Jennifer Kahnweiler - The Introverted Leader

Praise for The Introverted Leader

In this timely latest edition, Jennifer Kahnweiler shows that she understands the challenges and, more importantly, the opportunities introverted leaders face daily. With this book you will grow your influence as a global leader in Asia and around the world.

Fabrice Egros, PhD, MBA, President, Asia Pacific and Japan, Lupin

Extrovert Jennifer Kahnweiler is one of introversions first and most articulate and insightful advocates. Drawing on a tide of new research, this timely update of her now-classic book provides powerful new tools to help introverts step forward as leaders and help extroverts understand the benefits of personality diversity in the workplace.

Sophia Dembling, author of The Introverts Way and Introverts in Love

This new edition combines fresh research with a nuanced, enlightened extroverts perspective on the world of the introverted leader. Jennifer gets introverts! Her deep dive into how we can be our best is a gift to introverts at any stage in their leadership journey. Necessary reading for introverted leaders and those who mentor them.

Beth L. Buelow, PCC, author of The Introvert Entrepreneur

This book shows you that your ability to get results determines your success as a leader, and your personality style is secondary to that.

Brian Tracy, author of Get Smart!

Kahnweiler believes that we must recognize the many thoughtful, inwardly focused, quiet gems within our midst. If you count yourself as introverted some or all of the time, this book is a must-read.

Liliana de Kerorguen, MBA, President, La Palette Gourmande

Does the thought of working a room make you want to run from the room? The good news is, you dont have to be the life of the party to be a successful leader. This book teaches you skills you can use to lead with confident, compassionate authority so you command the respect, loyalty, and results you want, need, and deserve. Read it and reap.

Sam Horn, author of POP! and Got Your Attention?

Ive been an executive coach for more than fifteen years and only wish Id had this book sooner for my many introverted clients. Jennifers four-step processclear, concrete, and centered on resultshelps not-so-noisy leaders avoid career derailment and achieve success. If youre an introvertor you coach, mentor, or manage onethis is the book youve been waiting for. Buy it, read it, and put it to work!

Sharon Jordan-Evans, executive coach and coauthor of Love Em or Lose Em

This is an important book for introverts and extroverts alike. Extroverts will benefit by gaining deeper insight into the mind of the introvert. Introverts will learn to embrace their introversion and the true value that they bring to the organizations they serve. The tips and tools that Kahnweiler introduces will help introverts navigate an extroverted corporate world. Shhh. Hear that? Its the sound of your confidence growing!

Bill Treasurer, bestselling author of Courage Goes to Work and Leaders Open Doors

Jennifer Kahnweilers experience with numerous high-level organizations speaks loudly and clearly in this first-of-its-kind book for introverted leaders. Those who are reluctant to step out of the shadows will learn to do so while keeping their personality intact.

Tom Darrow, founder and Principal, Talent Connections, LLC, and Career Spa, LLC, and Past Chair, SHRM Foundation Board of Directors

The Introverted Leader

Building on Your Quiet Strength

SECOND EDITION

Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, PhD

with a Foreword by
Douglas R. Conant

The Introverted Leader

Copyright 2009, 2013, 2018 by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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Second Edition

Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-5230-9433-2

PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-9431-8

IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-9432-5

2018-1

Book producer and text designer: BookMatters, Berkeley, CA; Copyeditor: Tanya Grove; Proofreader: Janet Reed Blake; Indexer: Leonard Rosenbaum; Cover designer: Richard Adelson.

To Lucille and Alvin Boretz, parents extraordinaire, who taught me the meaning of love and laughter

by Douglas R. Conant

Every time Ive taken a Myers-Briggs test, Ive scored high on the introversion scale. As an introvert, I get energy from being by myself. I sometimes feel drained if I have to be in front of large groups of people I dont know for an extended period of time. And, as addressed in this book, people exhaustion takes its toll. After Ive been in a social situationincluding a long day at workI need quiet time to be alone with my thoughts, reflect on the day, and recharge.

But as CEO of Campbell Soup Company, a company with nearly twenty thousand employees, I found myself particularly challenged because so much of my work required me to be out there in front of others. Not only that, but I was also challenged to reverse a precipitous decline in market valuein a hurry. Over the course of my tenure, we succeeded in dramatically transforming the global leadership team, reconfiguring the portfolio, cutting costs, and making strategic investments in Campbells products, marketing programs, innovation pipeline, and infrastructure. As a result, the company was able to deliver cumulative shareholder returns in the top tier of the global food industry.

Now, as founder and CEO of ConantLeadership, I have perhaps an even less introverted job. To help improve the quality of leadership in the twenty-first century, I often stand in front of a roomful of people and talk about how they, too, can be effective leaders in their organizations. One might ask how an introvert, like myself, makes this happen. Good question.

Id be lying if I said that there wasnt a point in my life when I didnt aspire to be more outgoing, but its just not in my nature. When I was nearly fifty, I began to realize that the best thing for me to do was to tell everyone with whom I worked the simple truthIm just shy. I realized that people are not mind readersI needed to let them know what I was thinking and how I was feeling. Eventually, I developed this little talk, affectionately known as the DRC Orientation, in which I shared with people the essence of who I was and what I was trying to do. I would tell it to new employees right off the bat. I did this so all the people with whom I worked would have a clear idea of who I am, where I come from, and what I expect everyone to do in order to succeed. I found that declaring my introversion was a very freeing exercisemore preferred than going through painful contortions in attempting to adapt to other peoples styles. I have pursued this practice for well over 10 years, and it really has helped me build strong relationships and quickly get beyond all the little superficial dances people do when they first start working with each other.