something great, and this causes them to over-exhaust themselves every time. The key to living a happy life as an ambivert is handling the FOMO well.  
• Ambiverts have a versatile communication skills. If used wisely this can be a great asset. Try using your communication skills for the best results.  
• Sometimes being in the middle can be frustrating. Ambiverts can find themselves asking questions like – am I a shy person or someone who likes to interact with new people? I like to go to events but it is also very exhausting. Such thoughts and questions can cloud the minds of ambiverts. It is important to remind yourself that it is okay to be in the middle and not exactly fit into any one category.  

Conclusion  

“There is peaceful, there is wild. I am both at the same time.” – sum 

This line kind of summarizes the life of ambiverts. They are peaceful and calm like the introverts and they are outgoing and wild like the extroverts. Ambiverts are the people who stand on the middle ground. They have the traits of both introverts and extroverts and they transition between them according to the situation and their mood. For example – they love going to social gatherings but they also need to spend alone time drinking coffee and reading a book.  

They love socializing but they are also shy in front of new people. They are the ones who like having small talks, asking about your day and talking about the weather but they also love to have deep conversations about feelings and emotions and destiny. All these statements are contradictory and might confuse you. But that is how the life of  Ambiverts is. Their personality might confuse the people around them as well as themselves. This personality may cause them challenges like having identity crises and not being able to find the right balance between all their traits. But it also has many advantages like being flexible and taking safe risks.  

Their personality is like a full thali. It has everything. The sweet, spicy, tangy and all the  other flavours you love on your plate. Life of ambiverts is as flavourful as it sounds. If ambiverts use all their traits mindfully and follow strategies like planning beforehand and  learning to say No they can have the best of both the worlds.  

FAQs  

Who coined the term Ambivert?  

The word Ambivert was first coined by Edmund S. Conklin, a psychologist in 1923. 

What exactly does Ambivert mean?  

Ambivert is a personality type that has the traits of both an introvert and extrovert. They  can be outspoken and shy as and when the situation and their mood demands. We can say  that these people are mixture of introverts and extroverts.  

What are some of the characteristics of Ambiverts ?  

The characteristics of Ambiverts include being flexible and adaptable, good listening as well  as speaking skills, being great negotiaters as they understand what the person wants and  conveys his demands clearly, being compassionate, etc.  

How are Ambiverts in Relationships?  

Ambiverts can be great life partners. They can enjoy the activities that their partner wants,  listen to their partner vent out their frustration and give good advice if asked for, they can  easily make new friends, so they do not have any issue in being friends with your friends.  Ambiverts are balanced individuals which is important for any relationship. Good  communication skills is the foundation of a great relationship which Ambiverts ace at. All in  all, it is great to be in a relationship with Ambiverts. 

How are Ambiverts in the Work Place?  

Ambiverts can be effective employees. Their flexibility work as an advantage for them in any organisation they work in. Their are a  great team player as well as work well in solitude. Their communication skills and  negotiation skills are their greatest assets in work place. Their understanding of both  introverts and extroverts prove them to be a good leader. 

What are some of the challenges faced by Ambiverts?  

Though the life of Ambiverts seems like a movie from the outside it is not always that perfect.  They face several challenges in everyday life that may include issues like difficulty in understanding themselves, people perceiving them wrongly, difficulty in finding the right balance between all the traits, and exhaustion due to flexibility.