The internal focus that is basic to flow makes me wonder if introverts are more or less likely than extroverts to achieve the state. I could make an argument either way. It could be that because we are already internally focused, we live our lives halfway to flow. Or it could be that because we are so sensitive to sensory input, we are easily jostled out of flow by any disturbance. Creative interruptus, as it were.

I asked Dr. Csikszentmihalyi in an e-mail if any research had been done on flow and personality types; specifically whether introversion/extroversion have any effect on one's ability to reach and maintain flow. He said there had been little such research but, he continued, "I think that both introverts and extraverts can get into flow, but from doing different things--the first from playing with ideas by themselves, and the second from exchanging ideas or working together with others. Then some people seem to be able to be extraverts at some stage of their work and enjoy interacting; then focus on a problem and enjoy working on it for weeks alone."

Not big news for us (unless you're a personality researcher looking for a new research question). Certainly I prefer working alone over collaboration,and doubt any of us do our best thinking in free-for-all brainstorming sessions. If I find myself in one of those, I tend to retreat into my own head to see what's there rather than rolling around in other peoples' ideas. I wonder if anyone listens to anyone else in sessions like that. They're too busy shouting out ideas. It's like Twitter--a bunch of people bellowing into a crowd.

I don't think introverts are inherently more creative than extroverts, but I do think creativity occurs in an introverted space, which anyone can reach, but in which introverts are more comfortable and can spend more time. Psychologist (and introvert) Laurie Helgoe says, "The precursor of creativity is boredom and introverts have higher tolerance for that alone time. Extroverts may be very uncomfortable and anxious when they're alone." So while extroverts might be counting the minutes until the end of time-out, we are fine sitting quietly in the fertile void until something blooms. Perhaps ideas germinate in introversion and are brought to fruition by extroversion.

The take-home I'm working towards here is more of a take-to-work, since it can apply to succeeding in our jobs In our culture, we are often exhorted to be a "team player"--and that often implies face-to-face collaboration. But being a team player can mean different things for different people. If we require solitude to reach flow, and I think we do, then we are justified in asserting our need for enough space to formulate our ideas and therefore contribute most effectively to the team's common goals.

A number of people here have commented on how much they hate team-building exercises. Perhaps our extroverted culture has a too-narrow definition of what working as a team means. What would a team-building exercise look like that takes into account the needs and strengths of both extroverts and introverts?

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