Before I proceed in explaining why Introverts are better leaders, it is important to understand the difference between an Introvert and Extrovert. The following clip gives a very clear explanation of the two.
We tend to generally believe that a person who is outspoken, sociable and hyped about an opportunity to be recognized are good leaders. But this is not the case. In fact researchers have found that those who are quiet, sit back and think about a situation before making a decision are better leaders than the former. Leaders such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, are all introverts who have transformed their companies into business giants.
I have personally witnessed a boss who was very private and reserved, yet transformed the office environment and increased productivity within a short period of time. Yes he was an introvert and a great leader. So how did he do it?
There were so many great qualities that made him a good leader. He was someone who thinks before he speak. He does this by listening to others and gathering all information before making a decision. He was very different to his predecessor who jumped into conclusions without considering all sides of any issue. Because he allowed those concerned to be heard, it meant a lot for everyone. This created trust and improved efficiency of the office. Everyone felt being part of the organisation and all worked towards achieving a common vision of the organisation. He was always clam and this gave us a sense of assurance. He did not interfere into the daily running of the office and we had to consult him only on policy issues which were important or which had no general guidance. Even when we consulted, he would always listen to our views.
His in-depth thinking along with his calmness and giving opportunities to others to express ideas were all qualities that made him a great leader and all the staff wanting to work with him.
We tend to generally believe that a person who is outspoken, sociable and hyped about an opportunity to be recognized are good leaders. But this is not the case. In fact researchers have found that those who are quiet, sit back and think about a situation before making a decision are better leaders than the former. Leaders such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, are all introverts who have transformed their companies into business giants.
I have personally witnessed a boss who was very private and reserved, yet transformed the office environment and increased productivity within a short period of time. Yes he was an introvert and a great leader. So how did he do it?
There were so many great qualities that made him a good leader. He was someone who thinks before he speak. He does this by listening to others and gathering all information before making a decision. He was very different to his predecessor who jumped into conclusions without considering all sides of any issue. Because he allowed those concerned to be heard, it meant a lot for everyone. This created trust and improved efficiency of the office. Everyone felt being part of the organisation and all worked towards achieving a common vision of the organisation. He was always clam and this gave us a sense of assurance. He did not interfere into the daily running of the office and we had to consult him only on policy issues which were important or which had no general guidance. Even when we consulted, he would always listen to our views.
His in-depth thinking along with his calmness and giving opportunities to others to express ideas were all qualities that made him a great leader and all the staff wanting to work with him.
Hi, Ibrahim. In my opinion, the issue is really not so much about who (i.e. whether introverts or extraverts) make better leaders; but rather that introverts and extraverts fare better as leaders under different sets of circumstances. From my perspective, what determines which type of leaders (i.e. introverted or extraverted) would thrive better is a function of 3 important compatibility factors, namely:
ReplyDelete1. The ‘Leader-Context’ compatibility factor (i.e. fit between leadership style to job nature and context); extroverted leaders are more suited to lead groups where the job context entails a high degree of social contact with others (e.g. marketing, advertising or public relations) while introverted leaders are likely to do better in highly technical or administrative fields such as engineering, legal services, and the public service.
2. The ‘Leader-Staff’ compatibility factor (i.e. leader and staff fit) - pairing extraverted leaders with proactive employees (i.e. individuals who take initiative and speak out) can lead to friction, while pairing the same group of proactive employees with an introverted leader can be a pathway to success.
3. The ‘Leader-Culture’ compatibility factor (i.e. fit between leadership style and culture) - My personal sensing is that in most Asian cultures, introverted leaders, who typically project a greater sense of seriousness, dependability and calm astute tend to be favoured while extraverted leaders who usually exude a more flamboyant, bolder and outgoing style of leadership are better accepted in western cultures.
Hence, for me the issue of whether introverts or extraverts make better leaders is very much dependent on the 3 compatibility factors outlined above namely: leader-context compatibility, leader-staff compatibility and leader-culture compatibility. Whenever there is a poor ‘compatibility fit’ in any of the 3 aspects, an individual (whether introverted or extraverted) can still continue to be an effective leader so long as he/she recognizes the ‘ill-fit’ and makes deliberate efforts to implement behaviours that can help narrow the gap between the compatibility fit.
Just my humble opinion on the matter. Thanks.