Natural leadership is a series of skills that are innate in some individuals. They may be risk takers and people look to them to lead when there is no obvious leader in the room. But what about others who want to have an impact on their team, and the best opportunity is by following a path to leadership where they can make real change? Here are some things you are doing great if you are not a natural leader, and how to have an effective leadership presence.
There is a misunderstanding about what a natural born leader is. If you think of a natural leader, you will likely think of someone who people naturally gravitate towards because they are outgoing, charismatic, and able to vocalize their vision with ease.
Introverted people are often categorized as ‘not a natural leader’. Introverts falsely believe that because they are not comfortable at the front of the room that they have no room for leadership opportunities. Stop believing this nonsense!
One of the most effective leaders I have ever met was an incredibly quiet man. But when he spoke up, the whole room stopped to listen. He had developed his own leadership authenticity without being the loudest in the room. How? He had leadership authenticity, leadership presence, and quiet confidence.
How can an introvert become a leader?
Although I believe that leadership is easier when you are an extrovert, it does not automatically mean that you will be a good leader. Check out the list of characteristics below to see why being an extrovert is not an automatic free ride to leadership. Instead it is about nurturing all of the different traits of a great leader. You probably already exhibit many of these traits, which is why you are trying to learn more about being a leader today!
- Drive
- Desire to lead
- Honesty and integrity
- Self confidence
- Cognitive ability
- Knowledge of the business
These traits can be exhibited by anyone, not just extroverts! This is an essential list of 6 traits that a great leader must exhibit. You can have parts of the list, but if you miss pieces of the puzzle, it just doesn’t feel complete and the rest of the team will notice. For instance, an extrovert can have the drive and desire to lead a team, but if they have no knowledge of the business, their leadership will hit a roadblock and followers will leave.
This is the same way that you must show self confidence as an introvert. You can have all of the other traits, but you you need to demonstrate self confidence.
Instead of deciding that you cannot be a leader because it does not seem to come naturally to you, you must instead focus on developing your own leadership authenticity so that others will follow.
Develop your own leadership authenticity
Leadership authenticity is about being yourself and not emulating a “model of leadership” in your head that doesn’t actually fit who you are. If you are not naturally an extrovert – don’t try and be one!
The people who know you will see right through it and you will be exhausted by the end of the day trying to put on a show.
Take it from me, I became more confident in my leadership when I stopped trying to fit a mold of who I thought I needed to be. Instead, I was myself and gained followers because they trusted my vision – because I believed it myself.
Have leadership presence without being an extrovert
Although you do not need to be the loudest person in the room to be a successful leader, you cannot expect success unless you are a present leader.
A present leader is someone who is highly accessible and visible to their staff. It is also a blend of both interpersonal soft skills where you are there in the conversation or when interacting with your team.
How do you make others feel when they are around you? Do they feel good in your presence and feel like you have their back as a leader when things get tough?
Develop that leadership self confidence
There is a bit of a misunderstanding that introverts are not confident. Just because someone does not feel the need to fill the silence with conversation does not mean that they lack confidence.
Quiet confidence is all about being that present leader mentioned above and adding in body language that conveys confidence. To display quiet confidence:
- stand up straight
- make eye contact
- show respect for yourself, no self-deprecating jokes because you are nervous
- be an engaged listener. Nod along with points they are making.
The concept that anyone who is introverted is automatically ‘not a natural leader’ is completely false. Although being extroverted might help you on your leadership journey, it is only one piece of the bigger leadership quality puzzle. Develop that leadership authenticity, leadership presence, and quiet self confidence and you will be unstoppable!