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Author: Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D.

Respect Introvert Rhythm

March 25, 2012

We live in such an extroverted, centric world that the people who are the talkers – whether it be in brainstorming sessions or in coaching itself do a real disservice to people when they fill in the sentences. I think that equation we’ve all heard as coaches, is that you should have the 80:20 rule, coaches speaking 20%. That should mirror a lot of conversations you’re having, when you’re trying to get the best out of the introverts in your organization, allow them the dignity of their own rhythm.

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Thank You Meryl Streep

January 17, 2012

Actors like Streep prepare extensively to take us into the world of that character. Likewise, introverts often emphasize how much they prepare for meetings, calls, presentations, etc. so that they perform at their best ( a side note: Meryl Streep is an introvert like many actors). Yet, despite careful preparation, you can’t always anticipate what is thrown at you. Handling the moment sometimes trumps preparation.

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Coaching for Those Who Don’t Need It

January 2, 2012

The sort of coaching that fosters effective innovation and judgment, not merely the replication of technique, may not be so easy to cultivate. Yet modern society increasingly depends on ordinary people taking responsibility for doing extraordinary things: operating inside people’s bodies, teaching eighth graders algebraic concepts that Euclid would have struggled with, building a highway through a mountain, constructing a wireless computer network across a state, running a factory, reducing a city’s crime rate. In the absence of guidance, how many people can do such complex tasks at the level we require? With a diploma, a few will achieve sustained mastery; with a good coach, many could. We treat guidance for professionals as a luxury—you can guess what gets cut first when school-district budgets are slashed. But coaching may prove essential to the success of modern society.

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Introvert Bias Hits Again

November 22, 2011

Introverts are so often mischaracterized and even blamed for the woes of the world. Now government workers seem to be taking the hit.

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How To Build People Skills? Join A User Group Says One Introverted Leader

November 7, 2011

John is a Client Manager with IT staffing firm, CCCi and his latest assignment is at the The Southern Company, one of America’s largest generators of electricity. He has organized a number of well attended programs with technology leaders. and is committed to working with IT pros to help them succeed. On Halloween his company hosted an appreciation luncheon for the teams of IT pros at the Southern Company and gifted each attendee with a copy of The Introverted Leader .I was honored to speak to them about why introverts are leaders and what we are missing when we don’t tap into their strengths.

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“No Dirty Work Boots Inside”: Lessons From The Road

October 5, 2011

I took a wrong turn on my way to Coudersport, PA. No. I had not heard of the town either but it was where I was booked for a training gig; a 2 1/2 hour ride from the Buffalo airport. I wondered what I was thinking or drinking when I said yes.

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Are You Using Your Full Voice? Support The Meaning and Message You Want To Convey

September 21, 2011

I’ve worked with many introverted leaders over the years. I always tell them that outward expression will always be a “second language” to them. Even so, it is possible to become quite conversant in that language with practice. We use characters – such as Luciano Pavarotti or Martin Luther King, Jr. – to help introverts open up more power in their voices. Once they get used to the feeling of being louder and more present, we work to integrate those sounds into their everyday communication.

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