Quiet Leader: A Woman's Autoethnographic Leadership Study

Abstract

Leadership is widely researched and discussed across many disciplines. Most research indicates that good leaders are often thought to exhibit traits such as extraversion, or have certain abilities, like excellent communication skills, that make them effective. In viewing leaders from this and other similar perspectives, another group of people are often overlooked: Quiet and shy people may not be viewed as leaders, especially since they often do not vocalize to the extent that extraverts do. This may be true of some women leaders, particularly if their activities are limited or distinct due to the cultural expectations shaping them. The autoethnography I offer here shares the cultural experiences of a fledgling leader, through a shy and quiet woman's lens.