The introverted leader blog

Psychologists from the British Psychological Society, who came up with the NASA mission analogy, concluded that those who avoided group activity did not do so because they were introverts. “The surest predictor of you taking on fewer leadership roles is not introversion, but low expectations,” the study says. During the experiment, those participants who did not set themselves up for the worst took on roles similar to extroverts. According to the researchers, this leads to the fact that introverts are hampered by their dire predictions about how much they will dislike the leadership process.

“If an introvert is taught to be more confident or optimistic about leadership situations, he is more likely to be able to act as a leader as often as an extrovert,” wrote Peter O’Connor and Andrew Spark. At the same time, they emphasized that the focus of this approach is precisely to to convince introverts of their ability to be a leader , get rid of fear and anxiety, break psychological blocks, and not turn them into extroverts.

"Passion trumps personality," writes Inc., a business magazine. Personality is more variable than is commonly thought , and if you add a specific goal to this, then differences in the psychotype become less important. The so-called “free character traits” help in this, says Brian Little, professor of psychology at the University of Cambridge. nine0005

They appear when we run a script to succeed in our life project. During a TED talk, he gave a personal example: “I'm an introvert, but my main project is teaching. I am a professor. I love my students and I love my job. I look forward to telling them something new and exciting that I can't wait to tell them. And I act like an extrovert because at eight in the morning students need a little humor, a little collaboration to help them get through this busy day of school.” nine0005

This technique will help not only to strengthen the foundation for the leadership position of the introvert, but also to create the basis for the successful work of others. “It's tempting and, frankly, much easier to take a given problem without researching it and come up with the simplest possible solution. For example, a convenient response to a team member's lack of performance is that they just need to "get it together and get the job done," writes entrepreneur Chris Myers in his Forbes column. However, often the cause of team members' underperformance is unclear personal or team goals, as well as scenarios beyond the control of the individual. Precisely introverted leaders have great potential to deal effectively with such situations and retain their staff.

Research has shown other personality traits of introverts that allow them to outperform extroverts. For example, a joint study by scientists from Harvard and Pennsylvania states that introverts become much better team leaders in which early planning and proactive work are important. And at Baylor University, a team of scientists concluded that Introverted characteristics are prevalent in effective leaders whose approach is leadership as service. This is an approach in which the leader pays special attention to the growth and well-being of his team.

Leaders who, as is often the case with introverts, have developed awareness, are better prepared to listen and empathize with the people with whom they interact. This ability is an invaluable skill in today's work environment. According to the Entrepreneur, since Introverts have a lower sensitivity to external rewards than extroverts, they work better in conditions of lack of information and are resistant to presumptuous impulses. And the ability to find a pivot in uncertainty is a huge plus for any entrepreneur.

Introverts are also more likely to keep looking for solutions that are not initially obvious. “It’s not that I’m that smart, I just stay with problems longer,” Albert Einstein explained this approach. nine0005

Introverts are less likely than extroverts, need coffee . This is due to different attitudes towards internal physical arousal, suggests Brian Little of Cambridge. One of the characteristics of extroverts is their need for excitement through loud noises, parties, and activities. Introverts prefer to reduce arousal. “When extroverts come into the office at 9 am and say, “I just need a cup of coffee,” they are not joking, they really need it. Drinking coffee will not help introverts, especially if they have some tasks that are quantified and must be completed urgently, ”Little explains. nine0005

As an introvert, you have a unique gift for observing processes in dynamics from a distance, echoes business consultant Heather Pinay. She recommends that after every effort you make in the process of becoming a leader, especially related to communicating with people, plan time to recover and reset . Exploring your boundaries and allowing yourself to be yourself will help you thrive. The founder of the Charity Shop network, Daria Alekseeva, shared her personal recipe for effective boundaries for saving energy on her Facebook: “Don't talk on the phone. They call me at most 5-7 times a week and usually these are people whom I am glad to hear. They don’t call me from unknown numbers, they don’t call me at work (no one has my phone), my colleagues don’t call me (we are all in the messenger). Talk less. Answering questions instead of voice interviews. Excel spreadsheet instead of text. Tasks in Trello instead of letters. What is written long and detailed are instructions. nine0005

Make one-on-one meetings part of your leadership strategy, advises coach Joan Markov. “Introverts get energy, wisdom and momentum from within, while extroverts are fueled by the people around them. Both strategies are far-sighted and effective. I would recommend one-on-one lunches with colleagues, individual meetings and brainstorms in small groups for introverted leaders,” says Markov. In her opinion, this will help introverted leaders to better hear their true thinking. While large group meetings are inevitable, they are never the most effective way for introverts to negotiate. nine0005

Meetings in small groups not only help introverts to concentrate, but also to solve specific problems more effectively. “Find strategic alliances within your organization that can contribute to the change you plan to implement. Create groups of two or three people that are focused on solving specific problems. This will give you the opportunity to jump in and immerse yourself in the discussion. Ultimately, this is a great way to get engagement and build rapport,” says Alan Trivedi, founder of Trivedi Coaching & Consulting Group. nine0005

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Six Reasons Introverts Make Good Leaders

People often think of introverts as quiet loners who have difficulty getting along with people and rarely raise their voices. As a result, introverts seem to lack the self-confidence and social skills that naturally born leaders, innovators, and rebels typically possess. This news may surprise you, but 40% of the top management of companies consider themselves to be introverts. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Marissa Mayer, Mark Zuckenberg, Guy Kawasaki, and Barack Obama are just some of the famous leaders and innovators who consider themselves introverts. nine0005

Their success proves that leaders are not always sociable and self-confident people with many friends. In fact, despite a predominantly extroverted environment, introverts are quite capable of effectively managing an organization. Here are six qualities that introverts can use to successfully manage people and develop their leadership skills.

1.

Introverts tend to avoid idle talk because it tires them out. They usually prefer to stand back and listen, and evaluate what they hear later (or when asked). A study led by Francesca Gino, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School, found that introverted bosses who manage a team of active people can achieve tremendous success because of their ability to patiently listen to the opinions of their subordinates. nine0005

It is this quality that makes introverts very good leaders, since effective communication is necessary for successful cooperation. Introverts tend to assess the situation from all sides and carefully consider their words, and their comments and instructions are balanced and clear.

2.

In his book The Power of Introverts: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Ace Up Your Hole Psychologist Laurie Helgoe states that “introverts have inner strength—the ability to generate fully formed ideas, discoveries, and solutions. [...] It may seem as if an introvert sitting quietly in a meeting, silently listening to other people's disputes and immersed in reflection, does not make any contribution. But this impression will dissipate as soon as he comes up with a solution that the more active participants have overlooked.”

Add to this the ability of introverts to listen to colleagues and weigh different points of view, and you will realize that their voice is the voice of reason, especially in times of crisis. nine0005

3.

Due to their low social energy, introverts quickly get tired of small talk, and this makes it difficult to make useful contacts. But since it is dating that opens the way to favorable business opportunities, introverts have to get out of their comfort zone. In fact, they can use their natural cordiality to engage people in conversation and win them over.

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