ARTICLE
Introvert or Extrovert? Why Knowing This Makes You a Better Leader
by Shanda K. Miller
Knowing yourself as a leader isn't just about understanding your blind spots or untangling your limiting beliefs, two things I write about in From Supervisor to Super Leader. It also means understanding something more basic: whether you're wired as an introvert or an extrovert.
I used to see my introversion as a weakness. I struggled to think on my feet. Thus, job interviews were nerve-wracking for me because I had to prepare for every possible question in advance. It took me a while to realize that wasn't a flaw. It was just how I'm built. Once I understood that, I could actually work with it instead of against it.
It Really Comes Down to Stimulation
The biggest difference between introverts and extroverts isn't about being shy versus outgoing. It comes down to how much stimulation each of us can comfortably handle.
Introverts have a lower tolerance for stimulation, whether that's noise, crowds, or the sheer number of people in a room. After a long day full of meetings and conversations, an introvert probably wants a quiet evening at home to recharge.
Extroverts work the opposite way. They actually draw energy from high-stimulus environments, and too much time alone or in a quiet space can leave them feeling restless and a little stir-crazy.
For introverts specifically, too much stimulation can make it harder to draw on short-term or long-term memory in the moment. That's exactly why thinking on your feet can feel so much more difficult for us.
Public Speaking Looks Different Depending on Your Wiring
One of the clearest examples of this difference shows up in public speaking. Susan Cain, in her book Quiet, points out that public speaking is a high-stimulus activity, and introverts typically need more preparation time before stepping into it.
That preparation might mean getting ready for a presentation to a large group. It might just as easily mean getting ready to share an idea in a regular team meeting.
Another difference worth naming: introverts tend to think things through alone first, while extroverts often think out loud as they go. Neither approach is better. They're just different paths to the same destination.
The Strengths Each Type Brings to a Team
Once you understand your own wiring, it becomes a lot easier to see the unique strengths each type brings to the table, instead of quietly comparing yourself to the other.
Introverts tend to bring these strengths to a team:
Strong listening skills and sharp observation
A real talent for complex problem-solving
The ability to help a team slow down, think deeply, and strategize
Extroverts tend to bring these strengths instead:
A natural ability to think on their feet
Comfort socializing and building networks with others
Confidence speaking in front of large groups and taking risks
Neither list is more valuable than the other. A team that has both types represented, and genuinely uses both, tends to be a stronger team overall.
Figuring Out Where You Land
If you're not sure whether you lean introvert or extrovert, there are a few solid ways to find out.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is the most widely used assessment for understanding these kinds of individual differences, and how they affect the way we work with others. You can take the full version through a certified administrator, or do a version online for a fee.
Keirsey.com offers a similar assessment for free, if you'd rather start there before deciding to invest further.
Beyond introversion and extroversion, Myers-Briggs also looks at three other areas: Sensing or Intuition, Thinking or Feeling, and Judging or Perceiving. Altogether, these combine into sixteen different temperament types, and Keirsey.com is an excellent resource if you want to dig deeper into yours.
Why This Self-Knowledge Matters
Here's the thing. None of this is just personality trivia to file away and forget.
When you understand your own wiring, you can stop fighting it and start leading from it. If you're an introvert, that might mean building in real preparation time before big meetings, instead of expecting yourself to improvise comfortably. If you're an extrovert, it might mean building in space to think out loud with your team, rather than trying to force quiet solo reflection that doesn't come naturally.
This same understanding also helps you lead your team better. When you recognize that a quieter team member isn't disengaged, just processing internally, you stop misreading them. When you notice an extroverted team member thinks best by talking it through, you create more room for that instead of expecting silent, solitary reflection from everyone.
Put This Into Practice
You don't need a formal assessment to start noticing your own patterns this week.
Here's a simple way to begin:
Notice how you feel after a day full of meetings or social interaction.
Pay attention to whether you prefer to prepare quietly or think out loud with others.
Ask your team members how they prefer to process ideas, rather than assuming everyone works like you do.
Consider taking the Myers-Briggs or a similar assessment if you want more clarity.
Look for one small way to adjust how you prepare for your next big meeting or presentation.
Knowing yourself this well isn't about putting yourself in a box. It's about understanding the specific conditions that let you do your best work, and then giving yourself permission to create them.
Heads up: The image of me in this post is an AI-created illustration, not a photograph. This post is adapted from my book From Supervisor to Super Leader with the help of AI, but thoroughly reviewed and edited by me.
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