Alex Lathbridge

So what would you say to people like listener Daniel or crowd science listeners out there who think that they're at a disadvantage in life because they're introverted?

Okay, Daniel, this is pretty good news.

Being an introvert definitely doesn't mean you're doomed to a life of feeling awkward at parties.

It's more about where you get your energy from and how much external stimulation your brain needs to tick along at its best.

But Daniel, your question was about work.

In the fast-paced world of employment, could being an introvert be holding you back?

You're listening to CrowdScience from the BBC World Service, where we muster up the courage to talk to each other about science.

I'm Alex Nathbridge, and I'm trying to tease out the differences between introverts and extroverts.

I'm an extrovert.

I can't teach.

If you want to find out about introversion in the brain, talk to a neuroscientist.

But if you want to talk about introversion in the workplace, you're probably better off talking to an economist.

This is William Barb Warting, economics professor and vice-chancellor at the Methodist University of Ghana, here in Accra.

Why should economists care about personality traits like extroversion, introversion at all?

It could affect your economic performance.

A few years back, one of William's students wrote their PhD thesis on Daniel's question on how your personality affects your performance at work.

The study was titled...

personality and performance of household non-farm enterprises in Ghana.

What does that mean?

What are non-farm enterprises?