Did you know that introverts make great leaders?
Introverts possess some crucial qualities that make them especially well-suited for powerful positions.
Our society often fails to appreciate the full value of introverted behavior. This has led many people with more inward directed personalities to feel inferior which is really very unfortunate.
There are numerous examples of introverts that have served in very influential capacities throughout history. Acknowledging the the truth about introversion can help us become more confident and live up to our full potential.
If you are an introvert or you are close to one, then you need to read this and pass it along.
The Reasons that Introverts Make Great Leaders
I’ve written before about the differences between introverts and extroverts. In that article, I explained that introverts gain energy from being alone and reflecting. This kind of mindful thinking lends itself very well to being a great leader.
According to Jennifer B. Kahnweiler the author of The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength, there are five key characteristics that make introverted leaders so powerful. They include:
Examples of Great Introverted Leaders
Are you still doubting yourself because of your introversion? Well, maybe some examples of other introverts that have gone before you will help you to see that we really can succeed.
Here are a few introverts that have been great leaders:
1. Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln is often recognized as one of the greatest United States Presidents to ever serve our country. He led the country through one of its greatest struggles, the Civil War. Through his thoughtful and poignant words he was able to preserve the Union, end slavery and rededicate the country to democracy. Lincoln is widely acknowledge to have been an introvert. He loved reading, was mostly quiet and had a very unassuming demeanor. However, he leveraged his strengths to lead when most would have faltered.
2. Bill Gates
Whatever you think about Microsoft, you have to admit that Bill Gates led the company to dominance in a short amount of time in a highly competitive industry. The organization that Gates started and served as CEO, Chairman and Chief Software Architect has grown to generate over $60 billion in annual revenue. He is generally recognized as one of the wealthiest people in the world. Obviously, Gates has experienced a high level of success in his career. He is also widely known as an introvert. He has been described as shy, unsocial and likes to go off by himself to think. Again, he likely learned early how to use his introversion to his advantage.
3. Albert Einstein
Einstein is often thought of as one of the smartest people who ever lived. He led some amazing discoveries in science. He is considered the father of modern physics and he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. When you study great thinkers, you can’t help but to put Einstein at the top of the list. It might not be as shocking to learn that a great scientist was an introvert, but it still goes to show you that introverts are very powerful and influential people.
Use Your Introversion to Be Powerful
Introverts are often under-valued, but this is a big mistake. We are a valuable and powerful bunch of people that have a tremendous amount to offer our country and our organizations. We just need to get better at understanding how to leverage our unique strengths in leadership roles. As an introvert, you have what it takes to succeed personally and to lead others to greatness. Now go out there and use your introversion to be powerful!
Introverts possess some crucial qualities that make them especially well-suited for powerful positions.
Our society often fails to appreciate the full value of introverted behavior. This has led many people with more inward directed personalities to feel inferior which is really very unfortunate.
There are numerous examples of introverts that have served in very influential capacities throughout history. Acknowledging the the truth about introversion can help us become more confident and live up to our full potential.
If you are an introvert or you are close to one, then you need to read this and pass it along.
The Reasons that Introverts Make Great Leaders
I’ve written before about the differences between introverts and extroverts. In that article, I explained that introverts gain energy from being alone and reflecting. This kind of mindful thinking lends itself very well to being a great leader.
According to Jennifer B. Kahnweiler the author of The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength, there are five key characteristics that make introverted leaders so powerful. They include:
- They think first and talk later – Introverts don’t respond without carefully thinking about what they are going to say. This keeps them from influencing people in the wrong direction.
- They focus on depth – Introverted leaders like to get down to the meaningful particulars on an issue. This helps them to understand their organizations in a more complete and valuable way.
- They exude calm – The low-key approach of many introverted leaders conveys confidence. They prepare at length so they always seem to have it together. An organization needs to feel confident in their leader’s abilities.
- They prefer the written word – Introverts prefer to communicate in writing. This helps them to better articulate their exact position on complex topics. Knowing what the boss wants helps the organization to proceed in the desired direction with fewer missteps.
- They embrace solitude – During these times of solitude, introverts are able to gain an amazing level of clarity and consistency. This helps them to stay focused and committed to important issues which leads to real solutions.
Examples of Great Introverted Leaders
Are you still doubting yourself because of your introversion? Well, maybe some examples of other introverts that have gone before you will help you to see that we really can succeed.
Here are a few introverts that have been great leaders:
1. Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln is often recognized as one of the greatest United States Presidents to ever serve our country. He led the country through one of its greatest struggles, the Civil War. Through his thoughtful and poignant words he was able to preserve the Union, end slavery and rededicate the country to democracy. Lincoln is widely acknowledge to have been an introvert. He loved reading, was mostly quiet and had a very unassuming demeanor. However, he leveraged his strengths to lead when most would have faltered.
2. Bill Gates
Whatever you think about Microsoft, you have to admit that Bill Gates led the company to dominance in a short amount of time in a highly competitive industry. The organization that Gates started and served as CEO, Chairman and Chief Software Architect has grown to generate over $60 billion in annual revenue. He is generally recognized as one of the wealthiest people in the world. Obviously, Gates has experienced a high level of success in his career. He is also widely known as an introvert. He has been described as shy, unsocial and likes to go off by himself to think. Again, he likely learned early how to use his introversion to his advantage.
3. Albert Einstein
Einstein is often thought of as one of the smartest people who ever lived. He led some amazing discoveries in science. He is considered the father of modern physics and he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. When you study great thinkers, you can’t help but to put Einstein at the top of the list. It might not be as shocking to learn that a great scientist was an introvert, but it still goes to show you that introverts are very powerful and influential people.
Use Your Introversion to Be Powerful
Introverts are often under-valued, but this is a big mistake. We are a valuable and powerful bunch of people that have a tremendous amount to offer our country and our organizations. We just need to get better at understanding how to leverage our unique strengths in leadership roles. As an introvert, you have what it takes to succeed personally and to lead others to greatness. Now go out there and use your introversion to be powerful!
