7 Tips For Leading People When Youre Introverted - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Tips For Leading People When Youre Introverted - Introvert Whisperer 7 Tips For Leading People When Youre Introverted In many ways, life is better for introverts than it’s ever been before. If you’d rather stay at home and be alone than socialize, you can still stay entertained and engaged through the internet. There’s also a lot more understanding of how different people thrive in different environments, even extending to the workplace: remote working is vastly more comfortable for many. All that said, there’s still an immense need for leadership in the business world, and there’s every chance that the responsibility might fall upon someone introverted â€" like you. And if you’re the best person for the job, and you’re committed to the business, then you’ll want to find a way to see it through without letting yourself or others down. This is easier said than done, of course, and it’s understandable if you need a little help. Here are 7 tips to help you be an effective leader as an introvert: Be honest about your preferences The first thing you should do is make it clear to everyone you’re leading that you’re an introvert. Don’t succumb to the temptation to pretend that you’re always happy to be around others, however much you think it’s what everyone wants from a leader. It can be great to have a leader who’ll gladly join you for drinks, but it can also be great to have a leader who gives you space. Besides, you’re allowed to be bad at some things: if you’ve assembled a great team, then their strengths will be able to cover for your weaknesses (and you can do the same for them). Delegate tasks sensibly Trying to do everything yourself is a terrible idea for a leader regardless, but it’s particularly bad when you’re an introvert, because you’ll rapidly run out of energy and motivation. When you start to delegate tasks to the people working under you, prioritize offloading anything that will make you feel uncomfortable. For instance, though leaders typically handle sales meetings, you might not be the best person for the job â€" so if someone on your team is a great fit, let them try. Use varied communication tools Different introverts are exhausted by different things. Some people can’t handle spoken conversation for very long but are fine with answering emails, while others have the opposite problem. What gives you the most anxiety? Communication is essential, and if you mix up your methods (using various tools) you should find that you don’t get exhausted as quickly or easily. Focus on one-on-one meetings You’re likely going to struggle in big team meetings, but you don’t always need to hold meetings like that. Instead, you can stagger one-on-one meetings â€" that way, you’ll be able to feel more relaxed (with fewer distractions and less pressure), and you’ll have the opportunity to speak more candidly. You won’t be able to get rid of team meetings altogether, but if you can keep them to a minimum, it will be a huge help. Plan your talking points As noted, from time to time you’ll need to hold team meetings. Cohesion is important, and you set the tone for how everyone works together, so being able to step up and give an inspiring speech is an important element of leadership. However, since introversion is more about social interaction, you can simply deliver a planned set of talking points. That way, you won’t get distracted, and you’ll be able to concentrate on the content (and not the people listening). Listen very carefully Discomfort stemming from introversion makes it hard to talk comfortably, but it doesn’t stop you from listening â€" and that’s exactly what you should do. When you’re relatively quiet, you open up opportunities for the people on your team to talk, and make them feel less inhibited. This is a great thing: it’s common in business for workers to worry about what their bosses will say, so getting people to speak freely is invaluable. Listen closely, and use what you learn to improve. Schedule some alone time Finally, no matter how important your job as a leader may be, your mental health must come first. You may need to postpone meetings, cancel trips, or (in the worst-case scenario) let a prospective client walk away, but ensure that you get enough time to relax and recharge. After all, if you hit the point of burnout, it won’t benefit anyone. Being an introverted leader will always be challenging, and you’ll likely never feel totally comfortable â€" but that’s alright. Your team will understand, and if you let them help you, you’ll be able to achieve great things together.