Misconceptions about Introverts – Part 2

The previous article covered the Top 3 misunderstandings/misconceptions about Introverts.

The Top 3 misconceptions are

• they are shy
• they lack confidence
• introverts don’t like talking

In that, I also detailed the three personality types – Introverts, Extroverts, and Ambiverts.

If you missed this, you may read the same here:?https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/introverts-misunder...

What are some other misunderstandings or perceptions about Introverts?

Misconception: An Introvert is not a people person, or they have an attitude or are rude.

The perception is created because of the natural tendency of introverts to speak only when required. Introverts don’t like small talk, and hence they may avoid people.

Introverts have a limited number of friends in their close circle, but whomever they have as friends, they build deeper relationships with them.

One of the strengths of Introverts is Good Listening Skills. This helps them to be empathetic with others. So, if you closely know an Introvert, you will realize that they are amazing people with deep insights about others too. They can be friendly like anyone else.?

Misconception:?Introverts hate socializing

As described in the previous email, the natural tendency of an Introvert is to be quiet. They thrive in a quiet environment. Large gatherings give a feeling of suffocation for introverts. Some introverts hate loud music or the noise generated because of chit-chat. So, Introverts think twice before being in such an environment. It can overwhelm and drain them.

But that doesn’t mean that Introverts hate socializing. They prefer to socialize in small groups rather than large groups. Introverts prefer building deeper relationships rather than having casual chit-chat.

Diane Cameron, a writer, said this:?“Introverts crave meaning, so party chit-chat feels like sandpaper to our psyche.”?

Misconception:? That Introverts are boring

Again, because of the natural tendency to be quiet, another perception about Introverts is that they are boring. Let us, for a moment, consider the opposite scenario. Are all talkative people interesting all the time?

Introverts can be witty. Sometimes they can come up with great one-liners, making you laugh hard.?

Research on the Internet says that Charlie Chaplin was an Introvert.

Introverts can articulate well (Barack Obama is an example) and inspire people.

Introverts can be empathetic and understanding.

Introverts can be very creative (J K Rowling, Steven Spielberg)

In reality, Introverts can be pretty talkative and expressive when it comes to their area of passion. You need to get to know them better and closer.?

Misconception:? That they are not suitable for Leadership Roles

Let us accept the reality. In a corporate environment, one is expected to

• Collaborate within and outside teams
• Interact with different team members
• Network with other department members
• Speak up in meetings
• Attend lunch/dinner parties
• Socialize with customers Etc

For extroverts, these are pretty natural. But for Introverts, these are not natural. They must consciously put effort into making all the above happen. But these are things they can do and can make happen. Several Introvert leaders have made a mark. Here are some examples based on the Internet Research

• Bill Gates
• Warren Buffet
• Mark Zuckerberg
• Marissa Mayer
• Elon Musk
• Gautam Adani
• Historical leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, and Mahatma Gandhi
• In art, science, and writing - Albert Einstein, JK Rowling, Meryl Streep, Susan Cain, Steven Spielberg, Deepika Padukone, Sidharth Malhotra.

Well, they have become leaders in their own space. They have led people, inspired people, influenced people, speak up where required.

So being an Introvert doesn’t mean one doesn’t have leadership skills.

Since certain traits mentioned about introverts?are not natural,?Introverts need to be self-aware, upskill themselves and take action to succeed in an ideally-designed-for-extroverts corporate environment. Having said that, even extroverts need to upskill their leadership skills as required.?

What are some of your thoughts? Who are some Introvert leaders whom you know?

#leadership?#leadershipcoach?#introverts?#introvertsareawesome

Johncey George is an International Coaching Federation accredited Leadership and Life Coach. He is a ICF PCC and an empaneled coach with several organizations.

Johncey (https://www.coachjohncey.com) focuses on Executive Leadership coaching.

Johncey has special interest and expertise in coaching introverts. He is India’s first and leading Leadership Coach for Introverts. He helps them celebrate their strengths and become successful as leaders. Being an introvert himself, he understands their thinking process. He combines this knowledge, his corporate leadership experience and his coaching expertise to help create more leaders among the Introverts.

Johncey has 23 years of corporate leadership experience as COO, Director, Board of Directors. He did his BE in Computer Science and did his Management Education from IIM Bangalore, Harvard Business School, ISB Hyderabad.

Johncey runs a 1 year program Leadership Success Club to help Introvert professionals fast-track their career growth to Senior Management and CxO roles. Please write to johncey@coachjohncey.com for more details.