People come in a near-infinite variety of traits. And despite the world’s best efforts to cater to extroverts, the truth of the matter is that many people are introverts―even successful business owners! Attending client reveals, leading high-stakes meetings, and managing your team can be draining for some design business owners. In an industry that rewards external validation with coveted magazine placements and influencers with TV shows, the introverted leader often feels like they need to fake it until they make it if they want to stand among their peers. And that can be exhausting. But it’s important to respect your social battery so you can continue giving your firm the attention it needs. In this article, we’ll show you how you can grow a successful business without risking complete social burnout.
The Strengths of Being an Introvert
When others seem to gain energy by being in social situations, being an introvert can feel like a weakness in the design industry. But this personality trait has more strengths than you might think!
While anyone can develop good listening skills, and some studies prove there is no correlation, there is a long-held belief that introverts are better listeners than extroverts. Even if this is just a myth, being an active listener is something you can focus on. And in interior design, that can be a great strength. Those with the ability to listen carefully, understand a client’s needs, and relay their preferences back to them will go far in this industry. Take the time to absorb a conversation rather than jumping to a hasty conclusion. Extroverts are great at connecting with a lot of people, but introverts can go deep in one-on-one conversations. Use this connection to your advantage!
If you don’t care for the limelight or having your face all over a magazine spread, that can be an advantage as well. Some designers chase these methods of external validation and see it as success, even when their net profit is draining. Introverted leaders may be more likely to focus on the health of the business’s systems, cash flow, and culture. This will result in more long-term success.
Delegation and Screening
Introverts tend to reflect and plan before acting, which means you can step more cautiously and calmly rather than making a rash decision.
Delegating is good advice for every CEO, not just introverted leaders. But it can be incredibly beneficial for those with a sensitive social battery. At the beginning of a project, you should be setting the creative vision and overall strategic direction. To avoid social burnout, the middle 80% of the projects should be delegated to your employees. This will include a lot of busy work, but also a lot of communication with vendors, clients, and contractors. Finally, you’ll return for the last portion of the project to put on the finishing touches for the client reveal.
On a similar note, it’s important to screen clients. Ideally, your brand voice should act as a filter without any additional effort, attracting decisive clients that won’t waste your time or energy. But if non-ideal clients still find their way into your application process, it’s important to stick to your ideal client profile and accept only the clients that fit your vision and further the development of your business.
Invest in People’s Strengths
Good leaders are skilled at identifying the strengths of their employees. Rather than shoehorning people into tasks based on their job title, you can delegate tasks based on skill. Introverted leaders who want to avoid the spotlight are more likely to let employees take the spotlight, and you can use that to your advantage. If you have a relationship-driven extrovert on your team, consider having them be the primary point of contact for client updates, even if they’re not the lead designer on the project. This can also apply to in-person events. If you, as the owner, don’t absolutely need to be there, designate a socialable employee to represent the firm.
Hiring a great team of proactive action-takers rather than staff who need their hands held will be great for your mental well-being and overall business success. If your staff is low-maintenance, you’ll have that much more emotional energy to focus on tasks beyond just herding cats. Not only will you be able to reserve your mental load for important, strategic tasks, but you’ll also have more space for personal well-being activities like fitness and meditation. Create non-negotiable time blocks for these activities.
Introverted CEO Advice from Gail Doby
You might be surprised to learn that Pearl Collective’s own co-founder considers herself an introvert. Who better to hear from on the topic than Gail Doby herself? Here is Gail’s simple advice for introverted leaders:
“If you’re an introvert, you need time to recharge without people. Every day, you need quiet time to think and plan. Know your prime time to work on projects on your own. For me, I like early morning before 9am. I love 2 to 4 hours of uninterrupted work time without Zoom calls. After a full day of meetings, it’s good to have time to rest, drink water, walk around, and break from talking with other people. It’s also good to have buffer time before re-engaging with your family. Protect your energy by diet and exercise, as well as plenty of water. Cut screen time at least an hour before bed. It’s just as draining to read emails as it is to be in a room full of people. It’s OK to be an introvert because don’t we really rule the world?”
If you’re an introverted leader, stop trying to manage like an extrovert. Instead, focus on your strengths and the strengths of your team to make sure everyone is doing the work they’re best-suited for. Design your business so that you can move from overwhelmed to strategic!