3 Things Introverted Leaders Have to Work Harder At

I’ve written about being an introvert before. It’s a label I’ve learned to embrace more and more. Years ago, I would deny it and work really hard to prove to everyone around me that I was an extrovert, which seemed like a much more appealing label.

Now that I’ve embraced being an introverted leader, I notice things that are unique to me because of how I’m wired. One of them is that introverted leaders have to work harder at certain things to be successful. I’m sure extroverts have their own list! But, here are 3 things introverted leaders have to work harder at:

3 Things Introverted Leaders Have to Work Harder At

1. Overcoming the meeting drain.

It’s no secret that introverts get drained when we’re around people for long stretches. For me, meetings are one of the biggest drains on my energy. After a long day of back-to-back meetings, I’m rarely able to get anything else done. I need time alone to recharge and refocus. I’ve tried to limit meetings and spread them out so I can still be productive on everything else…but it’s a work in progress, and I have to be very intentional about it.

2. Showing that we care.

This one has more to do with how others see us. I believe it’s up to us to overcome the misperceptions. For example, people often think I’m angry or disappointed just because of the look on my face. If you’re an introvert, you probably know that what’s going on in my head often doesn’t match my face! Also, introverts take longer to process. So, when someone tells me they’re pregnant, instead of shrieking with excitement, I’m thinking, “Is this welcome news?” and “Does anyone else know yet?” We have to work at letting people SEE that we care.

3. Including others in our work.

Let me bust a myth right off the bat – introverts DO like people! I really enjoy my time with people. It just can’t be all the time. At work, we have to fight the temptation to just do the work ourselves. It doesn’t come naturally for us to bring people along with us toward a goal. We often think the work will be better if we do it alone, and we save ourselves the energy drain. But, that caps what the team can do. (Here’s how to delegate effectively if this one hits home.)

Quick Answers

What are the strengths of introverted leaders? Introverts tend to listen well, think before they speak, stay calm under pressure and build deep one-on-one relationships.

How can introverted leaders avoid burning out? Protect time to recharge, spread out meetings, and be honest with your team about how you work best. (See 10 Ways to Avoid Burnout.)

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? If you’re an introvert, just comment below and say “YES”…you can also leave a comment about what I’ve written here too. 🙂