{"id":5000,"date":"2022-02-21T02:04:30","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T02:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/?p=5000"},"modified":"2022-03-16T10:01:24","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T10:01:24","slug":"can-introverts-be-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/can-introverts-be-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Do introverts make good leaders?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWell, I think introverts can do quite well. If you\u2019re clever you can learn to get the benefits of being an introvert\u2026\u201d <\/i>– Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Most of us know a great leader when we see or work with one. But when we try to pinpoint the qualities that make a good leader, we\u2019ll all have our own ideas about what\u2019s really important. There is no one type of person that fits the bill\u2014great leaders come from all walks of life and have all kinds of personality traits.<\/p>\n

Some are extroverts with outgoing personalities, while others are introverts \u2013 quiet, considered, and introspective. Introverts can certainly be leaders. But can they actually excel in this position?<\/p>\n

Because we often associate loudness with confidence and introverts tend to be quieter than extroverts, people sometimes wonder whether introverts can be successful leaders. Extroverts might write introverts off as too shy and retiring to succeed in leadership roles, and introverts themselves might doubt their own abilities. The fact is, though, introversion is no barrier to leadership and can even be an advantage.<\/p>\n

\"Alright,<\/p>\n

<\/span>Alright, but what is an introvert?<\/span><\/h2>\n

We hear the terms \u2018introvert\u2019 and \u2018extrovert\u2019 a lot these days, but there is some confusion about what they really mean. Put simply, an introvert is someone who expends energy in social situations and gains energy when they\u2019re on their own. Quite often, introverts are seen as a deviation from the more desirable temperament\u2014extroverts, the people who gain energy in social situations and lose it when alone.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Introverts vs. extroverts<\/span><\/h2>\n

Imagine that every person has an \u2018energy tank\u2019 and wakes up every day with their tank half-full. An introvert would top their tank up for the day by spending some time alone in the morning. Maybe they\u2019d meditate or go for a run, take the dog for a walk or simply enjoy a quiet breakfast. As they interact with other people throughout the day, the introvert’s tank empties. Without that alone time in the morning to fill up their tank, they might find they run out of energy before the end of the day.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, an extrovert would fill up their tank by seeking out contact with other people as soon as they could, and interactions with other people throughout the day would help them keep their tank topped up. Long periods alone or of enforced quiet can be draining for extroverts, causing their tanks to empty more quickly.<\/p>\n

Introversion isn’t about shyness or a lack of social skills\u2014it\u2019s a trait that we\u2019re born with, like the color of our eyes. Although it is sometimes viewed as a negative quality or disadvantage, people are increasingly coming to embrace the benefits and positive traits of introversion, and famous introverts are speaking up about the unique attributes that come with it.<\/p>\n

\"Are<\/p>\n

<\/span>Are we all either introverts or extroverts?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although we tend to talk about introversion and extroversion as entirely separate, in reality, most of us fall somewhere on a scale between extreme introversion at one end and extreme extroversion at the other.<\/p>\n

We might move further towards one side or the other in different situations \u2013 for example, a person might be very quiet in a group of 20 people but turn into an unstoppable chat machine when alone with their two best friends.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Is confidence an extrovert trait?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many people conflate introversion with shyness or a lack of confidence. This is a mistake. While introverts can be shy and lacking in confidence, so can extroverts.<\/p>\n

For example, we might perceive an introvert as less confident because they don’t talk much in meetings and an extrovert as very confident because they talk a lot, but the two conclusions don’t follow. Some people talk a lot when they’re nervous; others get quiet. Some people don\u2019t speak until they have something important to say \u2013 but when they do speak, they are perfectly confident – and it shows.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Can we always tell an introvert from an extrovert?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The simple answer is no. Although it might seem easy to tell, it isn\u2019t always. For one thing, historically, introversion was often looked down upon because it doesn\u2019t fit the traditional idea of what it means to be a leader. As a result, many introverts develop strategies to disguise their introversion (often leading to burnout or mental health problems). Add to this the fact that the introvert\/extrovert spectrum is complex, and most of us are a mixture of both, and it becomes pretty difficult to tell one from the other reliably.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

<\/span>What makes a good leader?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although no personality type is ‘best’ for leadership, and all great leaders have their individual styles of running things, there are some skills and qualities that many share. In general, these skills are not tied to introversion or extroversion, although some might come more naturally for introverts and others for extroverts. Similarly, one group might find some of the skills more of a challenge than the other.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at a few of the traits that are most often cited as making a great leader:<\/p>\n