“Leadership is for the extroverted.”
This was a belief I held strongly at the start of my leadership journey.
To me, a typical leader was someone dynamic, outspoken, and able to command a room with sheer presence and eloquence.
Yet, this image conflicted with my own quieter, more introspective nature.
I found myself at a crossroads, torn between the necessity to be authentic and the perceived need to be an effective leader.
This made me wonder if I could truly lead.
It wasn’t until I came across Susan Cain’s work on introversion that I experienced a seismic shift in perspective on the concept of quiet leadership.
To further explore this topic, I reached out to my friend Angela Lin, a quiet leader and finance executive. She helps quiet leaders reach their full potential.
She shared with me the following 8 hidden strengths of quiet leaders:
1/ Win-Win: Resolves conflict in an inclusive manner.
2/ Strategic: Carefully thinks through risks and plans decisions.
3/Reliable: Self-motivated, gets things done and achieves goals.
4/Problem Solver: Thinks deeply to find new solutions.
5/Deep Thinker: Analyzes details to share valuable insights.
6/ Humility: Asks questions and hires people smarter than themselves.
7/ Calm in Crisis: Keeps cool during tough times, helping others feel steady.
8/ Empathetic: Listens closely, understands, and responds to others’ needs.
Quiet leaders make an impact that’s not just heard but truly felt.
Quiet is strong. Quiet is powerful.
