Introverts have been known to influence the flow and direction of the society quietly.
How they respond to life can be treated with utter grace that some find it hard to understand.
Often misunderstood as shy, introverts feel at their highest, most alert, and most productive in a tranquil, smooth-paced environment.
Former President Barack Obama, Marissa Mayer, Warren Buffett, Hillary Clinton, and Mark Zuckerberg are among the powerful introverts we know.
They have changed and shaped the world we live in with their intense introversion.
One-third to half of the population is believed to be introverts. Despite their preference for serenity over an active environment, introverts have five ways to be more influential in a complex world.
1. Quiet time can be used to reflect and analyze data.
Some of the most life-changing decisions persist during quiet moments. While some people cannot sit alone with their thoughts, introverts are best at this. Sitting alone with your thoughts can be your time of scrutiny and can guide you on ways to use data to solve compelling problems.
Introverts are known to take calculated, well-calibrated risks. This is because they are not influenced by rash thinking. They are driven by the results that come out of silence.
Quiet times can be used for productivity. An example is renowned investor Warren Buffett. Buffet uses his moments of silence to reflect on which steps to take in his investment ventures. He formed an attitude of being fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.
We can see how he was able to thrive as the world’s most significant investor by using his quiet time wisely. From his quiet times of reflection, he could write many books about investing.
2. The writing process activates idea generation.
Throughout history, writing has been used to liberate the marginalized and proclaim the rights of the deprived. Writing has been weaponized. Writers can revolutionize and transform the world through literature.
Introverted scholars write down their ideas to compose articles, books, and white papers. Solitude, reading, and writing are the building blocks for great literary results. J.K. Rowling, the author of the well-known Harry Potter series, magnified the power of writing and creating a massive body of work.
As they say, if you choose not to speak it, you can write it.
Related: How to Become the Strategist Your Group Quietly Needs
Related: How to Become the Strategist Your Group Quietly Needs
3. Planning and preparation are the essentials for effective strategy making.
Introverts have a preternatural skill for concentrating on what’s essential and postponing today’s pleasures for tomorrow’s opportunities. They prepare, plan, and lay out steps to logical conclusions. Impulses do not guide introverts.
These logisticians are masterminds at executing initiatives that positively affect organizational development.
Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer displays this love for planning. While admitting that her natural shyness makes her want to run and hide during social gatherings, with her passion for preparation, she was able to prepare and lay out the plans that her company will be taking.
Indeed, as an introverted leader, she was able to transform Yahoo into a web giant. This teaches us that with careful planning, introverts can genuinely turn their vision into reality.
4. Focused communication brings phenomenal results.
Introverts are known to have the ability to keep conversations on point. They are not wordy people, and sometimes their straightforwardness can be shocking. This makes them purpose-driven scholars because they know exactly what they want to elicit from conversations.
Usually short and impactful, their message can be quickly received across channels. However, their true intentions lie in wanting to keep the conversation focused. This is often shown in their choice of words.
They know how to hold conversations without being too verbose. They apply the right amount of listening and contribute to the discussion. Their stock in trade uses minimal words that convey powerful messages.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, is known to be a focused conversationalist. His work may be about social networking, but his personality is the opposite of his creation.
He has a less-charismatic personality but knows when to give and hold back. He is known to be very collaborative and built genuine connections as his company’s Chief Executive Officer.
He values his people highly.
You can see how engaged he becomes during the conversation, which has brought Facebook massive success. With many upgrades from where it began, one can only conclude that the conversations they lead are the ones that matter.
5. Active listening cultivates transformative ideas.
Aside from measured speech, introverts are also active listeners. They value other people’s opinions and pay close attention to details knowing that every word said has a weight of its own. If there is another thing to add up to the things they love doing; indeed, it is the art of listening.
With listening comes understanding other people’s opinions and the ability to influence individuals and groups by tapping into visceral needs. Being persuasive, energetic, and strategic are essential soft skills in the 21st century, and the art of listening is also highly valued.
A good listener learns more and uses this knowledge to create transformational ideas. Solutions are better synthesized with effective listening skills.
Former President Barack Obama shows this skill for listening. He is not the type of guy with a wide circle of friends and is not into uttering flowery words.
However, you know he takes in all your words when he listens. Whether you agreed with his politics, you could appreciate the intent and thoughtfulness that his listening engendered for progressive policies. Such skills served his presidency well in his ability to connect with individuals within every sector of society. These are only some ways introverts can become more influential in a complex world. Introverts make good scholars and thought leaders because these critical skills are part of their DNA. To offset these skills with tactics that are antithetical to the core of introverts would be a recipe for disaster and personality betrayal.
—Warren Houser
References
Adams, S. (2013, May 7). Six ways introverts can be more powerful. Forbes. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/3PbtZ5w.
Cole, S. (2014, June 18). 7 famous leaders who prove introverts can be wildly successful. Fast Company. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/3APhKHz.
Rampton, J. (n.d.). 23 of the most amazingly successful introverts in history. Inc. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/2BoKyX7.
