Introversion is not a Handicap

The four walls close shut as she steps inside. And yet, somehow, she wasn’t afraid of the high-strung pressure. Her mind was a fortress of peace, recharging, renewing itself, just as her phone did when it wasn’t working. She pulls out her laptop and jots down her thoughts, compartmentalizing and sorting, till little by little, she found herself overlooking a juxtaposition.nbsp;The office was crowded, and the phones were ringing off the hook. The sound of feet echoed, as journalists marched at a crescendo to their work stations, holding on tightly to information that threatened to spill over. This was always stressful. It didn’t have to be, but it was. The introverted leader settled in her chair, entertaining a few visits into the bullpen every half hour or so, but no more unless summoned.nbsp;A good leader listens.She always reminded me a little of Barak Obama. As a leader, he was present, team-minded, and never afraid of risks. He ran for the presidency when it felt unlikely and support was sparse.nbsp;But what set him apart was his active communication. If you talk to an employee or someone who knew Mr. Obama well, they’d tell you he was shy, and quiet when he did not need to be the center. He has, at several times, left early after speeches without a meet and greets to recharge. But Obama embraced his self, and sharpening on the more characteristically introverted qualities, chose to be a good listener, attentive to people’s needs; which is what idealized him as a leader. She was like that. She wasn’t running around to make changes and consider plans, give speeches and raise funds. She was attentive. She was personal. And as a leader, every single one of her employees wanted to be around her for the serenity she exudes. nbsp;A good leader is not afraid of risks. They are prepared for any situation.The annual fundraiser was important. It was the one redeeming quality these journalists had, and that was the money the lawsuit against them forced to raise for charity. That night, she was clad in red, floating by the many men whose names dominated the industry. One thing was certain at that point: hard work pays off. It wasn’t so much that she was so industrious. It was also that she was terrified of social situations, resulting in over-preparation. But journalism isn’t for the weak-hearted. So, she hustled, preparing herself for anything that could be thrown her away. nbsp;In situations like these, she thought of J. K. Rowling- a self-proclaimed introvert. Rowling was alone when she wrote Harry Potter. She lost her mother, a marriage, and was left with a daughter to raise on her own. She focused her energy and thoughts into writing, at which point, her introverted tendencies proved a blessing. nbsp;A good leader is observant and recognizes struggles.Her struggle in reaching the top exposed sensitive flesh to that of another. An inevitable outcome was her passion for hard-working, focused writers.nbsp;She was the boost they needed in a hostile and demanding environment. This was a fine quality that proved of much use to her team, particularly for Lee tonight. He remembered that the one selects attribute that would take you places was communication and making contacts. So far, he had met three men in crooked ties, and rented suits, and spilled a margarita on a shoe. The fear that he had sabotaged himself was eased when she was standing beside him, apologizing and subsequently glowing with pride as she recommended him for a higher post. At that point, it felt to him a little bit like the slave girl that U.S. President Abraham Lincoln bought at an auction to set free under his name, saying she wanted to serve him because of the kindness he showed her. nbsp;nbsp;Socially diagnosed Introverts:All of the above mentioned are socially diagnosed introverts. The American Psychological Association defines introversion as an orientation toward the internal private world of one’s self and one’s inner thoughts and feelings rather than toward the outer world of people and things. Simply put, an introvert needs some alone time to recharge, while extroverts’ recharge by spending time with people. ]nbsp;The current world leadership based on studies and surveys held is dominated by extroverts. According to the Harvard Business Review, in a 2006 survey, 65% of senior corporate executives claim to believe that introversion is a barrier to leadership. nbsp;One major contributor to this is negative over-thinking. Most introverts admit that they tend to self-sabotage by negatively spiraling. However, introversion is not a handicap but is in reality, a blessing to leadership, as seen.nbsp;A parallel struggle that extroverts attest to is of being intimidated and unreceptive to proactive employees (as seen in a lab experiment conducted by the HBR).nbsp;nbsp;There are many incredible introverted men and women that have made large scale impacts and are still remembered for the same. Their voices are quieter but no less powerful. Put in the right places, they are harbingering great influence and create atmospheres of change. A good leader is one that inspires honor and support, and in turn, honors the commitment of people around him, all while breaking down everything you think a leader should be.

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