Dear Reader,
This is the second part of a conversation about introverts and extroverts in leadership. You can find part one here.
Thank you for reading!!
Greg
Last week, we considered Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi as examples of extroverts and introverts. In the post last week, we noted,
Extroverts have an outward orientation to life. They tend to expend energy when relaxing and gain strength by interacting. Introverts have an inward orientation to life and tend to expend energy when interacting and gain energy when reflecting.
This week, we will consider each personality's strengths and weaknesses and offer a few thoughts on how each might grow as a leader.
Introverted Leaders
Introverts are quiet, reserved, thoughtful, and self-reliant. We prefer to work alone. Introverts are inward-focused, tend toward thinking, and are slower to speak in a group setting. Sometimes, we feel overlooked, and our quiet contributions go unnoticed.
In his book Introverts in the Church, Adam McHugh observes that extroversion seems to be defined by what it is, but introversion is too often defined by what it isn’t.”
Let’s consider the strengths of both personality types, beginning with introversion.
Introvert Strengths
When introverts embrace their strengths, they are strong leaders. I’ll highlight three and then offer practical tips for the purposeful introverted leader. Remember, any description of personality types is general. No person has all the possible strengths and weaknesses of their personality.
Deep Thinking
Throughout history, many of the most revolutionary ideas have come from introverts. Winifred Gallagher suggests,
The glory of the disposition that stops to consider stimuli rather than rushing to engage with them is its long association with intellectual and artistic achievement. Neither E=mc2 nor Paradise Lost was dashed off by a party animal.
Good ideas come from deep thinking.
Famous introverts include Thomas Edison (electricity), Albert Einstein (e=mc2), Rosa Parks (civil rights hero), Warren Buffet (Berkshire Hathaway), and the Bible character Moses.
Effective Listening
One of the things I learned during my chaplain career is that people want someone to hear them. One of the greatest gifts we can give people is listening well—truly hearing what they have to say—truly listening before speaking. Much of what ills our society is the abuse of our speaking and not seeking to listen to the other side.
If we listen before we talk, we might hear the other side's concerns before we rush to judgment. One of the powers of introverts is thinking leadership (deep analysis and strategizing).
We may only say a few concise sentences during a sixty-minute team discussion, but say more in a few words, conceptualizing a way forward using the introvert's superpower of deep listening.
Calm Demeanor
By nature, introverts have busier and more active brains than extroverts. Sophia Dembling spent several years writing blog posts about being an introvert. Many of her posts would receive comments from other introverts. She compiled several of her posts into a book. In a chapter Dembling calls Quiet Riot, she quotes a reader:
Because of my extreme introversion, I often appear very calm and disinterested on the outside, even though inside I am often a seething mass of emotion and very interested in what’s going on.
Practical Tips
Introverts have incredible gifts to offer the world. Below are three practical tips that can serve you well in your leadership journey:
Embrace your strengths. Thinking before speaking and listening well are gifts the people around us need.
Know your limits. Introverts will eventually max out their ability to engage with people. Here are some tips: block out alone time in your schedule, always allow reset time between meetings, limit the number of people you meet with each day, and make time to be outside.
Do your preparation. Introverts must prepare before engagements where we share. While we cannot prepare for every eventuality, taking time for deep consideration in the days before the engagement gives us a greater sense of confidence during the engagement.
Extroverted Leaders
Extroverts tend to expend energy when relaxing and recharge through interacting. No leader demonstrates all the strengths and weaknesses of their dominant personality.
Extroverted Strengths
Below are three critical strengths extroverts have in abundance.
Charismatic Communication
Extroverts can naturally strike up an engaging conversation when in a crowded room. They effortlessly make their way around and converse with familiar and unfamiliar people. And when they get on stage, they are full of boundless energy (think Tony Robbins).
Networking Abilities
Extroverts have a natural ability to make everyone feel connected to them.
My marriage to Vicki is a case in point. Vicki has always had a natural ability with people. She is why we have participated in various groups over the years. Vicki gravitates to people upon first meeting them.
During my chaplain career, we moved several times. For introverts, forming new relationships takes a great deal of energy. Vicki’s natural relational strength is the glue that has kept us connected to people over the years.
Dynamic Presence
Throughout my career, I have worked with strong, extroverted leaders. There is one I remember more than many others. This commander was a larger-than-life extrovert. He walked into the room and instantly became the center of attention (due to his position on the ship and his gregarious personality). Being the captain of a naval vessel is a challenging task. He used his personality to invigorate his team and bring us safely home from several months at sea.
Practical Tips
Cultivate Depth: Extroverts must develop deep listening and take time for thoughtful decision-making. You have much to say, and we need to hear from you. Those you speak with also need to be heard. The introverts in your midst will stay quiet, waiting for a calm moment so they can contribute. Extroverts, remember this maxim: “If you dominate, calibrate.”
Balance Energy: Suggest ways to manage energy and avoid burnout. Both introverts and extroverts need time of quiet reflection. No matter your personality, always being on for people is not healthy. Even extroverts need alone time to regain strength and decompress.
Team Unity: Be aware of your team's personality tendencies. Introverts won’t speak as much and don't connect as easily. Still, they want to be heard and valued. Give space for quiet reflection. Encourage the quieter ones to speak up.
Your Turn
At the core of effective leadership lies the ability to build trust, demonstrate empathy, and foster relationships. Leadership comes in many forms. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King's leadership led to integral changes in the world around them: Gandhi's in an unassuming way and King's in a more charismatic way.
Both men understood their purpose and used the unique gifts of their personalities to make a historic, worldwide impact.
Both introverts and extroverts have profound leadership potential. Organizations benefit when they create synergy between both personality types. Both have strengths and weaknesses and offer the other the gift of their different characteristics. Authenticity in leadership is essential.
Leaders who lead out of their strengths and commit to lifelong learning and growth in developing their weaknesses and strengths will benefit personally and professionally. They will be the best version of themselves.
Reflection Questions
How has your personality type (introvert or extrovert) influenced your leadership style?
Can you recall a time when you felt your personality type was a hindrance to your leadership? How did you overcome this?
How might you incorporate some of the strengths of the opposite personality type into your leadership approach?
How do the distinct leadership styles of Gandhi and King challenge the traditional views of leadership associated with introverts and extroverts?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the power of extroversion and introversion in your leadership. Join the conversation.
Insightful article. As an extrovert married to an introvert, it's helpful to define the strengths of both styles as well as the considerations for better leadership. Thank you!