Does Shyness Mean You're Not Leadership Material?

There's no shame in being shy. Plenty of us have social anxieties or a lack of confidence, but shyness is no barrier to forging a successful career and becoming a great leader. In fact, some of the best leaders are those who are more introverted, more reflective and better at listening to others. If you've been offered a leadership role and aren't sure you're cut out for it, don't turn it down just because you think you're too shy.

For starters, have a little more confidence in yourself. Someone has seen something in you which you've not acknowledged to yourself – you have talents and abilities, they have spotted your great potential and they want to help you succeed. That counts for a lot.

Think of a couple of managers you really respect and admire, then seek them out for advice. If you see certain behaviours they exhibit and you want to emulate, ask them how they developed these traits. You can learn a lot from other people, so act on their guidance and increase your comfort with behaving in a more managerial way.

You may have to push yourself outside your comfort zone on occasion, but it will be worth it. You have the skills there, you just need to tap into them. As a shy person, you probably have great emotional intelligence and an appreciation of other people's feelings. You can use that, it's a great asset. Treating people as you would like to be treated wins them round, so your whole team will be right behind you and supporting you. Have faith and go for it.