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What is the most important thing for a leader – determination, charisma, willingness to take risks? These qualities are important, but not always sufficient to make the right decisions and lead a team. And in this regard, introverted leaders can give odds to extroverts.
Social activity, the ability to quickly switch between tasks, assertiveness are the qualities of “natural leaders” that introverts most often lack. But they can also make good leaders—just a slightly different type. Just look at the examples of Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Abraham Lincoln and Mark Zuckerberg.
We often mistake loudness for conviction, confidence for competence, aggressiveness for strength of character. The behavior of extroverts makes them more likely to be placed at the top of the social and corporate hierarchy.
Chris Myers, CEO of BodeTree, a financial analysis service for small businesses, admits: “When I got to the top level, I found that the personality traits and behaviors of introverts are characteristic of truly successful leaders, as opposed to self-confident ones. nonentities.”
Here are some tips for introverted leaders that he offers.
Listen and show empathy
Leaders who are capable of deep self-reflection tend to be better at listening to the opinions and needs of those they work with. This ability can be an indispensable skill in today’s management culture, when you need to take into account the interests of different people, be flexible, and seek compromises.
Myers admits that in his early years as CEO, he realized that things are usually more complicated than people think. Often there is a temptation to “hack off the shoulder”, instead of sorting through the options and looking for the best solution. It is easier to negotiate behind the scenes so as not to conduct lengthy negotiations.
However, this approach, if practiced consistently, leads to increased dissatisfaction among employees and high turnover. It is far better—and ultimately more effective—to listen and be considerate of all who are involved. Often poor performance is the result of insufficient communication, lack of clear goals and control methods. Good leaders try to explore all options before making a decision.
Take Your Time: Take Action When It’s Time
Everyone has had to deal with those who first act, and then reflect. Their determination may be attractive, but they can be difficult to work with. They do not delve into the nuances of the situation, understand tasks in a simplified way, and rarely listen to advice.
When they make their way to leadership positions, their subordinates have a hard time – after all, it is they who have to disentangle the consequences of the hasty decisions of their boss. Someone rebels against such an order, someone simply stops trying, seeing that his contribution still means nothing. As a result, the numbers go down.
Sometimes you don’t have to be rough to get things done – instead, it’s better to be gentle and warm.
In contrast, introverted leaders tend to think more deeply before making a decision. They carefully read reports, listen to different points of view, carefully think through all the difficulties that may arise during the implementation of the plan.
The main thing that introverts who claim to be leaders need to learn is the ability to act when it comes time to act. Getting stuck on small things, which is often blamed on introverts, can be critical in a situation where you need to act quickly.
Remember: the sun is stronger than the wind
Perhaps as a child you read Aesop’s fable of the Sun and the Wind. In the story, the Sun and the Wind compete with each other to determine who is stronger. They come up with a test: whoever rips off the cloak from a passing traveler will be the winner.
At first the wind tried to blow off the cloak. But the more the wind tried, the more the traveler wrapped himself in a cloak. Then the sun rose. It smiled at the traveler, warmed him, and he himself took off his cloak. The moral of the story, of course, is that sometimes you don’t have to be rude to get things done—it’s better to be gentle and warm instead.
The same applies to team leadership. When you are a hammer, every problem looks like a nail to you. But if you are thoughtful, ready to delve into the situation and listen to others, perhaps you will invent your own way of solving the problem.
Find your balance
It is impossible to use the same leadership style, one approach, one philosophy for different life situations. “Innate leadership qualities” is a myth. Different tasks require a different approach, and not always an obvious inclination to lead is sufficient to do it competently.
Introverted leaders are needed now, when the world is becoming more complex, and directive methods of management are becoming a thing of the past. The qualities in which introverts are naturally strong – deep thinking, empathy, the ability to listen – can be enhanced by adding a little extrovert determination and courage to them. By finding the right balance, you can develop a unique style that is right for you.