Confessions of an Introverted Leader

Being an introverted leader is a bitter-sweet experience. 

It’s sweet because I can finally get out of my quiet shell and contribute in ways I desperately want to.

But then again, it’s also bitter because I would rather hide in the shadows and make a quiet difference than be the center of attention.

My major difficulty is the opposition—those people who quietly and some, loudly, believe that you’re incapable of leading because of your disposition.

But this oftentimes fuels my motivation to do better and show the world that being an introvert doesn’t limit my potential.

But at what cost? Well, that’s up to me.

Recently, I was appointed as the second in command of a community development group; and unfortunately, my superior was the worst.

He was loud and narcissistic and wanted others to follow his orders without questioning him. It was safe to say that he lacked empathy and the ability to lead others with compassion.

He was expecting his second-in-command to have the same mantra. Buy ironically, he got paired with someone who doesn’t believe in leading by force, and this was a big tousle.

He believed that because I was quiet, I would follow through with every instruction without giving an opinion. But when he realized that I believed that true leadership isn’t something you enforce but earn through efforts, he was enraged.

He tried his best to make me resign from the position by frustrating my efforts, but that didn’t work out well. Next, he started tagging me as inefficient to make the organizers revoke my leadership authority, but I had already made a difference. Even though it was quiet, it was too obvious to ignore.

Lastly, he came at me directly and aggressively, telling everyone I was trying to cause a division in the group. But at this point, everyone could see his tactics.

While all these were going on, there were critical things I did to maintain my integrity and earn the loyalty of my subordinates. 

I allowed room for contributions at every point, which helped everyone air their ideas and grievances. Then, I made changes according to their suggestion. This always made everyone feel included in the activities of the group.

Most importantly, I didn’t confront my superior in front of others. Even though there were times that I was provoked, my introspective nature always made me pause and reevaluate myself. This was something that even the organizers of the group observed and commended me for, which in their words, was a sign of true leadership.

Now, why all these stories?

While popular knowledge may suggest that introverts often don’t have the capacity or confidence to lead, I beg to differ. I would have thought the same for myself until I was thrown into leadership and I realized how my quiet qualities prepared me to lead effectively.

So it’s safe to say that being loud and charismatic aren’t the major qualities that make a leader. Your ability to listen, give creative input, face adversities prudently, and promote togetherness, amongst others, make you an excellent leader.

All that’s left is the mindset. Once you believe that you have something to offer, you’ll be able to silence your inner critic, and also those who don’t believe in introverts.

If you’re eager to develop this aspect, here’s a quick course to build your confidence as an introvert, which is tested and trusted. P.S. We might earn a commission for a purchase made through this link.

Final thoughts

Have you ever been in a position of leadership as an introvert? What was your experience? Did you face adversity when in that position? How did you overcome the challenges? Let me know in the comment section below.