How an Introvert Can Be a Leader in the Workplace

You want to lead people, but as an introvert, you might assume that your team and organization are looking for forceful, aggressive personalities to pilot the company and its overall strategy. You think about influencers and leaders you interact with regularly. They’re confident, enthusiastic, and animated. They fill the room with their high energy levels – and people listen.

It’s interesting to note that, in a survey of over 400 CEOs, about a third of them saw themselves as introverts.¹ Moreover, it’s believed that 25 to 40 percent of the population is introverted.² These figures alone show that there’s room in the C-suite for both extroverts and introverts and that it’s simply a case of identifying how to exploit your greatest strengths despite your perceived shortcomings. In fact, there are typically introverted personality traits that are essential to being a great leader, such as a rich inner life, deliberation, caution, and an ability to value contributions from others.³

The truth is, of the qualities employees seek in their leaders, employees most desire compassion, trust, stability, and hope.⁴ And introverts are recognized as empathetic, focused, and observant, which are positive attributes in a leader.⁵

Introvert vs extrovert leadership style

While this may appear to be an argument in favor of one or the other, there’s a more compelling case for a team, department, or organization that comprises leaders with both introvert and extrovert qualities. The key is identifying the balance between the two and finding the combination that works for your organization while encouraging both types of personalities to push out of their comfort zones.⁶

As an introvert, you probably don’t talk very much and when you do, it’s carefully considered. Certified speaking professional Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D., calls introverts “quiet influencers,” and argues that people who think more and talk less often have the best ideas.⁷

In Kahnweiler’s The Quiet Influence,⁸ she agrees that the best way for an introvert to build influence isn’t trying to be someone they aren’t. She says: “There’s more than one way to have some sway. We can make a great impact by using the six strengths of quiet influence: quiet time, preparation, engaged listening, focused conversations, writing, and thoughtful use of social media.”

“There is more than one way to have some sway.”

Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D.

How can an introvert be a leader people listen to?

Recent consensus is that 93 percent of human communication is nonverbal.⁹ As an introvert, you’ll probably find it easier to talk with your body than your mouth. Here’s what you should focus on:

• Exude confidence. Keep your shoulders relaxed by ensuring they’re away from your ears. Consciously move them back and down. Don’t cross your arms. These changes will achieve the dual result of reducing any tension and not displaying anxiety you may be feeling.
• Point your feet. When people feel you’re listening to them, they’ll be more inclined to listen to you. To physically demonstrate that you’re listening to someone, angle your feet in their direction. This small change shows them that you’re focused on what they say.
• Tilt your head. When someone else is talking, angle your head ever so slightly towards them while still looking at them. This is a natural response that allows your ear to pick up more sound. Again, this shows people you’re truly listening to them.
• Lean in. This gesture can be used for emphasis while talking. When you lean into a conversation, people are more likely to pay attention and agree with you.
• Be genuine. In the world of leadership, there’s no such thing as ‘fake it until you make it.’ The best way to build influence is to be authentic in dealing with others.

How can an introvert overcome self-doubt?

As an introvert, you likely suffer from low self-confidence, which is holding you back from building your influence network. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that traits like talent, intelligence, and personality are natural and can’t be changed.

These beliefs are known as the fixed mindset – and it’s not a constructive way to think, says Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University.¹⁰ But humans aren’t consistent about self-assessment and -reflection, so your lack of belief in your abilities is most likely misplaced.

“The key to overcoming self-doubt is focussing on who you can be tomorrow, rather than who you’re not today.”

According to Dweck and colleagues, the mindset that results in the most personal and intellectual development is known as the growth mindset. This attitude is characterized by adapting to a situation, malleability in the face of challenges, and learning from setbacks.¹¹

The key to overcoming self-doubt as an introvert is to adopt a growth mindset. With this mindset, you focus on who you can be tomorrow rather than who you’re not today. A large part of being confident means being able to share your knowledge and act upon it. If you’re interested in deeper insights into the mindset changes that can increase your practical and theoretical knowledge base to grow as a business leader, you’ll enjoy this article.

How can an introvert become an authentic leader and influencer?

Leaders aren’t all loud, charismatic, confident people. Leaders are people who influence other people. You don’t need to pretend to be an extrovert to become an influencer as an introvert. James Abruzzo from Rutgers Business School tells us this: “As an introverted individual, you can become very depressed and self-defeating if you believe that you need to be extroverted to be a leader.”¹²

Instead, focus on your strengths such as preparation, careful thought, engaged listening, and effective written communication.

Note, however, that influencers do need to be seen to lead. Because you’re an introvert, you’re going to have great ideas and insight into a situation, but you may feel reluctant to share them. Here are two simple tactics to practice when you’re engaged in group problem-solving:

Focus on the team’s collective skill

Regardless of whether you’re an introverted leader or not, it’s also critical to ensure the dynamic of your whole team functions in a manner that’s sufficiently mutable to meet the requirements of every project or task. A skills analysis that identifies potential shortfalls will help you build your team or organization’s competencies to complete your tasks successfully. Download an Employee Skills Matrix template here.

Ultimately, you’re not only looking for the right skills that will help you excel as an introvert leader; you’re also looking for the right strategies to differentiate yourself from others. With more than 40 online short courses from the world’s leading universities, GetSmarter is a good place to start building your skills and, ultimately, your influence as a leader.

Synchronize your introvert abilities with your leadership skills – join an online course.