How can an introvert become a more effective and confident leader? ” This question was asked to users of the Quora Questionnaire platform, a place on the Internet where people share their experiences and inspire others to learn and understand the world better.
Inc.com quotes the response from Steve Farber, founder and CEO of The Extreme Leadership Institute:
There is a misconception that to be an inspiring and respected leader, you must be able to lead your troops with great enthusiasm and aplomb to some cause, solely through your charisma and irresistible magnetism.
Although extroverts, or at least people who fit into our traditional understanding of extroverts, usually do better when the spotlight is directed at them, this is no guarantee that they will persuade the people they are talking to their ideas and ideas. Numerous leaders of extroverts do not stop talking but essentially say nothing worth hearing.
Some of the most inspiring leaders I’ve met in my 30-year career in various business fields are talkative, quiet in nature, and most importantly, authentic. They are both honest with themselves and committed to understanding the needs, dreams and problems of their subordinates. This is what makes them great. After all, the desire and ability to understand others has nothing to do with extroversion and introversion.
So if you are an introvert, please understand that the chance of being a great leader is no less or greater than that of an extrovert: Here are three leadership habits that can help you in this direction:
Look at your introvert as an advantage, not a disadvantage
The way you look at things determines their nature. A recent revelation revealed that fewer introverts reach the high levels of government, not because of any inherent defects, but because they believe they have no place there.
“Based on these findings, we tend to argue that introverts do not reach management positions as often as extroverts because they spend more time on self-criticism and negative thoughts that impede their leadership potential,” said one of the researchers who conducted the study.
Take more time for reflection and solitude
Loneliness can bring you many positives. It can help you take advantage of your natural inclination to analyze and debate the values you stand for and the goals you pursue. You can then use your newfound faith in yourself and the ideas you present as a source of energy and confidence in uncomfortable social situations, such as a business meeting, presentation or conference.
Spend more time talking four-eyed with your team members
These meetings may take longer, but the relationships you will build through them are well worth it. These conversations will allow you to learn more about the life of each of your team members. This will help you understand the right approach for each employee and what you need to do to help him succeed in the endeavors he has undertaken.
3 keys to a successful introvert career
an urgent career without communication is impossible. This is a serious problem for people who are more incarcerated – for them, every meeting and conversation at work is a cause for severe discomfort. But, thank goodness, it’s fixable. Here are three tips that will help each introvert communicate more easily.
Learn to appreciate your introversion
Often, in the business community, sociability is hardly seen as a disease. This is a huge misconception. The introvert prefers to think of ideas in his inner world rather than discuss them out loud. And that’s his strength. If he accepts and realizes this fact, the introvert will devote himself to thinking about his ideas consciously for as long as he needs to bring them to perfection and to gain such confidence and conviction as if he were discussing them in public.
But any business meeting prevents people from more closed minds from enjoying this luxury because it takes a lot of their strength.
Solution: If you are a conscious introvert, do not overload yourself with the entire group at the same time. Choose an interviewee and focus on the conversation with him. Then, move on to another interviewee, etc. This type of communication is generally more productive and is a signal that you are an in-depth person who automatically adds points to your authority.
Don’t be afraid to lend a first hand
In every introvert, there is a constant concern that it takes a great deal of risk if it first takes the initiative to communicate. He fears that he may be judged as a dull interlocutor, or worse, with his activity to make the other person feel uncomfortable. Next time, do not hesitate, just try – come first and introduce yourself with a smile. You will be pleasantly surprised by the reciprocity with which they will reciprocate. Even those who are more superior.
And yet we live in an era of social networking, which greatly simplifies your task. Offer the first handshake on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, especially if you are about to attend a conference or business meeting on a larger scale. This type of preliminary dating significantly takes away the nervousness before the first face-to-face meeting.
Take the time to recharge
Do you run straight to work from a business meeting? Or do you pause from conversation to conversation during a cocktail? If you are an introvert, this is not the best idea – you will quickly get exhausted and discouraged. Take some time for short breaks – walk without rushing from where your meeting to the office ended. Or, be away for 10 minutes alone with you at a cocktail party. Gather your thoughts and dive into the sea of contacts again.
Check the Quora discussion: https://www.quora.com/How-can-an-introvert-become-a-more-effective-and-confident-leader
