by Colton Campbell
Every office has several members of the team who don’t speak up during meetings but
often have the best ideas. They’re good listeners and naturally patient.
At best, they’re labeled as shy, quiet or reserved. At worst, they’re ostracized.
Dr. Jennifer Kahnweiler said the failure to tap into these introverted employees’
strengths means organizations miss out on approximately half the talent and wisdom
at their disposal.
“If we’re having meetings and not hearing from everyone, we’re missing out on innovation
and cost-saving ideas that could shift the culture of our organizations,” Kahnweiler
said during a recent lecture at the University of West Georgia. “Worse than that,
we’re devaluing members of our very own team.”
Kahnweiler, author of several books – including “The Introverted Leader: Building
on Your Quiet Strength” – visited UWG recently for the next enlightening installment
in the BB&T Lectures in Free Enterprise series, hosted by the Richards College of Business.
Celebrating its ninth year, the series – forged by a partnership between the Richards
College of Business and the BB&T Foundation – generates a dialogue about the ethical foundation of capitalism and free enterprise.
Preston Etheridge, BB&T’s market president for the West Georgia region, introduced
Kahnweiler, saying the lecture series connects well to the bank’s mission.
During her lecture, Kahnweiler explored how some introverts have already taken on
leadership roles in their organizations by leveraging their natural strengths.
“We aim to create a place where our associates can grow and learn, as well as make
their communities a better place to live,” Etheridge said. “Being associated with
UWG – and the Richards College of Business specifically – helps us fulfill our purpose
as we reach out to the next generation of business and community leaders.”
Kahnweiler was inspired to write her most well-known book after examining her relationship
with her husband, a natural-born introvert. In her job as a leadership coach, she
also found numerous introverted clients who were becoming frustrated in their jobs.
“These clients said they felt like their workplaces were asking them to be someone
they weren’t,” Kahnweiler said. “As a bona fide extrovert, I became interested in
trying to figure out what makes these introverts tick. I couldn’t find the right resources,
so I decided to conduct an extensive amount of research and write the book myself.”
Kahnweiler listed some of the strengths introverts have that can make for strong leaders,
noting they are patient, thoughtful, observant and terrific listeners.
“Studies show that four out of every 10 top executives test to be introverts,” Kahnweiler
said. “I’ve found that the calm leader is the one who’s shown respect, and introverts
thrive on being calm and humble.”
Kahnweiler’s lecture centered around her model for introverts to leverage their strengths
– what she calls “the four Ps” – encouraging introverts to prepare, be present in
the moment, push themselves out of their comfort zones and practice being more engaged.
“Introverts make the most effective leaders when they stop trying to act like extroverts
and rely on their own natural strengths,” Kahnweiler said. “Before they take on any
task, I urge introverts to carefully design a game plan, be focused on the present
moment, go beyond their comfort zones and sharpen their expertise. Own who you are,
and use your strengths to a maximum.”
Kahnweiler is a certified speaking professional and has written three books that have
been translated into 16 different languages. She’s consulted with hundreds of organizations
– including General Electric Company, NASA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – and has developed and run leadership programs from Singapore to Spain.
She received her doctorate and organizational development from Florida State University
and majored in sociology as an undergraduate at Washington University, St. Louis.
Her work has been featured in Forbes, Time Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. A
native New Yorker, she now calls Atlanta home.
The BB&T Lectures in Free Enterprise focuses on core values and ethical foundations
of free enterprise and issues facing business management and policy-makers. Two select
speakers a year are invited to UWG’s campus to provide a talk on these topics. Events
are free and open to students and the general public.
“We're always excited to offer the next installment in this exciting and pertinent
lecture series,” said Dr. Faye McIntyre, dean of the Richards College of Business
and Sewell Chair of Private Enterprise. “Dr. Kahnweiler presented an insightful, eye-opening
message to the UWG community, and I’m thankful for BB&T’s support in bringing speakers
of this caliber to campus. We’re always striving to attract great opportunities like
this to enrich our students’ educational journeys, and Dr. Kahnweiler’s perceptive
lecture on how introverts can build on their natural strengths is a testament to what
our partnership with BB&T provides.”
Past speakers in the BB&T Lecture series have included Stu Thorn, David Daniels and Dr. Jody Foster.
For more information on Kahnweiler, visit www.JenniferKahnweiler.com.