Who is more powerful introvert or extrovert?

Research in this area tends to support the idea that extroverts have an advantage in business leadership. They are regarded as being better at motivating others, building more lasting relationships, and, in general, generating better results than introverted leaders.

helloezra.com - Outreach | Introvert Or Extrovert? - EZRA coach

Do spiders live when you vacuum them?

When spiders get sucked into a vacuum cleaner, can they eventually crawl back out, or do they suffocate in all that dust? Almost every spider...

Last updated Apr 3, 2021

What is the Ritz Carlton $2000 rule?

The most well-known measure taken by the Ritz Carlton is called the "2000$ rule". According to that rule every employee of the hotel is allowed to...

Last updated Oct 21, 2019

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

A Look at Leadership Personality Why it’s time to shy away from old notions leadership Its often assumed that people who are extroverts make the best leaders, but introverts are uniquely positioned to navigate problems that their counterparts can struggle with. The best leaders often demonstrate a hybrid style that adopts flexible elements of both personality types. There’s a tendency to assume that leaders need to be extroverts. And that’s not surprising when you consider the example set by high-profile leaders. Most leaders in the public eye exhibit outgoing, social tendencies. They are confident public speakers, tend to hold down key spots at big events, and are frequently interviewed or profiled in news media. It all combines to support the idea that good leaders are genial, gregarious, and confident. Research in this area tends to support the idea that extroverts have an advantage in business leadership. They are regarded as being better at motivating others, building more lasting relationships, and, in general, generating better results than introverted leaders. Does that mean you need to be an extrovert to be a successful leader? Oddly, although many qualities that we want all leaders to have – deep thinker, collaborative, the ability to keep their cool in a crisis, compassionate – are more often found in quiet, introverted leaders. In this guide, we explore the characteristics of both extroverts and introverts and explain why everyone can benefit from a hybrid approach to leadership.

The study of introverts and extroverts

The terms introvert and extrovert were created in 1921 by Carl Jung, a psychoanalyst who studied how different personality types reacted to external stimuli. He theorized that extroverts direct their energies outwards while introverts focus their energy inwards. Other researchers took Jung’s work and started looking for ways of categorizing leaders culminating in the discovery that there are, in fact, differences in how extroverts' and introverts' brains function. If we examine the entire body of research that began with Jung’s hypothesis, we are left with distinct characteristics that have become closely associated with introverts and extroverts.

Introverts

Energy comes from within

Keep their public image separate from their private image

Shy around others

Have few close friends

Are quiet in large groups

Can concentrate without being distracted for a long period of time

Think carefully before speaking

Love to observe when learning

Take time to make decisions to consider all possibilities

Contain their emotions, sometimes to their detriment

Extroverts

Energy comes from social interactions

Public and private images are very similar

Very sociable;

Makes friends with relative ease

Outspoken in large groups;

Can be easily distracted and may find it hard to focus

Tend to think out loud and are often driven by their emotions

Typically learn from doing things rather than observing

Are prone to rash decisions

Unafraid to speak their mind in almost any situation

Having a look at these two lists, it’s easy to think that introverts and extroverts are mutually exclusive from each other. In reality, nobody is a pure introvert or extrovert; most of us demonstrate qualities from both lists. For example, someone may be very sociable but still only consider a small portion of their acquaintances as close friends. Similarly, someone may occasionally make quick, emotionally driven decisions even though they’re more accustomed to carefully planning their response.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts

What is the safest way to give someone a large amount of money?

Sending a wire transfer through your bank might be the best way to send a large amount quickly. As convenient as P2P apps are, they limit how much...

Last updated May 8, 2021

Why is iron so critical to life?

Iron is an essential element for blood production. About 70 percent of your body's iron is found in the red blood cells of your blood called...

Last updated Dec 24, 2020

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

While both introverts and extroverts have their places in the world of business, it’s important to understand that there are benefits and drawbacks to both leadership styles. In fact, good leaders often have both extroverted and introverted qualities and, more importantly, the self-awareness to know when to adopt each style. For example, there are quite a few successful business leaders who are self-described introverts. Like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos among the most notable. While all these leaders may demonstrate qualities of introverts, they also unleash their inner extrovert when needed. All the leaders mentioned are comfortable in front of a microphone, making many of the highest-profile announcements for their companies. They are unflappable in media interviews and bear the brunt of any controversies their companies may be drawn into. Let’s look at some of the qualities associated with both styles of leadership to see which are desirable and which need to be kept in check.

Extroverted leaders

Pros

The ability of extroverts to make decisions quickly can be a tremendous advantage in certain business scenarios. They are quick to establish relationships with their team members, and because they aren’t afraid to speak their minds, they can easily hold everyone accountable while also garnering loyalty and trust. In outward-facing situations, because extroverts usually have no trouble becoming the center of attention, they are quick to make meaningful connections with clients. No surprise, you’re highly likely to find many extroverts working in the demanding world of sales.

Cons

Extroverted leaders can be prone to neglecting the welfare of their workers, particularly anyone who demonstrates introverted qualities. Teams are comprised of many different personality types; while some respond well to extroverted leaders and appreciate their willingness to speak their minds and make decisions quicker, others need time to think about their tasks and plan ahead. Extroverted leaders tend to require their teams to mirror the extroverted approach and can be hard on anyone who doesn’t get with the program. Extroverted leaders also find it hard to delegate or collaborate with others. Since they’re accustomed to pushing their own points of view and agendas, it may be difficult for them to share decision-making or ask for help. This can result in toxic relationships.

Introverted leaders

Pros

Given their preference to carefully study the landscape carefully before acting, introverted leaders tend to be great listeners. Introverted leaders love hearing suggestions from their teams and are open to adopting someone else’s idea if it makes sense. Along with their capacity for listening and preference for collaboration, introverted leaders often display qualities like empathy and compassion, the hallmarks of emotional intelligence. Although it may take a little longer for people to warm up to an introverted leader, over time, relationships can develop into strong, meaningful bonds. Introverts are also known for having better focus and concentration, particularly when faced with a crisis. Teams with introverted leaders tend to be more productive and innovative over the long haul.

Cons

Which exercise increases confidence?

When you do aerobic exercise, you feed your brain with valuable nutrients and oxygen, improving cognitive function. After exercise, you tend to...

Last updated Sep 15, 2020

Is citrine good for everyday?

Like other types of quartz, citrine is quite durable, which makes it great for everyday wear in pieces like earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and...

Last updated Jan 7, 2021

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

Given their quieter approach, people assume introverts are weak or ineffective. In fact, surveys have shown that executives see introversion as a problem in business leadership. As such, there’s a bias against introverted leaders that can lead their teams to lose faith in their abilities. Because Introverts find it hard to engage in large social gatherings where they’re expected to interact with others, they find it difficult to add their voice to discussions and decisions. Just as extroverts have trouble managing introverted team members, introverted leaders may also find it difficult to cope and build strong working relationships with extroverted employees. Although most academic research into this topic tends to give an advantage to extroverted leaders, there is a growing body of work suggesting that introverts have considerable value too. Susan Cain, the author of several books on the advantages of a more introverted approach to leadership, has argued that there is “zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” In reality, all business leaders need to have both introverted and extroverted qualities. More importantly, leaders need to have the flexibility to adapt and display the qualities that will elicit the best results from their teams or organizations. A 2011 Harvard Business School study involved an experiment where groups of students were asked to fold t-shirts in a competition to win an iPod. The study found that groups with introverted leaders and passive members failed because they could not engage or motivate each other. On the other hand, groups with extroverted leaders and proactive members were in constant conflict with each other, and groups led by extroverts but comprised of passive members got the task done but failed to generate new ideas. You can draw a number of conclusions from this study, but in general, it does seem to suggest that good leaders apply the style and approach that is most appropriate given the personalities of the people on their teams. So, as Cain would argue, extroverts can’t always be the best leaders because some people don’t respond well to extroverts. There definitely should be an effort to eliminate the stigma against introverted leaders and to stop focusing on extroverts as de-facto leaders in business, just as we should stop assuming that extroverts are natural leaders. However, it’s important to include both introverted and extroverted qualities to create the leadership style that best suits your team and organization. That is going to require leaders to step outside their comfort zones and, at times, suppress some of their natural tendencies for the good of the team. Good leaders are not just loud or just quiet. Good leaders are loud and outgoing when they need to be and quiet and reflective when their teams need to be heard. Finding a balance between introvert and extrovert will provide your people – and your organization - with the leader they really need.

Back To Top

helloezra.com - Outreach | Introvert Or Extrovert? - EZRA coach

How many numbers do you need to win $1 million on Powerball?

In Texas, one person match five numbers, excluding the Powerball, to win a $1 million cash prize. According to Lotto Texas, the ticket was sold at...

Last updated May 13, 2018

Can you feel when death is close?

What are the signs that death is near? Someone who is very close to death will likely refuse food and water. Their breathing and heart rates will...

Last updated Nov 27, 2021

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

What are the 7 powers of God?

The sevenfold ministry of the Spirit Including the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirits of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of...

Last updated Nov 6, 2018

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

How much money is considered a large deposit?

A large deposit is defined as a single deposit that exceeds 50% of the total monthly qualifying income for the loan. When bank statements...

Last updated Mar 7, 2019