I received an email from a reader last night who said she was frustrated that her opportunities for leadership within her company were limited because (as her superiors said) she is an introvert.  As I sigh and think "haven't we been through this a million times," I know this isn't an issue going away any time soon.  So, for all of you superiors out there who weren't listening the first time, here we go!  :)

The misconceptions about Introversion run rampant, and it is clear that the superiors this reader work under do not understand personality type.  Introversion is characterized by a need to recharge one's energy internally or by being alone.  That's it!  It's not about social skills, number of friends, loudness at parties, shyness, lack of charisma, being a wallflower, or any other stereotype.

Plenty of introverts are skilled at "acting" extroverted in necessary situations.  An introvert who understands their energy needs will be able to "extrovert" with the others and be a social butterfly and then simply retire to their own personal space to recharge for their next social function.

This is something an introvert should work on and be aware of if they want to or have to perform in an extroverted role.  Social skills are a different beast entirely.  Hunter Nuttall presented a list of ways Introverts and Extroverts can work to better understand each other.

One only needs to look at the list of successful CEOs, leaders, presidents, and public figures who are believed to be introverts to realize that Introverts play a major role in leadership:

Bill Gates

Warren Buffet

Brenda Barnes

Steven Spielberg

Charles Schwab

Gandhi

Mother Theresa

Martin Luther King Jr.

Dwight David Eisenhower

Thomas Edison

Joan of Arc

Jackie Kennedy

Robert Kennedy

Socrates

Abraham Lincoln

John D. Rockefeller Sr.

Harry Truman

There are tons of sites out there who guess the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type of public figures.  One of my favorites is by Elizabeth Wagele.  Her site provides hypotheses of MBTI and Enneagram types for everyone from Napoleon Dynamite characters to Shakira and Britney Spears!  It's a great site!

Many say that Introverts are at an advantage in leadership roles.  For example, introverts tend to carefully consider their thoughts and use careful wording when expressing their opinions (as opposed to extroverts who tend to think out loud).  This can be a wonderful quality in a leadership role, as a mis-spoken word can lead to hot water from the public.

Introverts tend to be reserved, but that does not mean they are unable to command attention when necessary.  An Introvert can be equally as charismatic as an extrovert.  Even so, according to Jim Collins in Good to Great, charisma can be a handicap.  He sees non-celebrity CEOs as an asset to an organization.  I've always liked the saying "Say little, speak volumes."  That is what some introverts can do in a leadership role.  Sometimes a good listener is more important than a good speaker.

Interestingly, some research reports that 70% of CEOs are Introverts (compared to approximately 50% of the over 40 population as a whole).  That is quite a phenomenon.

So, don't count your introverts out.  You might miss out on your own Harry Truman, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa or Gandhi!