North Americans have a strong bias to seeing leaders as outgoing, charismatic, strong willed, A-type personalities, in other words a fast talking Extravert.  Because of this bias the qualities that Introverts bring to the workplace are often overlooked and undervalued.  As a result Introverts are passed over for leadership roles where their qualities would provide an advantage to the organization.  Only recently has research emerged indicating that Introverts have many qualities that are valuable for leaders in to-day’s work environment.

Here are 13 characteristics exhibited by Introverts that can add value to the leader’s role  in any workplace wishing to enhance individual performance and foster higher productivity:

1.    Introverts are good listeners to what others have to say and don’t interrupt or try to take over a conversation.  As a result they are more apt to draw out ideas and diverse viewpoints, getting everyone’s opinion before a decision is made.  This results in broader based, better decisions for the company with improved employee buy-in..

2.    They take information in more completely, see the details others miss and see connections that are often overlooked by Extraverts.  You can count on an Introvert to not only prepare a very complete and thorough due diligence report but yo spot the holes in one prepared by subordinates and it is unlikely a project would fail because something was missed at the beginning.

3)    Introverts don’t waste time with unnecessary small talk in meetings, speaking only when they have something worthwhile to add to the conversation.  Unlike Extraverts they don’t talk their way to a conclusion, taking everybody through the process no matter how long it takes.  They know what they are going to say and have it all prepared before they speak.

4)    They are creative thinkers and problem solvers, in part because of their ability to take in and reflect on huge volumes of information.  Given the right environment to put their thoughts and ideas together they can make a significant contribution to innovation in an organization.

5)    Introverts are not easily distracted from what they are working on, an advantage in to-day’s work-place where the multiple distractions from things such as emails, phone calls and a never ending round of meetings can drastically reduce a person’s concentration and productivity.

6)    They are able to focus and concentrate on a task for extended periods of time without getting bored or requiring a change of scenery or someone to talk to to keep them going.

7)    Introverts work well independently and don’t require constant supervision to keep them focussed on the job that needs to be done.  Once they understand what needs to be done you can count on them to complete the task.

8)    They have a strong sense of themselves and are not easily sidetracked.  They are unlikely to jump on the latest fad just because ‘everyone else is doing it’ and are therefore unlikely to waste people’s time chasing after the current ‘flavour of the month’ management fad.

9)    Introverts prefer deeper more meaningful conversations which is why the relationships they form are deeper and long-lasting.  While often depicted as non-talkative, they will in fact talk at great length about something that they are interested in and knowledgeable about.  Business relationships formed by an Introvert are based on a solid foundation of shared interests and trust and are very durable.

10)    While they may not form a lot of relationships, they are very loyal to the ones they have.  If you are lucky enough to have an Introvert as a friend, you can count on them to support you through thick and thin.  People who work for an Introvert know they can count on him or her to support them when the going gets rough.

11)    Introverts are very good at sticking with a new task or skill until they master it.  This has been identified as a key predicator of high achievement, thus supporting both improved personal performance and higher organizational productivity.

12)    They are not easily swayed by the opinions of others and are capable of making difficult decisions based on the facts.  They are sometimes accused of speaking too bluntly, yet if you want the unvarnished truth an Introvert is likely your best source.

13)    Introverts don’t need to hog centre stage, they are quite content to stand back and share the credit with the people who report to them (which not only raises morale but also builds loyalty).  Because of the depth and breathe of their knowledge in their areas of interest they are rarely if ever threatened by the accomplishments of others.  As a result they have no problem bringing in others who have more expertise than themselves in a given area for a new project

So there you have it, a ‘baker’s dozen’ of Introvert characteristics that would be an asset to a any leader in today’s diverse workplace.  That’s not to say there aren’t times when what you need is an Extravert to jump in and take charge but rather to make a case for the forgotten and all too often overlooked qualities of Introverts.

And never forget that Introverts can be successful in almost any field they choose – they just have to learn how to manage their introversion characteristics. After all the world has benefited greatly from the contributions of Introverts such as Issac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Alan Shepard, Chuck Yeager, General Colin Powell, George Washington, Harry Truman, Herbert Hoover, Susan B. Anthony, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, Michael Caine, Barbara Streisand, Meryl Streep, Billy Crystal, J.J.R. Tolkien, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jennings, Garry Trudeau, Michael Jordan, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Lance Armstrong, Martina Navratilova, Doris Day, Keith Richards, and Oprah Winfrey to name just a

And in the interests of openness and transparency, I must confess that I too am an Introvert, and proud of it.

©2012 Karen Switzer-Howse. All Rights Reserved.

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