"I'm an introvert.”
To my surprise, I read and heard this from many successful executives. They also confess that at some point in their journey they’ve had to work to overcome being overlooked or misjudged because of their quietness.
As per the survey, it reveals that about 55 to 60 percent of males & 50 to 55 percent of females are introverts. It's no surprise that if granted an option, most companies would employ people who are extroverts. But there is no coincidence that the most admired or successful people of past and present are introverts. Some of the names are Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Michael Jordan, Charles Schwab, Larry Page, Steve Wozniak, J.K. Rowling and Steven Spielberg.
The list goes on and on. The research indicates that 40 percent of executives are introverts. Thus, many of the people and clients in your business may be introverts.
The publications such as Susan Cain's Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking and Jennifer Kahnweiler’s The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength, reveals that introverts are better than extroverts and can be better leaders too.
Here are six reasons why introverts are better leaders.
- They are better listeners than extroverts: Introverted leaders are generally considered to be better listeners than extroverted leaders. A study shows that introverted executives with proactive groups can be extremely successful because introverted leaders carefully listen to what their teams have to say and vice-versa. This is because extroverted leaders are usually less approachable to proactivity. If you're an extroverted leader, learn from your introverted colleagues and work on your listening skills so you can carefully process and implement your team's thoughts.
- They embrace solitude: Introverted leaders are boosted by spending time alone. It gives them opportunities for self-reflection, reasoning, speculating, monitoring, arranging or envisioning, not to mention reading, researching and writing. However, not all extroverts lead in this way, the fact that they gain energy from socializing. It helps to reduce interruptions and supports in staying more determined. It develops our ability to think. Introverts can impart us a lot in that context.
- Introverts are the wizards of preparation: Thoughtfulness, consideration, and thorough preparation are principles every leader should employ, but for introverts, these vital principles come inherently. This is because introverts think before they speak, whether communicating with their team, delivering presentations or interacting with colleagues. They devote time thinking through their objectives and preparing for queries.
- Introverts challenge themselves: Introverts spend a lot of time thinking, they’re likely to be aware about areas where they need to improve. This type of focus and awareness is very important to the growth of a leader and their team. This will to challenge oneself will motivate teams to do the same by evaluating themselves, their colleagues, and the team to improve.
- They emphasis on deepness: Introverted leaders like to dig deeper, researching on problems and ideas before moving on to new ones. They seek intensity over width. They are attracted to significant discussions, not insignificant talk, and they know how to ask good questions and really listen to the response.
- Introverts exhibits coolness: Leaders showing a calm sense of self-confidence can do miracles for a company. When a catastrophe arises or times get rough, there’s nothing more challenging than a high-stress, high-anxiety leader asking for the reports. Introverts possesses it naturally. Their careful, analyzed, and calm acts are not only more helpful for encouraging a company or team, but also for creating the same type of approach of coolness in others.
Certainly, there are benefits to being an extrovert, but an introvert’s ability to hear others, planning, theorizing, organizing information, and thinking evidently has its own values!