Ambiversion: The Best of Both Worlds

3d comic book style image. Picture of three women with long blonde wavy hair. The first is an introvert - quiet and happy on her own reading and wearing a light pink tshirt and jeans. The second is an ambivert - holding hands with the other two women and smiling. She's wearing wearing bright turquoise jumper with stars on it. The third woman is an extrovert and is happy in a busy space with lots going on. She's wearing a bright yellow top with a bright rainbow on it.

Ambiversion: The Best of Both Worlds

The idea of ambiversion isn’t new.

It was first introduced by psychologist Edmund Smith Conklin back in 1923 in his article The Definition of Introversion, Extroversion, and Allied Concepts where he described ambiverts as those who blend traits from both ends of the introversion-extroversion spectrum.

Rather than fitting neatly into one category, ambiverts fall somewhere in the middle, embodying a mix of characteristics from both.

So what are the differences, I hear you ask?

Well,

introverts love a rich inner world and find solitude refreshing. They will usually avoid the spotlight and prefer smaller, meaningful interactions.
extroverts thrive on energy from others. They recharge in group settings and often feel at home in lively environments.

Then there’s the middle ground

ambiverts have a blend of traits from both intro and extroversion – meaning that one day, they might be the life and soul of the party, happily leading a training workshop, and the next, they’re perfectly content sitting in front of their computer, creating a process document.

In terms of statistics, it’s pretty much 50/50. Men are more likely to be introverted than women are, but it’s really very slight. But the real difference I think is in how it plays out, how it relates to cultural stereotypes. For men it can be a little bit more difficult because there are these cultural demands for men to be very dominant. But there are roles for introverted men: the strong reserved man, the strong silent type. I think especially in the UK, there is more of a place for dignified reserve. The US used to have a place for that, but we lost it! For women, on the other hand, there is some permission to be more demure, more modest.

(The Guardian)

Why Does It Matter?

Understanding these differences can transform how we humans work together.

Team Dynamics: diverse work styles create balance. Introverts bring depth, extroverts add energy, and ambiverts adapt to both.
Conflict Navigation: knowing how others approach situations reduces friction and helps to build better connections.
Personal Growth: when you know yourself, you can set boundaries, and play to your strengths.

Ambiversion – The Best of Both Worlds

What makes ambiversion so brilliant for some?

It means you can engage in both introverted and extroverted behaviours without it having a big impact on you, and this can make you a real asset in both personal and professional settings.

Being something you’re not comes at a massive cost.

(Michelle Hartley)

For example:

Give an extrovert a day of quiet, repetitive work (think data entry in a windowless room), and they’ll likely be climbing the walls, desperate for human contact.
Put an introvert in a day-long training session with someone like me, and by the end, they might be scratching at the walls.
Ambiverts, however, can manage both scenarios with ease! They can switch between the two, engaging in ways that suit them in the moment.

Signs you might be an ambivert

Quick recharge needed: Your social battery refills fast. A little downtime is all it takes to gear up for the next event.
Alone time is a must – but not too much: You value your solo moments but soon find yourself craving connection with other humans. It’s more about balance, than extremes.
Short and sweet socialising: All-day activities can be exhausting, but a few hours of chatting and connection? Perfect!
Intimate over impersonal: You thrive in meaningful hangouts but get overwhelmed by endless texts and emails.
Team player with leadership skills: You work well with others and can step into the spotlight when needed. You’re seriously adaptable.
Quiet confidence in conversations: You don’t need to dominate discussions. Listening and chiming in occasionally is more your ‘thing’.
Low-level recovery after social events: After a busy day, a cosy, low-stimulation evening – like a Netflix binge on Emily in Paris, or even a funny podcast – is probably your way to unwind.
Friendship comes naturally: You’ve got a loyal inner circle and a wider network of acquaintances, which works perfectly for you.

My Top Tips

Introverts

Visibility matters – even if it’s not your natural comfort zone – but take it form me, you don’t need to shout to be seen!

Speak up early in meetings: Being the second or third person to contribute can help you build confidence in speaking up and show your value (and stop you feeling like time is running out for you to speak, meaning you’re even less likely to voice your opinion).
Ditch self-deprecation: Avoid phrases like, “this might not be right…” Instead, own your expertise and try something more like, “here’s an idea we could consider…”
Use written communication: Email follow-ups can remove the pressure of real-time interaction.
Schedule reflective time: Find time before or after group meetings to recharge

Extroverts

Your energy is contagious, but make sure you take time to pause and let others have some space too.

Be mindful of quieter voices. Pause to invite input from colleagues who may need more time to reflect.
Channel your enthusiasm. Lead initiatives that benefit from your passion, but avoid dominating the conversation.
Recharge when needed. Yep, even extroverts need downtime – don’t skip it! Add breaks into your calendar to prevent burnout.

Ambiverts

For you, it’s all about balance

Pay attention to how you’re feeling day-to-day and adjust your plans accordingly!
Leave breathing space on days when you have a lot of ‘peopleing’ to do.
Make sure those around you know when you need space (or are likely to). They might not expect it.