Confidence coach and founder of Shy and Mighty, Nadia Finer, offers the term “ambivert”, saying: “Some people swing between being an extrovert and an introvert, which is what we call an ambivert. That’s someone who’s a bit of both; and we’re all a bit of both, really. That’s why I wouldn’t say ‘introverted extravert’ – I’d say you’re an ambivert.”

Finer also offers another perspective for people: “I do think you can be a shy extrovert, which is somebody who wants to be around other people, socialising, chatting away and being in the limelight, but because they’re shy they find it really difficult. It’s like you’re wrapped in a resistance band and you just can’t bring yourself to do it. You might be anxious, afraid or worried about what other people think about you. There’s a kind of conflict and tension inside of you there.”

Whether you identify with being an extroverted introvert, an ambivert or a shy extrovert, Finer says there’s a lot of “masking” going on in each situation, explaining: “For example, referring to Dawn French’s idea of ‘functioning’, people wouldn’t necessarily know that I’m shy because I’ve figured out ways to mask it. I can give a talk to people because I’ve learned to overcome fears in situations and be ‘functioning’.”

“Am I an extroverted introvert?” Two experts explain what it really means