Yes, An Introvert Can Lead

Yes, An Introvert Can Lead In honor of World Introvert Day, lets take a look at the characteristics of introverts and why an introvert can lead. Introverts Are A Silent Majority If you are an introvert, you may feel you are outnumbered by your louder, more talkative counterparts. But according to Positive Psychology, the Myers-Briggs organization found that: Introverts make up 50.7% of the United States general population and extroverts make up 49.3%. And within this sample, 54.1% of men and 47.5% of women were introverted. (Myers, McCaulley, Quenk, Hammer (1998)) Introverts and Extroverts Its important to review the characteristics of introverts and extroverts. These are general tendencies. So what you may be thinking is it depends on the situation. Sometimes, in certain situations, you may find that you show some extroverted characteristics or vice versa. This is normal. In fact, ambiverts can be comfortable using characteristics from either type. There is no good or better type. Heres a quick overview: INTROVERTS Recharge by spending time aloneReflect before making decisionsListen moreEnjoy one-on-one conversationsIntrospectiveSelf-awareLearn through observationMore sociable with people they know EXTROVERTS Recharge by socializingMake decisions quicklySpeak moreOutgoingEasily distractedAction-orientedGregarious and expressiveExcellent communicatorsEnjoy being the center of attention From Positive Psychology Being An Introvert and Being A Leader It is possible for introverts to be leaders. However Only 39% of top leadership roles in the US are filled by introverts, despite the fact that about 56.8% of workers are introverts. (The Myers-Briggs Company) Introverts can make very strong leaders due to their characteristics. But unfortunately, some cultures tend not to value those qualities in leaders as much. What if there were more leaders who were self-aware, carefully weighed decisions and were strong listeners? Tips To Help Elevate Introverts These are three steps organizations and leaders can take to empower introverted team members: Introverts want and need time to prepare for meetings. Sending out detailed agendas ahead of time with clear expectations helpsAllow for breaks in discussion to give introverted team members an opportunity to contributeUtilize a range of communication formats including presentations, meetings, and written communications World Introvert Day 2020 [Infographic] The Myers-Briggs Company created this infographic to highlight the strengths of introverts for World Introvert Day 2020 World-Introvert-Day-Infographic-2020 Introverts and Job Search If you are an introvert and searching for a new job, learn about the strengths and weaknesses of your type and what you can do to make the most of being an introverted job seeker. Read Introverts Tap Into Your Strengths During Job Search