Ideas｜内向型领导的力量

The power of quiet leadership
Look at the leaders around you. What do you see? Calm, reasoned individuals, who listen, and make considered judgements? Or something very different? Great leaders are often seen as classic confident, extroverts who can speak without thinking, react rapidly and change tack pretty frequently. It's what best-selling author Susan Cain calls "The Extrovert Ideal". But is this really what we need right now?

I'd argue that the crises of our time need a more considered approach. A quieter one. Let's look at the status quo. Extroverts are over-represented in senior leadership positions. One study found an incredible 98% of top executives scoring "very high" or "above average" on the extrovert scale. But people aren't on the whole satisfied with their leaders. Could there be a connection between the two?

There are lots of examples through history of successful leaders who have taken that quieter approach. For example, Rosa Parks, Mahatma Gandhi, or Bill Gates. Research shows that introverts often bring a great deal to the table. They're more likely to listen and process the ideas of their team, and consider those ideas deeply before acting on them. They may be humble and more likely to credit their team for ideas and performance. And because their motivation generally comes from within, they're less likely to compromise themselves chasing rewards like money or power. I think we need to re-examine the way our society views effective leadership, and whether we really are allowing the space for all team members to thrive.

Research suggests that between 40 and 60% of employees tend to the quieter, more introverted, side of things. They can often feel invisible in meetings, because their thoughtful approach means they have difficulty responding to those common on-the-spot questions. Many leadership courses can tend to focus on extroverted team activities, such as networking and presentations, leaving quieter people perhaps mistakenly believing they just don't have the qualities of a "good" leader. An approach that fails to bring out the best in around half of us is not just bad for quieter people, it's a disservice to us all.

Leadership is complex, but in a world of soundbites, sledgehammer tactics and black-and-white thinking, perhaps standing back and listening can be empowering to leaders and their followers. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu puts it, the best leaders are those that "talk little" and when their work is done and their aims fulfilled, their followers will say, "We did it ourselves."

词汇表
reasoned [ˈriːz(ə)nd] 合逻辑的，理智的
considered [kənˈsɪdəd] 深思熟虑的，经慎重考虑的
extrovert [ˈekstrəvɜːt] 外向的人；外向的
tack [tæk] 行动方针，策略
best-selling 畅销的，抢手的
status quo [ˌsteɪtəs 'kwəʊ] 现状
over-represented 过度代表的，代表人数（或比例）过大的
extrovert scale 外向性量表
senior leadership [ˈsiːniə(r)][ˈliːdə(r)ʃɪp] 高层领导
introvert [ˈɪntrəvɜːt] 性格内向的，内向的人
bring sth to the table （为团队）带来好处，提供有价值的贡献
credit [ˈkredɪt] 归功于；信任；赞扬
compromise [ˈkɒmprəmaɪz] 妥协，折中，让步
invisible [ɪnˈvɪzɪb(ə)l] 被忽视的，不为人注意的
on-the-spot 现场的，当场的
networking [ˈnetˌwɜː(r)kɪŋ] 社交，发展人际关系
bring out the best 激发潜能，发挥最佳水平
disservice [dɪsˈsɜːvɪs] 损害，伤害，危害
soundbite ['saʊndbaɪt] （新闻节目等引述的）讲话片段，妙语，金句
sledgehammer [ˈsledʒˌhæmə(r)] 强力的, 手下不留情的
tactics [ˈtæktɪks] 策略，手段，战术
black-and-white 非黑即白的，是非分明的
stand back 退后，置身事外（考虑）

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