Career Advice: How Can an Introvert Succeed as a Leader?

At some point, some of us may have been identified as introverts, a term that originates from psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Carl Gustav Jung. According to Jung, introversion and extroversion are polar ends of a spectrum, with introversion indicating a preference for engaging more with one’s inner world than the external environment.

Despite Jung’s neutral characterisation, the modern interpretation of ‘introvert’ is often associated with negative connotations. Whether introverts personally identify with such labels, they can make individuals feel as if their natural temperament is a disadvantage, particularly in professional settings where career advancement to leadership roles is at stake.

How Do Introverts View Introversion?

To get the market’s pulse on the topic, we posted a LinkedIn poll asking, “As an introverted leader, would you generally consider introversion a strength in your role?”. Perhaps unsurprisingly, only seven out of 1,000 individuals responded. While a possible reason for the low response rates may be the audience’s lack of incentive to engage, it also brings to mind another interesting possibility:

Could introverted leaders, perhaps, also doubt the value of their introverted qualities?

After all, we’re more likely to picture the ideal leader as an energetic, vocal individual with presence and gravitas rather than a reserved person who prefers to stay out of the limelight. Broader statistics also support this possibility, with as many as 65% of senior corporate executives surveyed perceiving introversion as an impediment to leadership.

On a personal level, some of us may have received performance evaluation feedback that urges us to speak up more and be more proactive in networking. Others may even have found themselves passed over for promotions due to their less assertive, quieter demeanour. And it doesn’t help that many managerial positions on job boards tend to look for “outgoing individuals with exceptional communication skills.”

For introverts seeking vertical progression, these can inevitably cause us to question our ability to assume leadership roles.

Introverts Can’t Make Great Leaders: Why This is a Myth

Indeed, there is no shortage of successful extroverted leaders in the market. However, many introverts have also made their mark as effective leaders. Prominent contemporary and historical figures such as Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Mahatma Gandhi, Tencent’s Pony Ma, and Midea Group’s Paul Fang are good examples of how introversion need not be a barrier to leadership. You may also be surprised to find that 53% of top executives and senior managers in Singapore actually identify as introverts, as reported by HRM Asia.

So, what then is holding introverts back and reinforcing the notion that one’s career advancement prospects depend on which group one falls under?

1. Not All Introverts are Shy or Quiet

One factor is the common belief that introversion equates to being shy or socially distant, traits believed to reduce one’s effectiveness as a leader.

Why this is false: However, introverts are actually defined as individuals who find comfort in recharging in solitude due to their tendency to be easily overstimulated. In other words, introversion is not synonymous with shyness or anti-social behaviour. While some introverts may display these characteristics, introversion-extroversion is a spectrum, which means that even within the introvert category, individuals’ personalities can vary widely.

2. Not All Teams Thrive Under Extroverts

Another factor is the assumption that extroverted leaders are equipped to manage all types of teams.

Why this is false: However, the ideal traits of a leader actually depend on the situation, as illustrated by a study comparing profit levels in relation to managers’ and teams’ personality types. According to the study’s results, extroverted managers achieved better outcomes with introverted teams, while introverted leaders excelled when managing proactive employees.

Interestingly, extroverted leaders underperformed and achieved 14% lower profits than average when managing proactive employees. These findings demonstrate that no single set of traits guarantees leadership success across all scenarios. After all, if extroversion is the defining trait of the ideal leader, extroverted leaders would have consistently outperformed introverted ones, regardless of team dynamics.

How to Succeed as an Introverted Leader in Various Scenarios

With an awareness of the situation, the first crucial step introverts aspiring to be leaders must take to kickstart change is to shift their mindset. It’s not always immediately apparent, but our actions, driven by self-limiting beliefs, can inadvertently project a lack of self-confidence. This can, consequently, lead others to perceive us as less capable, even when our achievements indicate otherwise. By removing these limiting beliefs, we avoid this unintended misrepresentation and prevent potentially jeopardising our own success.

Another tip is to know how to maximise the impact of one’s strengths, a strategy endorsed by highly successful introverts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.

Scenario 1: Speaking Up

A good place to start is to address reticence. Often times, introverts may prefer staying silent unless they have a point to make and the time to voice it out. However silence can be misconstrued as disengagement or a lack of ambition, affecting others’ evaluation of one’s suitability for leadership roles.

Advice: While being more vocal is definitely encouraged, that doesn’t imply having to masquerade as an extrovert, and neither is speaking the only viable means of communication. Leveraging the following strengths of an introvert can also be a good way to bridge the perceived weakness in communication in a way that better aligns with your preferences.

• Writing skills: Many introverts tend to be skilled writers since writing is often their preferred mode of communication. If you have a meeting coming up, you can jot down your thoughts beforehand to help you articulate more effectively during discussions. If expressing opinions openly in large groups is daunting, consider submitting written feedback post-meeting to demonstrate your engagement and thoughtful contribution to the dialogue.
• Ability to forge deeper connections: Since introverts often excel in smaller, more personal interactions, organising intimate discussions is another option. This can be particularly beneficial for topics that are more sensitive or require detailed discussions, such as expressing your desire to lead projects and exploring how your manager can support your career
• Listening and critical thinking: Contrary to popular belief, leadership isn’t just about having all the answers and dominating discussions. Rather, a leader’s objective also includes guiding their teams toward success. This means that introverts can also contribute meaningfully to meetings in ways apart from providing an answer or conclusion. As individuals adept at listening and processing information, introverts tend to be better at picking up on subtle cues that others may overlook. This is one ability we can leverage to ask deeper, probing questions and facilitate a more nuanced approach to problem-solving.

Remember, sharing a half-baked idea is often better than staying silent. By making your thoughts known, you enhance your visibility and strengthen your position as a potential candidate for leadership during promotion evaluations.

Scenario 2: Networking

Given how quickly an introvert’s energy level depletes in social settings, networking is another area that individuals may find challenging. Nonetheless, the benefits of networking are undeniable, and networking is also unavoidable in professional settings.

Advice: Given these circumstances, what aspiring introverted leaders can do is learn how to manage their energy without compromising their needs. Here are some tips to help you out.

• Schedule breaks: Make it a priority to carve out time for solo work or quiet time both before and after networking events. This approach can help mitigate feelings of exhaustion and ensure you can present your best self when interacting with others.
• Quality over quantity: Be selective about the activities you participate in and leverage your strength of being able to connect on a deeper level with others to form fewer but more meaningful connections. After all, a leader in your industry may have 500 contacts. Still, perhaps only a handful can give them the support they need in their careers, which introverts may similarly achieve with a smaller pool of stronger connections.
• Prepare for small talk and exit: When attending an event, you can also prepare a few fallback questions or small talk topics in advance. This can help you ease into conversations more comfortably and confidently while reducing the likelihood of overextending yourself. Besides this, consider developing an exit strategy for conversations, such as suggesting a follow-up via LinkedIn or a subsequent meeting so you can gracefully end the interaction.
• Be yourself: You don’t need to force yourself into uncomfortable conversations or stay at events longer than you want. After all, if you neglect your own needs in an attempt to please others, you risk ending up frustrated and exhausted, which is also unsustainable in the long run. Rather, it’s perfectly fine to establish your boundaries and focus on being a good audience to others, which can also help you forge meaningful connections.

Find a Career that Aligns with You

As an introvert, you’ve probably come a long way to where you are now, scoring wins on some days and experiencing self-doubt on others. At the end of the day, remember that self-development is an ongoing journey. While stretching ourselves can feel uncomfortable, it is also a hallmark of growth, and the process is a beautiful one that we may one day look back on with pride.

However, if you find yourself constantly overstretched, it may be time to consider a change of roles to one better aligned with your personality and capabilities. For instance, beyond people manager positions, senior individual contributor roles also offer a path for career advancement. If you’re looking for fresh opportunities or more advice on career matters, why not connect with consultants from our executive search firm in Singapore and China?

At JC Consulting, we have teams specialising in diverse industries, including:

• Finance recruitment;
• Life sciences recruitment;
• Legal executive search;
• HR recruitment;
• Luxury & retail recruitment.

Our breadth and depth of knowledge ensure that you’re speaking to headhunters who truly understand your needs and market. Schedule a coffee chat with us today.

Summary

In a nutshell, contrary to popular beliefs,  introverts can and do succeed as leaders. The key to achieving this is to learn to effectively leverage one’s inherent strengths, such as an introvert’s ability to write well, forge deeper connections, as well as critical thinking and listening skills. By learning how to network selectively and manage one’s energy before and after events, introverts can enhance the quality of their social interactions and avoid burning out.