There\u2019s almost no situation in a corporate, business environment that being an introvert, as people would generally say, is favorable.<\/p>\n
From the get-go, every self-help book, video, or article would tell you that above all else, you need to be able to exert a specific type of charm to win people over. We grew up thinking that, for the most part, being alone, shy, and quiet in work and social environments would label you as an outlier. On a larger scale, there are certain skills so exclusively prized by organizations and companies that introversion would feel like a sign of weakness and disadvantage. Because for a field that thrives on a lot of conversations, eye contact, charisma, public speaking, and teamwork, an introvert is probably not the persona that would first come to mind when asked to think about a successful leader.<\/p>\n
But upon research, you would immediately learn that in contrast to the misconceptions that we were taught to believe, introversion is not about shyness or quietness, but about the way that a person recharges their energy to be able to focus, think, and stay sane. Physiologically, an article from introvert author and lawyer Susan Cain explains that it involves the levels at which people respond to the dopamine reward network. Essentially, introverts, who only get overstimulated by it, feel more rewarded by the pleasures found in solitude such as reading, watching, and reflecting.<\/p>\n
In practice, though, medical websites Healthline and Very Well Mind suggest that signs of leaning towards introversion may include: getting drained over social interactions and having small groups of friends; tending to appear distracted and zoned out; enjoying solitude; and being independent.<\/p>\n
Hearing these words doesn\u2019t exactly exude the kind of warmth that you would expect from describing a leader, but the truth is, there\u2019s a lot more depth to it.<\/p>\n