Introversion and Leadership
by Alexa Le
It’s common to associate leadership with specific traits: being outgoing, outspoken, and having the ability to make decisive decisions in an instant, all of which are typical characteristics of an extroverted leader. In fact, the well-known survey from the Harvard Business Review once reported that 65% of corporate executives saw introversion as an impediment to successful leadership, often believing extroverted leaders to be more competent and high-achieving (1). And while extroverted leaders have a variety of strengths, the same can also be said about introverted leaders.
But what exactly makes for an introverted leader? As most commonly defined, introversion includes characteristics such as drawing strength or recharging by being alone, placing an emphasis on observation of social situations, and deliberating carefully before coming to a decision (2). While these are inherently positive traits, society sees introverts are simply shy, which is why there is such a stigma against introverts being successful leaders. However, just like one size does not truly fit all, there are multiple ways to be an effective leader, and we must never discount introversion as a quality trait that many leaders possess.
The biggest strength an introverted leader can use to their advantage is their observational skills, notably the one that allows their employees to feel heard and respected. Respect is a two-way street, and one of the most prominent ways to make people feel respected is to lend them an ear and make them feel truly heard. Since introverts are much more likely to listen to others and observe before making any final decisions, they present themselves as more engaged in conversations, which can garner a great deal of appreciation from their audience.
Furthermore, the ability for introverted leaders to listen attentively also promotes the habit of creating more nuanced ideas and plans, for it cultivates a sense of community and communication between the leader and others around them. Creating a melting pot of ideas from a variety of different people may prove to be more effective than someone who presents their ideas without allowing more contribution from others who might have interesting ideas that would bolster the organization or business as a whole. Clearly, it is evident that being an introverted leader has unique characteristics that allow them to thrive in the workplace in their own way.
This topic is more important than ever in our goal of leadership empowerment, for not fitting into the clearly defined box of how our cultural norms define leadership may dismay many from even trying. Thus, it is critical that society changes its perception of leadership and recognizes that great leaders come in a variety of forms, all with different strengths they can bring to the table.