The Introverted CEO

I remember the day vividly. I was 13 years old and about to have my first public speech after winning a writing competition among a few different schools. I had typical nerves, but nothing out of the ordinary, until I got up on stage. I froze. The room seemed to slow down, and the sound of my heartbeat thundered in my ears. I gripped the paper with sweaty palms and tried to force myself to continue so as not to let down everyone who was watching, including my parents and friends. The voice that came out was not my own, it betrayed me and shook with insecurity.

At the time I didn’t know there was a word that explained that moment and the many more that followed. It wouldn’t be until years later when I learned the definition of an introvert and an extrovert that I would start to make sense of my inclinations. I would start to understand that introverts thrive when they are able to have time alone to delve into subjects and find energy in quiet, thoughtful spaces, and that extroverts blossomed in the spotlight. It was then that I understood two things; one, that I was an introvert, and two, that the world rewards extroverts.?

According to a report conducted by Robert de Vries and Jason Rentfrow of Cambridge University, including an examination of 90 peer reviewed studies on the subject, they found that highly extraverted people – those who were more confident, sociable or assertive – have a 25% better chance of obtaining a high-earning job. They are also more likely to be paid more, be promoted and are even considered to be happier people overall! In another study from the Harvard Business Review in 2006, it was revealed that 65% of senior corporate executives surveyed viewed introversion as a barrier to leadership.?The facts surrounding society’s view of extroverts were clear, but what did that mean for me??

Earlier in my years at university and then at work, I would often not speak up or fight for my voice to be heard because I was too intimidated. I saw firsthand that there was an expectation to be externally focused, loud rather than smart, and that getting the work done well wasn’t enough to be seen and valued. Eventually, I came to the realization that achieving results is only one part of success, but “communicating” such achievements is as crucial as the accomplishments. I had to determine a way forward and find a way to balance my introversion with my goals and aspirations.?

As an introvert, I looked within for tools to support my career and goals in life. Introverts have a valuable strength, which is analyzing people. We spend a lot of our childhood and early adulthood listening to those around us, perfecting essential skills for being a good leader, namely critical thinking and listening skills. This sustained analysis of others and the surroundings helped me to connect with people on an individual level. By this self-learned process of individualization, I was able to communicate with people in the language that they related to. Eventually, I was then able to transform those individualized links to connections with larger groups. Finally, I learned how to use my introversion to my benefit; a threshold every introvert must achieve to pave the way for professional success.

Interestingly, research on the topic has started to challenge the notion that extroverts make better leaders and for good reason. According to a study composed by Francesca Gino, some extraverted leaders can be a liability to a company as they don’t allow new ideas to flourish (due to limited capacity to make space for others), whereas an introverted leader is more likely to listen to the ideas of a motivated team. Introverted leaders have strong introspective qualities. They are more likely to think before speaking, focusing on substance rather than on volume, and are much more likely to surround themselves with proactive team members and empower them.

At Aspen Global Incorporated , I have utilized many tools to enable myself for the best chance of success as an introverted CEO. These are tools any introvert can use to enhance their performance. For example, I meditate daily for about 10 minutes to gather my thoughts and recharge in the stillness. It’s well known that introverts benefit from time alone. Then, a couple of times a year I take a few days away from work, family and society, to refocus my energies and prepare myself mentally for “rejoining” the world.?

I have also learned to embrace some classic extroverted traits such as being able to command the attention of a large group, showing confidence as needed and being able to speak up, all while leaning on my introverted traits such as critical thinking, planning and analysis. Today, I can speak comfortably to a large audience and even crack jokes!

Internally, we have worked on empowering introverts and making sure that everyone understands the strengths and weaknesses of both groups so that we can work smarter, together. Every single Aspen employee is trained on Insights Discovery, delving into the different personality traits that enable the individual to understand self and equally important the other person, who may have different traits and inclinations. These training programs offer a pathway to leadership by giving each of our employees a chance to work on their development areas and help to improve their interactions with someone on the other side of the spectrum.

This internal career development plan is far from being a competition between the two different personality types. It is holistic support that seeks to groom each personality type into a good leader, able to thrive in an environment that is full of diverse people on a wide personality spectrum. As an introverted CEO, in a world that still very much rewards extroverts, this is simply my contribution to other potential introverted leaders and my saying that you, too, can succeed in the workplace.?

To my introverted and extraverted readers out there, embrace the uniqueness that makes you who you are and cultivate and explore the parts that are uncomfortable to you. We can all benefit from a little introspection and a caring hug every now and then.