A Quiet Power The Introverts Guide to Leadership - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / A Quiet Power The Introvert’s Guide to Leadership - Introvert Whisperer A Quiet Power: The Introvert’s Guide to Leadership Your hands are shaking and clammy. You feel hot and cold at the same time. You want to run, but your legs are like rubber, and it feels as if your stomach is going to betray you at any moment. No, you’re not going before a firing squad. No, you’re not getting your taxes audited. You’re just preparing to deliver a business presentation. And you’re an introvert. If you are one of the nearly 40% of the US population belonging to this personality type, then you well know that the feelings described above are not an exaggeration. This is the daily experience for anyone who faces chronic shyness, particularly for those whose introversion has grown into full-fledged social anxiety. Given the scenario above, it may seem that the introvert personality type is wholly incompatible with business leadership. It may feel that your natural shyness will forever exclude you from the seat of professional power, no matter how passionate or talented you are. It doesn’t have to be this way, however. In fact, introverts can be great leadersâ€"not despite their naturally solitary personality type, but because of it. Indeed, when it comes to introversion and professional leadership, what seems like your greatest weakness can become your greatest strength. The Power of Mindfulness Perhaps the greatest attribute of the introvert personality type is the power of mindfulness. Introverts are by nature deep and careful thinkers. They are not ones to make rash decisions or leap head-long into action without first weighing, often with uncanny accuracy, both the potential risks and the likely rewards. This is a vital skill in the increasingly volatile world of business. A company’s survival often depends on the ability of leadership to make thoughtful, effective decisions. This is especially true if you are leading a small business, where the ability to accurately size up the market and your competitors is paramount to securing the competitive advantage in today’s crowded marketplace. If you are an introvert, your inherently deliberate and discerning nature can help you give your company the strategic edge it needs to thrive. The Power of Empathy It’s not accurate to associate introversion with reclusiveness. Introverts maybe reluctant to assert themselves in crowds, but that doesn’t mean they avoid them as a rule. What it does mean, however, is that introverts spend a great deal of their time people-watching. And if you are an introvert who aspires to lead in business, this can be an incredible asset to draw upon. The fact is that introverts can be extraordinary mediators. Workplace conflict is, unfortunately, inevitable. It is simply the price of doing business. When you lead, you have to be prepared to find unity in difference. You have to have the skills to help your team find, or build, bridges, despite potentially competing interests or clashing personality types. That process begins with empathy, the ability to understand your team members as individuals first and employees second. Fortunately, introverts tend to have empathy in spades. This is one reason why introverts make such great teachers and university leaders. They excel at finding common ground and uniting groups in a shared vision of success, while at the same time ensuring that every member of the group feels heard, respected, valued, and well-served. The Power of Understanding Introverts are habitually deep thinkers. Their go-to position is to think first and act later. That means they know how to analyze complex situations and formulate effective responses to achieve a desired goal. This involves far more than simply the ability to evaluate dense financial spreadsheets or assess market reports, though that is certainly important. But the introverts’ skills extend far beyond this because, as suggested above, introverts are also people-watchers. And the world of business, no matter what field you may be in, is also a world of people, not just numbers. The introvert personality type gives you the ability to understand not only empirical performance metrics but also what the subjective responses of the people who will use them means. That means that, as a leader, you are uniquely prepared to anticipate how the team will behave in specific circumstances and to devise leadership strategies to ensure your team thrives, even in the most challenging of environments. Owning Your Power As the discussion above shows, if you are an introvert, you don’t have to consign yourself to the professional sidelines. You can harness your natural strengths to become an effective, empowered, and empowering leader. It begins simply by taking the first step, such as by gradually taking on more responsibilities at work or volunteering to assist management in team lead projects. You might also consider exploring careers especially suited to the introvert personality type. For example, the field of epidemiology combines both science and sociology. Such a field both gratifies the introverts’ need to think deeply on complex topics while also capitalizing on the introvert’s rare talent for understanding how people think, feel, and behave. Image Source: Pixabay   By: Frankie Wallace Frankie Wallace is a recent graduate from the University of Montana. She now resides in Boise, Idaho as a freelance writer where she spends her time reading and gardening. Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer