“I suspect that another reason for the creativity gap in the leadership ranks is that many creative thinkers are introverts. Studies suggest that innovation often requires solitude – and that the majority of spectacularly creative people across a range of fields are introverts, or at least comfortable with spending large chunks of time alone.
People who like to spend time alone are decidedly at odds with today’s team-based organizational culture. Introverts are much less likely than extroverts to be groomed for leadership positions, according to management research, even though another Wharton study led by Professor Adam Grant found that introverted leaders outperform extroverted ones when managing proactive employees — precisely because they give them the freedom to dream up and implement new ideas.”
From “Why Creative People Are Rarely Seen as Leaders, and What To Do About It,” by Susan Cain
Introverts
Introverts and Energy
“[I]ntroverts are people who find other people tiring” ~ Jonathan Rauch A StumbleUpon suggestion this morning led to me to a very good list of Top Ten Myths About Introverts, my favorite being this: Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public. Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public …
Writing as an Introvert (or “As I wrote in my book…”)
Ben Myers, in a piece in the Guardian yesterday on the public role of the private writer, bemoans the fact that “we’re living in era where a writer can’t just write. They have to be out there.” No kidding. Last spring I attended a local writers’ conference. I hadn’t been to one in a few …