It may seem like you’re going against the grain by trying to be a leader as an introvert. After all, groups can overwhelm you, you need time to reflect, and you don’t always like to be the center of attention.
We’re here to tell you that your introverted nature is actually your biggest strength and that introverts are naturally good leaders. In fact, some of the most well-known leaders of our times are introverts – Introvert, Dear offers some examples.
Below, Desired Effects Coaching explains why introverts can be excellent leaders, and how to be a good leader when you’re an introvert.
Why Introverted Leadership is so Effective
Introverts are great listeners, don’t mind sharing the limelight, and put others first.
Being deep thinkers, they also tend to think things through and carefully assess the implications of every decision they make. This can be incredibly effective when you’re guiding teams and achieving company goals. Introverts tend to create empowered and responsible teams where every member is valued, and everyone contributes to their potential.
Their deep thinking helps with problem-solving, making goals easier to meet.
Know what Good Leadership Looks Like
Just being an introvert won’t automatically make you a great leader – you’ll have to work at it.
To turn into a good leader, you need examples of behaviors to emulate and skills to pick up. It’s a good idea to observe the leaders you know in action and learn from them. You could also follow online tutorials or take classes.
Champlain offers several suggestions on skills and qualities to develop:
vision
inspiration
strategic thinking
communication
self-awareness
creativity
and responsibility.
Understand Your Leadership Style
Everyone has a unique leadership style. Some people like to lead from the front while others prefer to direct instead. Knowing your preferred style allows you to play to your strengths and, by borrowing pages from other styles’ books, shore up your weaknesses. Indeed offers several leadership style examples such as coach, autocratic, and servant.
If you want to learn how to further develop your leadership style in order to be more effective at your job, contact Desired Effects Coaching for leadership development coaching and training opportunities.
Overcome Challenging Aspects of the Job
There are some parts of being a leader that can be hard for introverts because they have to be done up front.
Sales is a good example. If your heart is racing at the thought of having to give a sales pitch, then pause and think about what would make the process less stressful.
For instance, perhaps having a brochure in hand would make it easier because you could show examples and point to particularly important information. Designing an interactive material for engagement can be incredibly helpful and effective. Plus, it’s easy when you start with free templates.
Find the tools that help you to do the tough parts of the job with less stress and lean into those.
Get a Side Hustle to Build Confidence
Having a side hustle is a great way to learn the leadership ropes, without biting off more than you can chew. You can get practical experience on a smaller scale. Starting your own side hustle requires a suitable idea, some seed money, and a business plan.
Forming an LLC may be a good idea to reduce personal liability and enjoy benefits like limited liability, tax breaks, and less paperwork. You can file the LLC paperwork yourself to save money. You could also hire a (typically expensive) lawyer or use a (typically affordable) formation service. States have their own rules around LLC formation, be sure to check before moving forward.
Once your business is formed, you can explore effective marketing strategies and learn what it takes to create a solid digital content strategy. Be sure to investigate SEO practices, too. Adding this information to your skill set can give you more confidence when talking to your marketing team and developing outreach strategies.
Give Yourself Time to Recharge and Process
Work is built around a more extroverted way of operating.
You’re expected to talk fast, come up with quick solutions, and take in information quickly. You may also meet and interact with people all day, which can leave you feeling drained and overwhelmed.
It’s important you take time to recharge to work at full capacity. Give yourself time to process information and prepare for meetings in advance (say by writing things down). Take mini-breaks, have a self-care routine going, say no if overwhelmed, take your vacation days, and look after yourself.
Use Tools like a Project Management Platform
A project management platform can be a wonderful tool for introverts to have.
You can use it to manage your teams without having to be constantly present. Essentially, you’ll get more work done without being so drained.
A cloud-based project management platform can help teams manage their work and collaborate in real time. It provides integrated solutions for team communication, task tracking, resource management, and asset sharing. And when you need to ensure things are on track, you can see projects, goals, and team capacity in one place.
Hone Your Leadership Skills
Being an introvert can make you an incredibly effective leader.
The secret to success is to play to your strengths and support your need for quiet time and reflection. You can take courses to be a better leader, get mentored, or learn through practical experience.
Finally, you can invest in tools like project management solutions to get more work done without being so drained.
Image via Pexels
Author: Poppy Williams
Poppy Williams created TechBizGuide.com to help small businesses make the best possible choice of software that can make a difference. Since 2019, TechBizGuide.com has been seeking and testing software that can give small businesses a boost. It connects you to insights and software to help you do better work.