“Ambiverts – individuals with characteristics of both introverts and extroverts. Could this balance equip them to be superior business leaders?” – by Jason Ankeny Entrepreneur March 2015 edition.
We so often hear about the extremes of introverts vs extroverts. What about those balanced and tempered personalities? We can turn it on when the occasion calls for energetic leadership, but we can also drill down and focus on the details of those pesky reports.
Ever notice those that strive for balance in their life seem be more joyful. Those more rounded personality types seem to be comfortable in just about any setting you put them in. They are able to relax, and take down time, and they are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and work hard.
When we are balanced, we are more likely to function at our highest capacity. So how do we achieve balance with so much being thrown our way? We’ve all heard the practical applications; sleep, diet, exercise… Those are good foundational practices but how do we move to develop both sides of our personality?
It’s simple. We ask ourselves what areas of work we avoid because it makes us uncomfortable. Then we lean into that discomfort and stretch ourselves. Do we need to sit quietly in a meeting (extrovert) or speak up and take charge of a project (introvert)?
We are not attempting here to change our personality. We are simply willing to look at those areas we are interested in developing. Of course it’s uncomfortable. If we wait to ‘feel comfortable’ before we change, then we are making a commitment to do nothing and have no intention of change.
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie.
This is not to be confused with knee jerk “reactivity”. This is thoughtful introspection on how to develop our full abilities. In fact, reactivity is another manic defense keeping us from realizing our highest leadership potential. We must pause when agitated, or when we are emotionally reactive, then consider the best course of action outside our own ego demands. This takes training our mind. Introverts are more likely to think and not act. Introverts are more likely to act but not think.
The ambivert is able to think and then act upon their thoughts, because they strive for balance. Develop the ambivert within you!
“Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
There were things I found extremely distasteful at work, so I would put them to the edge of my desk. I realized the list of “distasteful” only grew with that mindset. So I committed. I grabbed the stack and started to work my way through it. From that day forward, I have made a commitment to tackle my least favorite things first and just get them out of the way. Now things don’t pile up on, and overwhelm me, very often. My mind is clear because it not distracted by those things on the edge of my desk! I have more energy, and more focus, to channel into finding creative solutions that move things forward.
“In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.” – Dalai Lama