5 efficient tips for introverts to strengthen their natural leadership

Here are 5 tips that help introverted managers strengthen their natural leadership.

1. Know your WHY

Knowing what it is you want to achieve, is important for every leader and especially for introverted leaders. As an introvert you tend to get overwhelmed by your environment. To keep yourself on track in noisy, demanding environments you need to know where you are going to.

While extroverts may speak every thought that comes to mind, an introvert will filter his/her thoughts and only speak of the ones he/she thinks are best to share.

What do you want to focus on? What is so important for you, that you want to keep it in the back of you mind at all times? Find out your purpose first.

2. Take your alone time

Introverts spend a lot of time in their own heads. We need this time. It’s how we recharge, reflect and come up with great ideas. So set time aside every single day. Even if it’s 15 minutes. Find somewhere quiet to sit down and just breathe. Let the thoughts flow through your mind. This will give you new insights and solutions. The best way to find your WHY by the way, is by spending time alone. It’s only when there is silence in your head, that you will be able to hear your inner voice.

3. Don’t take yourself too seriously

A good laugh every once in a while reliefs stress. Introverts tend to take things very seriously. They put a lot of pressure on themselves to achieve great results. And often they do. But don’t forget to just sit back and relax once in a while. Take a walk, do something you like, let your mind wander of. That’s when your best ideas will come up.

4. Listen first, talk second

Listening comes naturally to introverts. It’s an underutilized skill in the business world. You don’t want to know how many managers I coach in becoming more active listeners. One key to being viewed as a respected leader is to actively listen to your team members/ clients and then provide guidance and answers. According to Susan Cain, there is zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.

5. Become visible

As an introvert, you may not like speaking in front of groups. You feel more comfortable sitting in the back during group discussions. You like observing more, then socializing. You are reluctant to speak before you have your ideas well worked out, prepared and verified.

But the reality is, if people don’t see or hear you, they will not recognize you as a leader. Introverts too have important things to say. Speak up, even if you think that your idea is not perfect yet. It doesn’t have to be. Grant others the pleasure to get inside your head. Only by sharing your ideas, you can contribute to the organization.  What helps is to mentally lay out what you’re going to say before you say it.

When you know what’s important to you, pursue it with all your heart. Take action to follow through, to become the person you most want to be, and to do the things you most want to do. If you want ongoing support to make those things happen, consider coaching to hold yourself accountable and to move forward – ambitiously – on the things you value most.

So grateful to have shared this with you!

Live on purpose,

Ann.

www.naturalleadership.be