introverted leaders

Several years ago I was sent to Portland for a week long training to become qualified to administer the MBTI. At the conference, I learned far more than I expected, and had some suspicions reaffirmed. One of those was that introverts couldn’t be leaders. I mean how could they rally people? How could the sell a vision? How could they stand under the pressures of people yelling their discouragement and criticism at them? Well I was wrong. I was operating from a false understanding of what leadership was; out of my own perspective on my own leadership strengths. Today, most of those who I see as the best leaders in my own life are introverts, or at least not the William Wallace like extroverts I thought they needed to be. This article highlights 5 reasons that Introverts are actually every bit as successful as their loud-mouthed cousins. Those reasons are, 1. They think first then talk—I’m sure they don’t apologize for saying the wrong thing as much as I’ve had to. 2. They focus on depth—this is why I love my “I” friends, the economy of words doesn’t allow chit-chatty-small talk. 3. They exude calm—they handle criticism, because they’re just so calculated, and even keeled. 4. They write before speak—This one doesn’t really resonate with me. 5. They embrace solitude—if people don’t like them, “OH JOY! I get to be alone now.” Of course this article is secularly focused so doesn’t account for spiritual attunedness, but this is what I see as their greatest asset.