Somewhere between being the life of the party and wanting to go straight home, I discovered there’s actually a word for my personality.

Have you ever had someone describe a part of your personality that made you stop and think, “Wait a minute. That actually sounds like me?”

Well, that happened to me recently.

During a conversation with someone about my interest in expanding my personal brand and eventually having my own talk show, we started discussing my personality. Somewhere in that conversation, he described me as an ambivert.

An ambi-what?

Apparently, I’m more of an ambivert than an introvert or extrovert. And the more he explained his observation, the more I started connecting the dots.

He pointed out that I can command a room, host an event, interview a national artist, engage an audience, and get the job done. People know who I am, and I’m comfortable in spaces where I’m expected to lead or communicate.

However, that doesn’t mean I’m interested in being the last person standing at an event, making my rounds to check on everybody, or spending the entire evening networking.

In other words, I can host the party, but that doesn’t mean I want to stay until the party is over. LOL!

And honestly, he wasn’t wrong.

So, What Exactly Is an Ambivert?

An ambivert is someone who displays a combination of introverted and extroverted personality tendencies.

Extroverts generally enjoy social interaction and may gain energy from being around people. Introverts often prefer quieter environments, smaller social circles, and time alone to recharge.

Ambiverts fall somewhere in between. They can enjoy socializing, meeting new people, and being the center of attention, but they also appreciate solitude and may need time away from social environments.

Their social energy can depend on their mood, surroundings, comfort level, and the people they’re spending time with.

And suddenly, several things about my personality started making sense.

A Little More About Me…

I enjoy meeting people, attending events, having conversations, and connecting with interesting personalities. My journalism background has certainly given me plenty of opportunities to do that.

But here’s the thing: I also enjoy observing.

I can walk into a room, find my place, and be perfectly content taking everything in. I don’t necessarily feel the need to introduce myself to everybody or initiate conversations just because we’re occupying the same space.

Now, put me around people I genuinely enjoy, and that’s a different story. I’m talkative, playful, funny, and probably laughing entirely too loud.

But if I’m not feeling the environment? Baby, I might be ready to go home before the appetizers arrive!

I also have what some people lovingly refer to as a resting face. Apparently, my neutral facial expression can sometimes communicate that I’m uninterested, annoyed, or unapproachable.

Meanwhile, I’m literally just standing there thinking about something completely unrelated. 😂

I’ve even had people tell me they initially thought I was mean or stuck-up, only to discover that I’m actually pretty funny once they get to know me.

Learning to Understand Myself

What I found most interesting about this conversation is that it reminded me that being comfortable in professional and social settings doesn’t necessarily mean you want to be socially engaged all the time.

I can enjoy hosting an event without needing to socialize with every attendee. I can enjoy interviewing people without wanting to spend my entire evening making small talk, and I can appreciate a room full of people while still looking forward to getting home, taking off my shoes, and enjoying some quiet time.

There’s nothing contradictory about that.

Of course, personality labels aren’t boxes we have to fit ourselves into. Being an ambivert doesn’t explain every part of who I am, but it gives me a new way to understand some of my social tendencies and perhaps that’s the bigger takeaway: sometimes, learning more about yourself isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about finding language for things you’ve always experienced.

So, apparently, I’m an ambivert.

I can command the room, enjoy the conversation, make meaningful connections, and still be the first person looking for the exit.

If you need me after the event, just know I’ll probably be at home, in my own little world. 😂

Now I’m curious: Are you an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert? And does your social battery depend on who’s in the room?

Let’s talk about it in the comments!