A Harvard study reveals the importance of matching a leader's personality with the activity level of their team for success. Teams led by extraverted leaders perform better when their team members are less proactive.

In the opposite, teams driven by introverted leaders excel when their team members are more proactive, suggesting that they need leaders who listen more and speak less.

This study is important in the context of generational shifts. Many studies have already demonstrated how the new generation, which has been affected the most by COVID, have changed valuing different work environments and leadership approaches, the traditional preference for extraverted leadership may no longer hold as the universal standard.

As mentioned in the article, below are reported the antithetical point of views:

"Scientific research now shows that behaving in an extraverted manner is the key to success as a leader. Like John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jack Welch, great leaders are extraverted: their behavior is bold, talkative, energetic, active, assertive, and adventurous. This enables them to communicate a strong, dominant vision that inspires followers to deliver results."

"Scientific research now shows that behaving in an introverted manner is the key to success as a leader. Like Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, and Socrates, great leaders are introverted: their behavior is quiet, shy, reserved, and unadventurous. This enables them to empower their people to deliver results."

Based on your direct experience, what is the best personality for leadership in Science/Academia?

How can we support our leaders in improving the communication with a team which has a different personality and communication style?

How this has affected the performance and outcomes of your work and the relationship with your PI?

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How Introverted and Extraverted Leaders Affect Team Success