The Introverted Leader: Thriving in the Extroverted Business World

In today’s extroverted business world, introverts can feel ignored, overlooked, and misunderstood. In fact, according to my research—a two-and-a-half-year national study of introverted professionals—four out of five introverts say extroverts are more likely to get ahead in their workplace. What’s more, over 40 percent say they would like to change their introverted tendencies, but don’t know where or how to begin.

The good news? Introversion can be managed. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy, but with time and practice, introverted pros can learn to build on their quiet strength and succeed.

What is introversion, anyway?

Introverts may be less noisy at work, but by all accounts they outnumber extroverts. Even many high-powered executives—a full 40 percent—describe themselves as introverts, including Microsoft’s Bill Gates and uber-investor Warren Buffett. Odds are, President Obama is an introvert as well. But what is introversion, anyway?

Unlike shyness, a product of anxiety or fear in social settings, introversion is a key

part of personality—a hardwired orientation—and may be best defined by several characteristic behaviors. Introverts process information internally, keep personal matters private, and avoid showing emotion. Other defining behaviors:

Seek solitude

Introverts need and want to spend time alone. They often suffer from people exhaustion and must retreat to recharge their batteries. At work, they prefer quiet, private spaces and like to handle projects on their own or with a small group.

Think first, talk later

Introverts think before they speak. Even in casual watercooler chats, they consider others’ comments carefully and pause and reflect before responding. They dislike interruptions, especially when they are thinking things through.

Focus on depth

Introverts seek depth over breadth. They like to dig deep—delving into issues and ideas before moving on to new ones. They are drawn to meaningful conversations—not superficial chit-chat—and know how to tune in and listen to others.

Let their fingers do the talking

Introverts prefer writing to talking. On the job, they opt for e-mail over the telephone and stop by only when necessary. Averse to excessive conversation, many gravitate toward social networking Web sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Exhibit calmness

Introverts are usually quiet, reserved, and low-key. Unlike extroverts, they have no desire to be the center of attention, preferring to fly below the radar instead. Even in heated conversations or circumstances, they tend to stay calm—at least on the outside—and speak softly and slowly.

The hard realities

“It’s not easy being green,” laments Muppet Kermit the Frog. Same goes for being introverted in an extroverted business culture. With their appetite for talk and attention, extroverts dominate the workplace. Meanwhile, introverts—with their quiet smarts and unsung successes—sit on the professional sidelines. Some hard realities faced by introverted pros:

4  People exhaustion

Introverts can experience an assortment of ailments at work—headaches, backaches, stomachaches, and more—yet feel fine off the job. This mind-body response to stress can result from a wide range of factors. The chief culprit: people exhaustion.

Project overload

Introverts tend to have difficulty saying no and find it equally hard to ask for help or direction. As a result, they frequently feel overloaded with projects and deadlines—hurting their on-the-job performance and work-life balance.

Underselling

Introverts typically stay mum about their accomplishments—seeming to abide by the old Southern adage, “Don’t brag on yourself.” Yet today careers are made or broken by what others know about a person’s skills and potential. Introverts, therefore, can miss out on promotions or plum assignments simply because they don’t sell themselves.

Unheard ideas

Introverts often have great ideas that go unheard. In group settings, they may show up with smart solutions, yet can’t seem to find an opening in which to share them. Even in one-on-one conversations—especially with talkers—they have trouble interjecting their ideas and being heard.

Failure to “play the game”

Introverts routinely retreat from office politics. Sure, politics can be nasty,

but much of the game is natural and necessary, particularly for building relationships up and down an organization. Introverts, with their desire to be low-key, often fail to sniff out important politicking opportunities and wind up watching their extroverted colleagues get ahead.

There is no magic bullet for managing your introversion. But in today’s noisy business world and workplace, you can learn how to thrive. The goal is not changing your personality or natural work style, but embracing and expanding who you are.

As an ongoing framework, follow the “4 P’s”: preparation (devising game plans); presence (focusing on the moment); push (stretching and growing); and practice (rehearsing and refining new skills).

Learning new skills and behaviors may be uncomfortable at first, but with conscious repetition and refinement, you can manage your introversion—and thrive in the extroverted business world.

[Editor’s note: Additional tips on how to practically manage your introversion in a business setting can be found in the May issue of Bob Pike’s Creative Training Techniques newsletter at www.CreativeTrainingTech.com. A subscription—$1 for three months—is required.]

Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D., is a workplace and careers expert, coach, speaker and author of The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength. She can be reached through AboutYOUInc.com.