What introverted leaders said about how they Manage the Perceptions of Others

• “People respond well to my 'authentic' leadership style that is seen as thoughtful and 'genuine'. People are more open and less-defensive given this style.”
  
  
• “I do management by walking about. I make sure that I say something/greet people when/wherever I see them. I am positive and cheerful and that is what people see.”
  
  
• “Putting on the outward front of being thrusting, capable and achieving can be trying at times and, over time, I accepted and adopted the approach of just being myself. At least I didn't give the impression (I hope) of being a poseur!”
  
  
• “I have been working on communicating more clearly with my own team and those that I work with, for example peers - in terms of verbalising my thought processes.”
  
  
• “My interaction on social media was slowed down because of my worry about how others would perceive my messages. I eventually took to sending re-tweets (forwarding messages from others) as part of staying interactive.”
  
  
• “Honesty and an ability to laugh at yourself take you a long way.”
  
  
• “Whilst I am capable of ‘extroversion’, it tends to be in short bursts and something that I have judged to be necessary either in advance or faced with certain scenarios.”
  
  
• “I have raised my profile and that of my employer significantly within the local and wider community...and enjoyed doing it.”
  
  
• “I am at ease listening, reflecting and holding silence. Introversion is not the only component but it helps to establish that as an approach. So people can appreciate me as unconditional, supportive, thoughtful and interested.”
  
  
• “I have been perceived as giving in too much to more extrovert members of staff which is not the case. You need to decide which battles are worth fighting.”