Why Introverts Make Great Leaders

When I think about great leaders, I think about individuals whose very presence demands attention. They exude confidence and naturally draw others to themselves. That’s why it seems obvious that extroverts would make natural leaders. And that may be true for some people. But not all extroverts even want to be leaders. Just like some introverts prefer avoiding other people at all costs. For these individuals, the very thought of being put into a leadership position is terrifying.

Being introverted doesn’t mean you’re antisocial.

This begs the question, why do introverts make great leaders? That’s because leadership positions are driven by results. For decades, there was the misconception that only extroverts could be leaders. In the past, it had been suggested that the number one trait of leadership is extroversion. It was believed that only extroverts were able to influence others to achieve results. And of course, results are derived through solving problems and making decisions. If leadership is merely based on making decisions and solving-problems, then it would only make sense that an introvert would be just as capable as an extrovert then. If not even better.

It is not necessary to be in a leadership titled position to be a leader. A leader is having the ability to influence others. And they influence others due to the respect they have for the leader. Respect for a position is a given. But respect for the individual is earned. In a study of 300,000 business leaders, the number one trait of a good leader is the ability to inspire and motivate others.

Why Introverts Make Great Leaders

What if I told you that some of the most innovative, wealthiest, and influential leaders of our time are self-proclaimed introverts? Individuals like Bill Gates (Co-founder of Microsoft), Jeff Bezos (Founder and former CEO of Amazon), Elon Musk (Founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX), Warren Buffett (President and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway), and Steven Wozniak (Co-founder of Apple) are all self-proclaimed introverts.

If you’re in a leadership position, I would ask that you take an introspective look into who you are as a leader. Ask yourself one question. Would your subordinates still follow you if you didn’t hold the title of your position? If the answer is no, or you’re not sure, then it’s time to understand why. Perhaps it’s your positioning and not your position.

At the heart of what makes a great leader is Servant Leadership.

Maybe it’s time to look into Servant Leadership. What is Servant Leadership? It’s approaching others from the perspective of a servant. A servant being someone who “serves” others, not a slave. If you’ve never heard of it, servant leadership has actually been around for thousands of years. However, it didn’t get its name until the twentieth century. Robert Greenleaf coined the term in an essay he wrote in 1970. He used the term after reading Hermann Hesse’s 1932 book, “Journey to the East.” The book centered around Leo, who was portrayed as a simple servant. Later in the book, it is learned that Leo is actually the President of the League.

Servant leadership is where the leader thinks of others before themselves. Even if they have it, a servant leader doesn’t rely on their positional power. Rather, a servant leader uses their power of persuasion and influence.

10 Key Principles of Servant Leadership (And Why It’s Our Favorite Style)

Servant leaders build others up. Most servant leaders are also like that outside of the corporate world. By taking this beyond the walls of the corporate world, they’re making the world a better place. According to Team Gantt, there are 10 key principles of servant leadership. These ten principles are: listening, empathy, healing, self-awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community.

Remember, an effective leader doesn’t need to be in a position of authority. Leadership is a mindset in influencing others to accomplish a specified goal. Just because you don’t have the position title, doesn’t mean you’re not a leader. You’re a leader if you’re able to effectively influence others to accomplish a common goal. And introverts, who generally are more analytical, are able to do this just as well as extroverts.

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