If you prefer video content over text, I explain this material with fun, musical examples in my YouTube video.
Leadership doesn’t have to be loud. It doesn’t have to be big or “charismatic” either.
Leadership needs to connect. And to connect it must be authentic.
In this article, I break down how quiet leaders can influence without changing who they are:
What Not To Do
If you’re introverted, you’ve probably been told:
- To speak up or speak louder
- That you aren’t “leadership material”
In other words, people have insinuated:
- Your personality is incorrect because it doesn’t align with the “standard”
- Leaders need to be loud to appear confident, and talk fast to appear smart
To fit in and satisfy people’s expectations, you’ve likely tried to assimilate. To appear interested, excited, and “confident”, you’ve tried to speak louder and more frequently, with more “energy” and “emotion”…
What To Do
Check out how Susan Cain, bestselling author of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking,” responds to an interview question in her own, introverted way:
The interviewer asked the question, “It seems to me that … that living the quiet life is uncomfortable?” with an intense, animated exuberance.
Instead of trying to mask her introversion by responding with just as much intensity, “interest” and “passion”, Susan responds like this:
“It may be uncomfortable at the beginning but what I find is many people feel incredibly liberated”
You still feel her interest and her passion, her confidence, and self-assuredness.
But not because she’s “loud” and “fast”. You feel it because she’s speaking authentically, without fear and without desire to assimilate.
Summary
As an introvert, the only thing you need to do is let go of your fear: your fear of what others think and what the “right thing” to say is.
While business culture has come to favor the “extroverted” model of leadership and communication, you can be the disruptive, authentic voice that cuts through the noise.
In your own quiet, confident way you can speak meaningfully and purposefully, and people will listen.
If you’re looking for further guidance on how to differentiate your communication skills and stand out in the workplace, take my free self-assessment.
I’m writing a book on thinking quickly, speaking clearly, presenting convincingly, and supercharging your executive presence. My current focus: a section on how to edit responses for conciseness. This will be a deep-dive into cutting back excess words and ideas so your point is crystal clear.
Follow me on LinkedIn for more updates on the book and its release!
