Two weeks ago I wrote about how to communicate better with introverts.  Now it’s time to give the extroverts the love and the attention they desire … because extroverts have communication needs too.

Take a look at these descriptions:

  • Attention seeking
  • Easily distracted
  • Noisy
  • Exhausting
  • Talks too much
  • Impulsive
  • Sociable
  • Outgoing
  • Friendly
  • Enthusiastic
  • Life of the party

These words and phrases describe extroverts – both negatively and positively. And if you’re an extrovert (like me), you’ve heard most, or all, of these before. Extroverts have distinct communication needs just as introverts do. But before I jump into the tips for communicating with an extrovert, I want to explore a little of the brain science.

Dopamine and the extrovert are like peanut butter and jelly. They go well together. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain connected to pleasure and satisfaction. It impacts things like learning, motivation, attention, mood, and pain processing. Some psychologists say extroverts get more of it naturally, and just about everybody agrees extroverts want more of it! Think of it as a Hungry, Hungry Hippo™ in the extrovert’s brain. Chomp. Chomp. Chomp. The extroverts brain likes to be stimulated and dopamine is a way to provide the stimulation. (Read some interesting research here and here.)

Tip 1 pick up the pace Tip 2 bring a little energy or a lot of energy Tip 3 Allow extroverts to process ideas out loud

Now, what can be done to feed the extrovert’s dopamine-hungry brain? How can introverts give the extrovert what they need in communication?

Look over here … to the right for those three tips! —–>

Extroverts, I might not need to ask, but what say YOU? What would you add to the list above?