Can Introverts Be Leaders?

Simply stated, yes. Introverts can be leaders, but it takes some special skills and good communication to be really effective at it.

Leaders are more often extroverts who are outgoing, charismatic people. But this isn’t always the case. If you are shy and prefer staying behind the scenes, you can still be a very effective leader. But you need to be honest with those you lead and must surround yourself with complimentary personalities who help form a successful management team.

If you are an introvert, but find yourself in a leadership role, here are five basic principles to follow:

1.  Be open and honest with your people. Let them know your strengths and preferences.

2.  Communicate often with staff and in multiple ways in order to be “high touch”.

3.  Make yourself accessible as often as possible. Be disciplined and “connect” with people in your own way.

4.  Be yourself. Don’t try to change who you are. Find ways of expressing your leadership to show that you are “comfortable in your own skin”.

5.  Use your “alone time” to greatest advantage – by thinking and planning your vision for the future.

Not every introvert can lead, but those who follow these simple principles will lead more effectively.

Lead well!

Monitoring Progress

There are several key elements you need to consider when monitoring the progress of any new hire, but especially a leader or manager. And the higher the level, the more important the monitoring, because there is so much more at stake. Here are five rules I recommend…..[click to read]

Here are a few Business & Life Tips to think about…..

Business Tips:

• Learn to project your voice clearly and confidently in any speech or demonstration. Make eye contact, be concise, and be convincing.
• There is a big gap between having a great idea and being able to execute on it. Ideas without effective execution are just ideas.
• If you aren’t passionate about your job or career, what are you passionate about? Knowing this will set the next direction to take.

Life Tips:

• Time can be a great resource to help others, or a terrible waste of human capital. Make your time a true value to people in the remaining months of 2013.
• If you are faithful in the small things of life, you will be faithful in the larger things, too. Small things really matter.
• Don’t wait for the perfect partner, the perfect boss, or the perfect job. You’ll wait too long. Look for excellence, not perfection.

Tags: Advice, Business Tips, Developing Leaders, Leadership Excellence, Leadership Skills, Life Tips, Management, Personal Development, Responsibility, Success, The Mind of a Leader