Introverts vs. Extrovert: Leadership Battle between Personalities

In any organization composed of people, you can easily expect different personalities, a melting pot of beliefs which can sometimes lead to clash of ideas and opinions. But despite the variety of cultural norms, each individual is also expected to overcome any differences to reach a common goal. 

Friction, conflicts and complaints against other people are normal in any organization especially when there are different personalities. These personalities also make us who we are and determine our capabilities: if we can handle the stress and challenge leading people or be successful in our own opinions and decisions. It is then important to gage our own characteristics. 

Samuel Sarson, human resource coach of the Peterson Group, says, “It’s our innate tendency to be more introverted or extroverted that plays a huge role in determining our natural approach to leadership, as well as our personal happiness and professional success.” 

Determining what we really are can help us fulfill our duties and responsibilities of being a good leader while taking advantage of the positive traits of either of the two extreme personalities. 

“The idea that ‘good leaders are born not made’ isn’t true. Ninety-nine percent of true leaders never planned or chose to be leaders. They rose to the top because they were gifted and skilled in some key area, and the cream rises to the top”, Psychologist and executive coach, Joan Pastor, PhD said in her review on leadership personalities. 

Pastor continues, “But when you become a leader, you have to determine to what degree you are comfortable interacting with other people and how you want to communicate with them”. 

The society is openly accepting extroverts to lead more successfully than its more passive counterpart. However, in many recent studies, introverts who are considered shy and overly-sensitive have shown leadership traits which put them above others. Experts suggest that only difference between these two extremes is their source of energy. 

According to Castor Merx, writer of Leadership Wars and psychologist residing in Jakarta, Indonesia, “introverts and extroverts can switch their batteries in different ways. While extroverts are functioning well with the crowd, introverts need a quiet time alone to think of solutions and reflect on things but that does not mean that they are afraid of people”.

Both worlds are different but can lead to success when we know how to use the right approach.