我們很少看到“性格內(nèi)向者”和“領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者”同時出現(xiàn)在一句話當(dāng)中。畢竟，人們通常的觀點是，外向者能夠成為優(yōu)秀的公共演說家和社交能手——這是CEO和組織領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者必備的兩種技能，但內(nèi)向者并不具備這些能力。事實上，《今日美國報》進(jìn)行的一項調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，65%的高管認(rèn)為內(nèi)向是一種領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力障礙。

有趣的是，這篇文章同時強調(diào)，約40%的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者實際上屬于內(nèi)向型性格——他們只是更擅長讓自己適應(yīng)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(nèi)向者”。

如果你正在考慮創(chuàng)業(yè)，但認(rèn)為自己并不擅長交際，你應(yīng)該知道下面六個關(guān)于內(nèi)向者的事實：

1. 性格內(nèi)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(nèi)向者則會選擇更加慎重的方式。所以我們經(jīng)常聽到外向者說：“我們行動吧！”而內(nèi)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(chuàng)業(yè)的優(yōu)勢？因為對于任何創(chuàng)始人而言，承擔(dān)風(fēng)險就像一個“成人儀式”，但性格內(nèi)向者卻經(jīng)常會感到左右為難。你可能要權(quán)衡不同的選擇，在是與否、做與不做之間搖擺不定?，F(xiàn)在，你知道了背后的原因。

了解自己在進(jìn)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(chuàng)業(yè)者每天都要做出有影響力的決策。其次，盡管每家初創(chuàng)公司都需要承擔(dān)一定的風(fēng)險才能向前發(fā)展，但它同樣需要慎重地處理資本和資源。

2. 性格內(nèi)向者在傾聽中學(xué)習(xí)。

在社交場合，性格內(nèi)向者不會進(jìn)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(xué)習(xí)自己應(yīng)該說些什么。

此外，暢銷書作家、Quiet Revolution網(wǎng)站的創(chuàng)始人蘇珊?凱恩認(rèn)為，內(nèi)向者都熱愛學(xué)習(xí)。性格內(nèi)向者屬于內(nèi)在驅(qū)動型，因此他們更傾向于尋求內(nèi)心的滿足，并不考慮是否達(dá)到外部的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。試想一下，這會對績效標(biāo)準(zhǔn)產(chǎn)生怎樣的影響？

3. 性格內(nèi)向者會利用他們的含蓄個性。

是否還記得這樣的情境：在學(xué)校里，總是有幾個學(xué)生滔滔不絕地發(fā)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(fā)生了什么？所有人都轉(zhuǎn)過頭來，敬畏地看著小約翰尼說話。這便是典型的性格內(nèi)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(fā)言，這將在其他人心目中樹立一種積極的形象。

4. 性格內(nèi)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(nèi)向者對自身的能力和成就有更準(zhǔn)確的認(rèn)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(rèn)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(yè)獲得成功的主要因素。

謙遜也意味著以開放的心態(tài)傾聽新的觀點，或接受對立的信息。

5. 性格內(nèi)向者能夠應(yīng)對不確定性。

相比性格外向者，性格內(nèi)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(nèi)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(chuàng)業(yè)者增加成功的砝碼。

6. 性格內(nèi)向者能適應(yīng)獨自工作。

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

對此，蘋果公司聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人史蒂夫?沃茲尼亞克這樣解釋：“我見過的多數(shù)發(fā)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(dāng)他們獨處的時候，工作最有成效，可以控制一項發(fā)明的設(shè)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(shè)計出革命性的產(chǎn)品和功能?！?/p>

所以，內(nèi)向型領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者比外向型領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者表現(xiàn)更差，只是一種誤解而已。不論你是內(nèi)向型還是外向型，都應(yīng)該充分利用自己的個性優(yōu)勢，領(lǐng)導(dǎo)公司向前進(jìn)。（財富中文網(wǎng)）

譯者：劉進(jìn)龍/汪皓

審校：任文科

It’s rare that you see the words “introvert” and “l(fā)eader” 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.