It’s commonly thought that every good leader should be extroverted and outgoing. People tend to imagine a leader as someone who gives motivational speeches and gets along famously with everyone they work with, both of which requires a certain amount of extroversion. While there is truth to this idea, being outgoing is not a prerequisite for leadership.
First, a leader needs to listen to those that they are leading. If a person is too outgoing, this can be a problem. They might have trouble not being the one talking, or they might be so busy with social activities that they can’t find time to talk extensively with one of their followers. Thus their outgoing nature can limit the ability of the team to work together seamlessly.
Second, a leader needs to be able to plan. This is hard to do if one is constantly moving from one social activity to another, unless these activities are meant to build the plan or to put it into action. This is compounded by the possibility of lacking communication. Again, being too outgoing limits success.
Some people argue that a leader must be outgoing because a shy person would make a horrible leader. Their reasoning is that they wouldn’t be able to communicate and inspire their people easily. But this argument has a fallacy: they assume that not being outgoing automatically makes one shy. This isn’t true. Not being outgoing could just mean one is introverted. This isn’t the same as shyness, which has more to do with being uncomfortable around people than where a person gets their mental and emotional energy from. An extrovert gains mental or emotional energy from the world outside their own mind. They tend to like more activities that involve other people. Introverts gain mental or emotional energy from their minds. Though they can enjoy social activities, they can actually drain them since they can’t get as lost in their own thoughts.
In fact, though I am using the terms “being extroverted” and “being outgoing” almost interchangeably, they aren’t the same either. One doesn’t have to be outgoing to be an extrovert, or vice versa. I know a shy extrovert. I also know a few introverts who are very outgoing.
An introverted leader might not spend as much time socializing or giving inspiring speeches, but any good leader ought to lead by example, and that is just as easy for an introvert as an extrovert.
Don’t get me wrong, an outgoing person brings a lot to a team and that shouldn’t be devalued, but too often that outgoing nature becomes a must-have trait of leadership. We talk about networking and team activities as though they are synonymous with an outgoing trait, and everyone likes the idea of a people person. However, let’s not forget the more reserved, who are just as capable of leadership if given the chance to do so. We need a variety of leaders in order to bring the best ideas and opportunities to our goals. If we make only one type of person qualify, we limit our future.
