Many people subscribe to the school of thought that leaders should always be talkative and outgoing. The more energetic, the better, right? Not always.
Many leaders demonstrate extroverted qualities. In fact, that’s what a lot of business executives and employees expect in a manager. Introverted bosses, however, can actually be more effective in certain environments. Most people aren’t a true introvert or a true extrovert anyway, because these are two extreme ends of a scale. Most fall somewhere in between.
Here are some reasons why people who fall more toward the introverted side shouldn’t always be counted out:
Introverted Managers Can Encourage Discussion
Extroverts can be domineering and can stifle conversation, whether they mean to or not. Many times they let ego get in the way of making sound decisions. While it can often be beneficial to have a single person driving the bus (this can reduce disagreements and save time), no one has all the answers. Introverts can spark a more collaborative environment (assuming workers are proactive) simply by being willing to sit back and listen. This receptivity can also make employees feel valued.
The Harvard Business Review conducted a study that supports the idea that proactive workers are more productive under an introverted leader. The study asked 163 college students to work in groups to fold as many T-shirts as possible within 10 minutes. The groups with proactive followers and an introverted leader folded 28 percent more shirts on average. The extroverted leaders seemed threatened by suggestions given by followers.
Sadly, quietude is something that is vastly underappreciated in our noisy society, and listening is often erroneously not considered a skill. There’s nothing that says reserved people can’t be effective leaders or that being loud is a sign of competence. Thinking before speaking is a quality that should be admired.
Some Extremely Successful People Have Been Introverts
Abraham Lincoln, who is considered one of our greatest presidents, was an introvert. In fact, he is quoted as saying, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”
In addition, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Audrey Hepburn and Warren Buffett are all famous introverts, to name a few.
Opportunities Can be Squandered When Introverts are Overlooked
Introverts often slip under the radar, but it’s important to make sure they are given a chance to share ideas and opinions. Just because they may not be willing to interrupt others doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to say. Introverts are often quietly contemplative people and feel re-energized from being alone. In addition, introverts often dedicate more time to being prepared. It’s often helpful to give introverts material that will be discussed in a meeting beforehand so they have time to think about it. This can really help maximize the effectiveness of the meeting.
Furthermore, it’s often good to allow introverts to meet with smaller groups of people so they don’t feel overwhelmed. You should also consider designing a workspace to accommodate both introverted and extroverted types. It’s important to have meeting places where employees can communicate effectively, but it’s also important to have spaces where they can work in quiet solitude.
It’s sad that introverts often have to work harder to combat being misperceived or ignored altogether because of their quiet nature. It’s time to stop assuming that introverted people can’t make good leaders. Your business will be better for it.
