Lisa Petrilli - The Introverts Guide to Success in Business and Leadership

The Introvert's Guide

To Success

in Business

and Leadership

By Lisa Petrilli

Inspired by

the brilliant and insightful readers of my

Visionary Leadership Blog

~

Dedicated to Introverts around the World

2011 | All rights reserved

Lisa Petrilli |C-Level Strategies, Inc.|LisaPetrilli.com

The Introverts Guide | TheIntrovertsGuide.net

Foreword

One of the very first blog posts I ever wrote was entitled, Youre Just Not That into Me (The Introverts Guide to Attending a Conference). I knew it needed to be written, but I had no idea just how strongly it would resonate with my fellow introverts around the world.

I had readers respond in the comments with words like, exactly how I feel, and, really hits home, only to be followed with stories about how hard it had been for them to put themselves out there when attending events, yet how rewarding it had been when they found the courage to do so.

When I took the next step and wrote about how introverts can succeed in the business world in, The Introverts Guide to Leadership, the response was so overwhelming that I knew this eBook was destined to come to life.

The reality is, while both introverted and extroverted leaders excel at leadership and in business, it's my experience that introverts have a more difficult time moving up the ladder to reach the executive level in the real world, for a variety of reasons.

These reasons include, but are not limited to, being less comfortable seeking the visibility required to be recognized within a company, a lack of mentoring on how to network effectively in a way that is comfortable for introverts, the fact that introverts tend to move to action less quickly than their extroverted counterparts, and that they may be less likely to ask for new opportunities and increased responsibilities because of their more reserved nature.

I believe its also because they simply have a more difficult time, particularly during the formative part their career and in job interviews, putting themselves out there in a way that gets them noticed and boosts them up the ladder rungs.

I say we put an end to this for good Its time we give ourselves permission to be more successful and more empowered than we ever thought possible. Make way for Introverts!

My Wish for All of You ... Rethink Introversion!

My wish for introverts all over the world is, first and foremost, the ability to genuinely appreciate and celebrate our unique strengths and superpowers.

Being an introvert is not a disadvantage! On the contrary, being an introvert can be a real advantage in business and leadership. Introverts love the world of ideas, we love to reflect, and we thrive on deep relationships with a small number of people who become pillars in our life.

We have the power to change the world with our ideas, and we have the power to change the lives of others through our quiet leadership and steadfast support.

When we bring our ideas to life, when we inspire others to follow our vision, and when we serve as purposeful leaders we improve the world in a dramatic ripple effect.

Are you ready to get started?

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You Are Not Alone

One of the most fascinating discoveries I made when writing the blog posts that ultimately formed my, Introverts Guide to Business and Leadership blog series was how many people had previously felt that they were all alone in their experiences.

Comments on the blog included, Nice to see Im not alone and, One thing I realized is that everyone else is just as afraid (to network) as I am.

So, your first critical step is to realize that as an introvert you are not alone in this world. We may be a bit outnumbered, as varying studies show introverts represent anywhere from 25% to 49% of the general population, but studies also show that introversion increases with intelligence ( http://talentdevelop.com/articles/GiftIntrov.html ) and more than 75% of people with IQs above 160 are introverts. On top of that, many exceptional and wildly successful leaders who have changed the world are believed to be introverts, including Bill Gates and Abraham Lincoln.

Dont let anything stop you from recognizing your own brilliance and potential to be an outstanding leader. Open your mind and heart to accept that there are millions of people who fully understand this important part of how you show up in the world. Keep all of this in mind as you put fear behind you and move forward confidently toward success introvert style!

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SECTION ONE: A Little Background on the Difference between Is and Es

Before we jump into the how-tos of using your introversion to your advantage in business and leadership, its critically important that we look at the difference between introversion and extraversion. Im using the Myers-Briggs Foundation ( www.MyersBriggs.org ) as the official reference for this eBook. Their mission is to continue the work of Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, developers of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator instrument, designed to "enable individuals to grow through an understanding and appreciation of individual differences in healthy personalities and enhance harmony and productivity in diverse groups."

According to the Myers & Briggs Foundation

Extraversion or Introversion?

The first pair of psychological preferences is Extraversion and Introversion. Where do you put your attention and get your energy? Do you like to spend time in the outer world of people and things (Extraversion), or in your inner world of ideas and images (Introversion)?

Extraversion and Introversion as terms used by C. G. Jung explain different attitudes people use to direct their energy. These words have a meaning in psychology that is different from the way they are used in everyday language.

Everyone spends some time extroverting and some time introverting. Dont confuse Introversion with shyness or reclusiveness. They are not related.

Take a minute to ask yourself which of the following descriptions seems more natural, effortless, and comfortable for you?

Extraversion (E)

I like getting my energy from active involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. Im excited when Im around people and I like to energize other people. I like moving into action and making things happen. I generally feel at home in the world. I often understand a problem better when I can talk out loud about it and hear what others

have to say.

The following statements generally apply to me:

• I am seen as outgoing or as a people person.
• I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them.
• I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people.
• I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and dont allow enough time to think it over.
• Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why.

Introversion (I)

I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what Ill be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.

The following statements generally apply to me: