When we say “imagine a leader”, what do you imagine? If the first thing you imagine is a man in a suit shouting about profits and losses, then it's not surprising – this is exactly the image we were sold to understand what it means to be the boss. But the reality, as we know, is completely different. A great leader is not a corporate dictator, but someone who can really lead a team to success. How to become a good leader if you are an introvert? Someone will say that it is impossible. But, again, this is a myth.
ContentHow to be a good leader if you are an introvert: think about your leadership styleIdentify your skills and strengthsHow to be a good leader if you are an introvert: embrace your strengths
WomanEL wants to dispel it and will list tips from Sissel Geiberg's book “The Quiet Leader: What You Can Learn from Introverts.”
How to Be a Good Leader If You’re an Introvert: Think About Your Leadership Style
“We don’t usually think about what skills are needed to be a good leader,” says Geiberg. “When developing leadership skills, it’s important to understand the kind of leader you want to be, compare that to the skills you already have, and understand where your strengths lie. To become better, we all need to go through the process of discovering our unique qualities and understanding how they can become part of our leadership style.”
What a good leader looks like depends on the environment you work in and the challenges your organization faces. But that doesn’t mean you have to change yourself or drastically change your leadership style. Instead, as an introvert, identify which leadership qualities are more accessible to you.”
Think about leaders you admire who aren’t necessarily super extroverts. They could be fictional characters (from movies) or people from popular culture, or maybe someone you’ve worked with in the past. Write down what it is about the way they lead that makes them brilliant. Often it can be things like listening and taking time for independent reflection, rather than being a person who likes to give grand speeches.
Identify your skills and strengths
Think about what you can bring to a leadership position, Source: freepik.com
Introverts tend to have certain skills that make them great leaders. For example, the ability to listen deeply, be a great observer, empathy and emotional intelligence, as well as a calm self-confidence that allows you to step back and reflect rather than make hasty decisions.
Also, because we don’t always speak first, we’re more likely to allow for different perspectives in discussions. “This means that introverts do best in organizations where team members are highly skilled and proactive. They allow individuals to shine and are humble enough to listen to their colleagues,” says Geiberg.
Try to write down the skills and character traits that can make you a brilliant leader. Dispel all the preconceived notions about leadership. Listening is a skill that is very useful in leadership positions.
“Take conversation, for example: extroverts tend to talk to process their thoughts. Whereas introverts tend to think before they speak,” says Geiberg. This means introverts have more opportunities to listen and observe, which allows them to understand the views and positions of others much better. And this allows them to tailor their words to those arguments, making you more persuasive when you speak.”
“An introvert who ponders a decision is not necessarily indecisive; rather, he makes thoughtful and reasoned decisions, not hasty ones. And pausing to think requires confidence. This calm confidence that the introvert possesses is different from the energy of the extrovert; it can be thought of as certainty. An extrovert is inclined to make statements that he is confident in, even if they are not actually true, whereas an introvert will think more about a statement before making it, which gives him more time to think through all the complexities.”
How to be a good leader if you are an introvert: embrace your strengths
Once you’ve listed your skills, think about how you can use them. It’s important for us introverts not to try to mold ourselves into the image of a gregarious and assertive boss. Instead, we need to recognize that we can be great leaders just the way we are.
As Geiberg says, “Recognize that introverts already have most of the skills needed for a modern leader—skills that organizations need to bring out the best in others, which in turn helps increase productivity. Embrace those skills and let them shine—they’re no worse than an extrovert’s, they’re just different.”
Perhaps you could set aside time on your calendar for individual reflection, encourage people to brainstorm, or send out a summary of what you accomplished this week instead of making them give a presentation to the entire office that might make you cringe. Look at your skills and think about what you can change to make the most of them.
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