我們很少看到“性格內向者”和“領導者”同時出現在一句話當中。畢竟，人們通常的觀點是，外向者能夠成為優秀的公共演說家和社交能手——這是CEO和組織領導者必備的兩種技能，但內向者并不具備這些能力。事實上，《今日美國報》進行的一項調查發現，65%的高管認為內向是一種領導力障礙。

有趣的是，這篇文章同時強調，約40%的領導者實際上屬于內向型性格——他們只是更擅長讓自己適應情境要求。比爾?蓋茨、沃倫?巴菲特和查爾斯?施瓦布都是“性格內向者”。

如果你正在考慮創業，但認為自己并不擅長交際，你應該知道下面六個關于內向者的事實：

1. 性格內向者更慎重。

性格外向者往往對回報更加敏感，因此他們更傾向于冒險。與之相反，性格內向者則會選擇更加慎重的方式。所以我們經常聽到外向者說：“我們行動吧！”而內向者卻會問：“我們確定這樣做是正確的嗎？”

知道這一點為什么會成為創業的優勢？因為對于任何創始人而言，承擔風險就像一個“成人儀式”，但性格內向者卻經常會感到左右為難。你可能要權衡不同的選擇，在是與否、做與不做之間搖擺不定?，F在，你知道了背后的原因。

了解自己在進行決策時具有怎樣的傾向，實際上是一種自我提升的方式，而創業者每天都要做出有影響力的決策。其次，盡管每家初創公司都需要承擔一定的風險才能向前發展，但它同樣需要慎重地處理資本和資源。

2. 性格內向者在傾聽中學習。

在社交場合，性格內向者不會進行華而不實的閑聊。他們在開口之前，會專心致志地傾聽和吸收他人的話。在別人說話的時候，他們不會考慮自己要說什么，而是通過用心傾聽來學習自己應該說些什么。

此外，暢銷書作家、Quiet Revolution網站的創始人蘇珊?凱恩認為，內向者都熱愛學習。性格內向者屬于內在驅動型，因此他們更傾向于尋求內心的滿足，并不考慮是否達到外部的標準。試想一下，這會對績效標準產生怎樣的影響？

3. 性格內向者會利用他們的含蓄個性。

是否還記得這樣的情境：在學校里，總是有幾個學生滔滔不絕地發言，突然一向沉默寡言、性格靦腆的小約翰尼打斷了談話？接下來發生了什么？所有人都轉過頭來，敬畏地看著小約翰尼說話。這便是典型的性格內向者利用其“在場”力量的例子：這一刻他們是全場的焦點，他們沉著冷靜地發言，這將在其他人心目中樹立一種積極的形象。

4. 性格內向者為人謙遜。

我并不是說性格外向者便不懂謙遜，但性格內向者對自身的能力和成就有更準確的認識（不要將謙遜與低估自己混為一談）。謙遜需要人們具備承認錯誤、缺點、知識差距和局限性的能力——這些是推動生活和事業獲得成功的主要因素。

謙遜也意味著以開放的心態傾聽新的觀點，或接受對立的信息。

5. 性格內向者能夠應對不確定性。

相比性格外向者，性格內向者對外部激勵的敏感性更低，因此，他們更擅長在信息有限的情況下工作，并能抵御自暴自棄的沖動。性格內向者更有可能堅持找到最初并不明顯的解決方案。

不相信嗎？或許你會相信阿爾伯特?愛因斯坦的話：“我成功并不是因為我聰明，而是我花了更多的時間來考慮問題?！?/p>

你或許說我是瘋子（你絕不是第一個），但在不確定性普遍存在的情況下，找到確定性將為任何一位創業者增加成功的砝碼。

6. 性格內向者能適應獨自工作。

即便你通過合伙或合資的方式創建一家公司，你在職業生涯當中也一定會遇到獨自工作的時候。內向者更愿意獨自工作，因為在這種狀態下，他們才能最專注于工作。

對此，蘋果公司聯合創始人史蒂夫?沃茲尼亞克這樣解釋：“我見過的多數發明家和工程師就像我一樣——他們性格靦腆，生活在自己的世界里。當他們獨處的時候，工作最有成效，可以控制一項發明的設計。我要給你的一條建議是：獨自工作，盡管這可能有些難以接受。獨自工作的時候，你能夠設計出革命性的產品和功能?！?/p>

所以，內向型領導者比外向型領導者表現更差，只是一種誤解而已。不論你是內向型還是外向型，都應該充分利用自己的個性優勢，領導公司向前進。（財富中文網）

譯者：劉進龍/汪皓

審校：任文科

It’s rare that you see the words “introvert” and “leader” in the same sentence. After all, the common perception is that extroverts make great public speakers and are excellent networkers — two things CEOs and organizational leaders must be — and that introverts are not. In fact, a poll conducted by USA Today cited 65 percent of executives who believed introversion to be a barrier to leadership.

Interestingly, the same article highlights that roughly 40 percent of leaders actually are introverted — they’re just better at adapting themselves to situational demands. Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Charles Schwab are just a few “innies.”

If you are considering starting a business but don’t consider yourself a social butterfly, here are six truths about introverts that you should know about:

1. Introverts are prudent.

Unlike their extroverted counterparts who are more sensitive to rewards, which explains why extroverts are more pre-disposed to risk-taking, introverts take a circumspect approach to chance. This is why you hear extroverts say things such as, “Let’s just do it!” whereas introverts prefer to ask, “are we sure this is the right thing to do?”

Why is knowing this an entrepreneurial advantage? Risk-taking is a rite of passage for any founder yet can often feel awkward. You may vacillate between yes and no, go and no-go while you weigh different options. Now you know why.

Recognizing how you’re predisposed to decision-making is how you improve, and entrepreneurs make impactful decisions every day. Second, while every startup necessitates some risk to propel it forward, it also requires prudence in capital and resources.

2. Introverts learn by listening.

Rather than the flashy chit-chat that defines social gatherings, introverts listen intently to what others say and internalize it before they speak. They’re not thinking about what to say while the other person is still talking, but rather listening so they can learn what to say.

Along the same lines, introverts share a common love of learning, according to bestselling author and founder of Quiet Revolution, Susan Cain. They are intrinsically motivated and therefore seek content regardless of achieving an external standard. How’s that for a performance standard?

3. Introverts leverage their quiet nature.

Remember being in school and hearing the same kids contribute, until shy little Johnny — who never said a peep — chimed in? Then what happened? Everyone turned around to look in awe at little Johnny actually talking. This is how introverts leverage their power of presence: they “own” the moment by speaking calmly and deliberately, which translates to a positive perception.

4. Introverts demonstrate humility.

Not to say that extroverts aren’t humble, but introverts tend to have an accurate sense of their abilities and achievements (not to be confused with underestimated). Humility entails the ability to acknowledge mistakes, imperfections, knowledge gaps and limitations — all key ingredients for getting ahead in business and life.

Being humble also indicates an openness to hear new ideas or receive contradictory information.

5. Introverts manage uncertainty.

Since introverts have a lower sensitivity to external rewards than extroverts, they’re more comfortable working with little information and resisting self-defeating impulses. Introverts are also more likely to persist in finding solutions that aren’t initially apparent.

Don’t believe me? Maybe you’ll believe Albert Einstein, who said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s that I stay with problems longer.”

Call me crazy (you wouldn’t be the first), but finding certainty where uncertainty typically prevails is a huge plus for any entrepreneur.

6. Introverts are comfortable working alone.

Even if you start a company through a partnership or joint venture, you will likely find yourself working alone at some point in your career. Introverts prefer working in isolation because it affords the greatest opportunity to focus.

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, put it this way, “Most inventors and engineers I have met are like me — they’re shy and they live in their heads. They work best when they are alone, and can control an invention’s design. I’m going to give you some advice that might be hard to take: work alone. You’re going to be able to design revolutionary products and features.”

The myth that introverts are less effective leaders than their extroverted brethren is just that. Leverage your personality strengths to lead your business no matter what side of the spectrum you fall on.