Introverts Make the Best Leaders by Stephanie

Introverts Make the Best Leaders by Stephanie - March 2015 Scholarship Essay

Often when people talk about leadership and what it takes to be successful, the first image is of a young man with a clean face, a determined sparkle I his eye, and a go for it attitude. He is seen as a person who takes charge, blazing paths and inspiring others through his dynamic performances characterized by a fearless attitude and an unshakable nature. That’s all well and fine for some, but I am none of those things. As a female who is selective of her company and quite reserved in her manner, I am far from the first person people would think about when they picture a bold and fearless leader. More likely I’m the quiet one to the side wondering why all the extroverts are being so loud, yet is that really such a bad thing? I may not be the kind of girl who would hoist a rifle above her head and lead the troops over no man’s land, but that doesn’t bother me. Do you need leadership skills to succeed in the college environment? Sure, though I believe that not every kind of leadership comes with a powerful speech and a bold personality. Sometimes the image of leadership is a five-foot one female who is slow to speak and has more in common with a wallflower.

Introverts make some of the best leaders, and those traits are exceptionally helpful for college students. Quiet souls such as myself are thoughtful, careful, patient people. We take our time making decisions and we listen more than we speak. When we do talk, the conversation is meaningful and to the point. I’m not an eager conversationalist, and like most introverts I save my words for things that matter. But, one may ask, how are these characteristics of leadership that will help a college student?

The environment of higher education is as much a personal experience as it is a social one. The successful academic must maintain solid control over their schedule, priorities, and responsibilities. They must be self-regulated and disciplined, willing to dedicate whatever time is needed to completing their educational duties. The successful student weighs their time and energy, dedicating themselves to exercises that matter, and the introvert is the optimal leadership type for this environment.

If a student is looking for a mentor or a positive influence on their college experience, sometimes they need someone that will cheer them on loudly and fill them with encouragement. While that is useful occasionally, a cheer leading session doesn't contain the level of substance necessary to make a real change. What a person needs more often is an example.

Enter the introvert.

Introverted leaders help those around them to practice the daily habits of focus, thoughtfulness, and attention that will help a student to achieve real success. These quietly influential persons enact change on the micro level, and help others to develop habits which will last a lifetime. As such, introverted leaders do more than accomplish great things for themselves. They sprout leadership characteristics in others.

So does a student need to be a leader to succeed in college? No doubt it certainly helps, but leadership comes I many flavors. A person does not need to wave a flag from the rooftops to be an effective leader. Sometimes great leaders are six-foot-five men with square jaws and perfect hair. That man may inspire you, but the five-foot-one girl with the quiet expression will empower you for life.