Can an introvert be a sales manager? (2023)

Can an introvert be a sales manager?

The short answer is, yes you can be a successful salesperson as an introvert. Being effective in sales comes down to learned skills, not personality type. Here's what HubSpot's Flora Wang, Associate Product Manager, says about her experience working in sales as an introvert.

Introverts have inherent skills that make them ideal salespeople. They're good listeners who avoid needless chatter, like to prepare, excel at critical thinking, and communicate well in writing. To succeed in sales using those skills, play to your strengths.

One of the biggest misconceptions about introverted managers is that they are not effective leaders. However, introverts typically have all the top qualities for effective, sustainable leadership, including focus, thoughtfulness, self-awareness and the ability to really listen.

An introvert leader can guide, mentor, make important decisions, and network just as well as an extrovert leader. Even though their style is different, introverted leaders have valuable gifts they can harness to improve their work and the lives of those they manage.

Introverts thrive in professions that offer them plenty of space and independence. Most introverts perform better in workplaces with fewer external distractions. Good jobs for introverts include accounting, engineering, and technical writing.

Use your introvert intuition to ask questions.

Use this intuition to ask prospects questions, keying off what your prospects say to pose thoughtful, relevant questions throughout the sales conversation. Asking questions really keeps your prospects focused on themselves, which is all they really care about anyway.

And their quiet demeanor and good listening skills cause people to feel more comfortable, confident, and trusting. All of these are beneficial traits to successful teams and companies. If you're an introvert, recognize you can be a great leader, too.

Being quiet or introverted definitely doesn't preclude you from excelling at management; in fact, you probably bring strengths like introspection and listening skills that can be quite helpful in managing other people.

In fact, research from Harvard Business School suggests introverts can be better leaders than extroverts, especially if they are leading proactive employees. If you are introverted, there are unique traits you can take advantage of to be a leader.

What is the advantage of introvert manager?

However, they also tend to command the center of attention and take over discussions. In a dynamic, unpredictable environment, introverts are often more effective leaders—particularly when workers are proactive, offering ideas for improving the business. Such behavior can make extroverted leaders feel threatened.

But in many cases, being an introvert can actually be an asset. Introverts are people who get their energy from spending time alone, according to Dr. Jennifer Kahnweiler, author of The Introverted Leader: Building on Your Quiet Strength. “It's kind of like a battery they recharge,” she says.

Not only do introverts make great listeners, they're mindful of their environment and the things happening around them. Because they're observant, they're able to notice both the mistakes and successes of others and pick up on what to do and what to avoid in order to be successful.

Being an introvert is often considered weak. They aren't quite as good as the extroverts, who just seem to breeze through life. But that's not true, there is nothing wrong with being an introvert. The main problem is with society, which doesn't see it in the same way.

Yes, it's true: New research says that introverts could have a higher IQ. Think you're a genius? Take this Mensa quiz to find out. Generally speaking, the more often people socialize with friends, the happier they feel.

Studies have also shown that there is almost zero correlation between extraversion and sales performance – both extroverts and introverts have personality traits that can help them excel at sales and develop a successful career.

Introverted leaders often empower their teams and let others shine. Since most introverts do not crave the spotlight or a significant amount of attention, they encourage the recognition of their counterparts and direct reports. It is one of the unique skills that many people lack but introverts are gifted with it.

What percentage of leaders are introverts?

But there's a catch: That 5% of midlevel managers, that 3% of executives, and that 2% of top executives(you know, the introverts), tend to deliver incredible and unexpected results. Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Larry Page, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln.

A soft-spoken person can exhibit prime leadership material in several important ways: By listening more, and not just speaking. By eschewing personal ambition and ego in favor of the company's needs. By having the ability to connect with all types of employees, including those intimidated by overbearing personalities.

Introverts can be fantastic leaders when given the chance. They don't seize power but rather start quietly leading those around them through mentorship, encouragement, wisdom, and inspiration. Introverts value others' perspectives. They keep their egos in check, and they don't take risks without thinking them through.

Social anxiety can sometimes be crippling, but that doesn't mean you can't have a successful career in management. In general, it's possible to be a manager with social anxiety. In fact, some research suggests that socially anxious people may make better leaders than their counterparts who are more confident.

Introverted managers are needed as much as extroverted leaders in the workplace. Introverts bring a different set of abilities and personality traits to the job that help maintain balance, foster new ways of thinking and offer different ways of motivating and relating to employees.

Because someone is introverted it doesn't automatically mean that they lack confidence, they lack self-belief, or that they are shy. Introversion is NOT something that has to be gotten over or grown out of.

What are introverts usually good at?

Introverts are usually better listeners.

The “quiet ones” really do tend to listen and consider the ideas and feelings of others. In conversation, they may take mental notes and focus intently on what the other person is trying to express — as opposed to simply waiting for their chance to speak.

We live in a culture that equates leadership and ambition with extroversion and being present. That can be difficult for introverts, who may excel at work but struggle with office politics, long hours of being “on,” and overstimulation from noise, light and people in our personal space.

Introverts are looked down upon for lack of good 'communication skills'. Right from an early age, introverts have to compete very hard with peers, who seem to have no problem in public or interpersonal speaking. What seems to be effortless for peers is actually the most difficult task for an introverted child.

An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what's happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds.

Elon Musk is a self-proclaimed introvert entrepreneur. There is a common misconception that only extroverts can succeed in business.

In 2011, research by psychologists Jennifer Grimes, Jonathan Cheek, and Julie Norem broke introversion into four main types: social introvert, thinking introvert, anxious introvert, and restrained introvert.

Low and middle-level managers tend to be introverts. However, as you climb up the corporate ladder, extroverts become more common. Just because extroverts are more likely to be top-level leaders, doesn't mean introverts cannot succeed, too.

They tend to be empathetic

Empathy allows salespeople to put themselves in other people's shoes, which it critical to understanding a prospect's needs. Introverts tend to be empathetic, which is perhaps part of the reason they're so selective in who they engage with. But this same empathy becomes an asset when selling.

How do I stop being shy as a manager?

But management isn't for everyone, and that's okay. You can politely decline or accept a demotion if you feel it's best for you. Become a consultant, choose to specialize in your field, or find an exciting opportunity at a different company. These are all examples of what to do if you don't want to be a manager.

The lack of empathy is common among managements, even though they do a great job. However, it is hard to improve a weakness that you are not aware of, and selfishness is the main agent that clouds the judgment.

Introverts can be more conservative about risk taking

Risk-taking is often regarded as vital to great leadership. But in reality, leaders shouldn't take risks just for the adrenaline rush — and a more conservative approach to decision-making can help you identify smart risks worth taking, Cain said.