Do Great Leaders Have to be Outgoing?
By Mercedes Mesman on April 5, 2018
Leadership is something that permeates almost every school activity. We are taught to be adequate leaders through extracurriculars, organizations and even classes specifically made to encourage leadership skills.
We like to associate people who are outgoing and social as being good leaders. Schools encourage students to be more extroverted through daily lessons. The students who are the loudest and “participate” the most are rewarded. Students who grow up to have the most social ease seem to be the ones pushed toward leadership roles. But the question still remains, do outgoing people make better leaders?
While communication is one of the most important skills for leaders to possess, it is not exclusive to extroverts. There are also plenty of other skills leaders should have including motivation, delegating, positivity, trustworthiness, creativity and responsibility.
Most introverts have no intention of leading. However, when put in the role, they can step up and be great leaders too. They lead in a different way compared to more outspoken or outgoing peers.
Introverts are known for their listening skills. Being able to listen to what their team says can help weed out problems and create the most effective solution. Having meaningful conversations can make it more likely to find the underlying problems and gain important feedback.
Great followers make great leaders. Empathy is gained through experience. Knowing what is important to their followers and understanding how to serve them is very important. Introverts can be great leaders because they don’t mind taking a step back and letting their followers lead. Instead of telling their followers what to do and controlling every aspect, they let their followers suggest ideas and engage in the decision-making process. This is crucial because someone working at the ground level may have a more detailed knowledge of what needs to be done. Additionally, most introverts have a lot of experience following. They know what makes a good leader or not. When it is their time to lead, they know what to do and what not to do to be an effective leader.
Great leaders are good at influencing and persuading others. To get support, they have to sell their vision and make others believe it is possible. Some introverts think that they can’t be great leaders because they aren’t good at gaining support or persuading others with words. The truth is, introverts don’t have to persuade others with words. They can influence others through their actions.
Introverts may not talk as much as others, but when they do talk, they make their words count. Introverts usually don’t think out loud. They think carefully before they speak. When they talk about wanting to do something, they have already thought it through and are committed to taking action. Being consistent in their words and actions helps them gain respect and trust from their peers and supporters. They reflect on what people say before they react and keep their cool during high-stress moments. As a result, they are less likely to make impulsive and risky actions that will harm their people or organization.
Great leaders have resilience. When challenges arise, they are able to bounce back quickly and resolve the crisis. Introverts are used to being misunderstood. Due to their quiet nature and need for time alone, most introverts grew up being misunderstood as anti-social or that they just don’t like people. This helps them develop resilience so they are not easily discouraged or swayed by naysayers, and they are able to handle challenging situations with persistence.
No matter who you are or where your strengths lie, be yourself and be proud of your personality. Being introverted is one of the best gifts you can have. Use it well and be the great leader you can become
We like to associate people who are outgoing and social as being good leaders. Schools encourage students to be more extroverted through daily lessons. The students who are the loudest and “participate” the most are rewarded. Students who grow up to have the most social ease seem to be the ones pushed toward leadership roles. But the question still remains, do outgoing people make better leaders?
While communication is one of the most important skills for leaders to possess, it is not exclusive to extroverts. There are also plenty of other skills leaders should have including motivation, delegating, positivity, trustworthiness, creativity and responsibility.
Most introverts have no intention of leading. However, when put in the role, they can step up and be great leaders too. They lead in a different way compared to more outspoken or outgoing peers.
Introverts are known for their listening skills. Being able to listen to what their team says can help weed out problems and create the most effective solution. Having meaningful conversations can make it more likely to find the underlying problems and gain important feedback.
Great followers make great leaders. Empathy is gained through experience. Knowing what is important to their followers and understanding how to serve them is very important. Introverts can be great leaders because they don’t mind taking a step back and letting their followers lead. Instead of telling their followers what to do and controlling every aspect, they let their followers suggest ideas and engage in the decision-making process. This is crucial because someone working at the ground level may have a more detailed knowledge of what needs to be done. Additionally, most introverts have a lot of experience following. They know what makes a good leader or not. When it is their time to lead, they know what to do and what not to do to be an effective leader.
Great leaders are good at influencing and persuading others. To get support, they have to sell their vision and make others believe it is possible. Some introverts think that they can’t be great leaders because they aren’t good at gaining support or persuading others with words. The truth is, introverts don’t have to persuade others with words. They can influence others through their actions.
Introverts may not talk as much as others, but when they do talk, they make their words count. Introverts usually don’t think out loud. They think carefully before they speak. When they talk about wanting to do something, they have already thought it through and are committed to taking action. Being consistent in their words and actions helps them gain respect and trust from their peers and supporters. They reflect on what people say before they react and keep their cool during high-stress moments. As a result, they are less likely to make impulsive and risky actions that will harm their people or organization.
Great leaders have resilience. When challenges arise, they are able to bounce back quickly and resolve the crisis. Introverts are used to being misunderstood. Due to their quiet nature and need for time alone, most introverts grew up being misunderstood as anti-social or that they just don’t like people. This helps them develop resilience so they are not easily discouraged or swayed by naysayers, and they are able to handle challenging situations with persistence.
No matter who you are or where your strengths lie, be yourself and be proud of your personality. Being introverted is one of the best gifts you can have. Use it well and be the great leader you can become
