Introverts Can Be Leaders Too

HBR On Leadership

We all have preconceived notions about the personality types are associated with good leadership — like confidence or emotional intelligence. But what about shyness? If you’re more reserved but truly competent, can you become a leader?

In this episode, an emerging leader speaks candidly about how her introversion affects her ability to lead. Then author and former clinical psychologist Alice Boyes explains why being shy and being a leader aren’t always in conflict.

“The goal is not to become less anxious or to hide your anxiety better. The goal is to be less ashamed of being anxious,” Boyes tells Women at Work hosts Amy Bernstein, Emily Caulfield, and Amy Gallo. “The actual problem is shame about anxiety or shyness, and not anxiety itself.”

Boyes adds that there are professional advantages of some personality traits related to shyness — like sensitivity and thoughtfulness.

Key episode topics include: leadership, managing people, gender, anxiety, introversion, strengths and weaknesses, career planning.

HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week.

• Listen to the original Women at Work episode: Too Shy to Be a Leader? (Oct 2020)
• Find more episodes of Women at Work
• Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org.