Jennifer B. Kahnweiler

DNF: approx. 20%

Yup, I'm going to have to agree with a bunch of people here: this isn't about introversion...or leadership. I'd say it's more about an extrovert assuming quietness equals introversion, shyness, lack of social skills, and lack of professional assertiveness, and the leadership equals a combination of organization (as in due diligence in skills taught in school) and broad sociability. I particularly appreciate how extroversion assumes presence and attentiveness, but some of the least aware and connected people out there are extroverts. It's not an extroversion-introversion dichotomy. Most of this book isn't. If anything, I'd say it's a confidence-anxiety and MBTI's J-P dichotomy. This book is also 100% geared to the corporate environment, so more than anything I've affirmed how much I hate the rigid and "gray" feel of a corporate environment, and you don't have to be an introvert to have that opinion. I read the first two chapters that cover the concepts for the book but skipped the specific usages that others have said to be repetitive and would be irrelevant to me anyway.… (mere)

Take A Walk On The Quiet Side
The premise of this book is that if you are an introvert, you don’t need to become an extrovert to succeed. What you need to do is learn how to make the most of your own natural, quiet strengths. On the other extreme, if you are an extrovert, you don’t need to remodel the introverts in your life to be more outgoing; instead, you will learn about the quiet ways in which introverts around you work and you will see the ways in which introverts succeed at influencing situations. Another way to look at it is to believe that “everyone can be a leader.”
Kahnweiler provides a simple evaluation tool to assess your own Quiet Influence Quotient. She delves into the meaning of “quiet influence” by explaining six strengths of introverts: taking quiet time; preparation; engaged listening; focused conversations; writing; and thoughtful use of social media. Each of these traits has strength on its own, yet, when rolled together, these strengths become even more robust.
The book spoke to me on many levels. It made good sense to me as I am an introvert. Although I am often an extrovert within my inner thoughts, I learned early on to become more introverted to "stay out of troubles." I also learned that -- in addition to validating my outward-facing introverted “style” -- I see ways in which my influence can have even greater reach if I hone all of the quiet influence strengths. Whether you have introvert or extrovert tendencies, I recommend this book to all as a guide.
[reviewed 1-4-2015]… (mere)

Jennifer Kahnweiler gives some good tips to enhance your relationships not only with your business partners but also with your personal relationships. Recognizing the strengths in different personalities allows you to maximize their potential. It is the differences that becomes the basis for the strengths in relationships. She points out that you should look for common ground and shared interests but at the core is the diversity that makes all the difference. Some of the things she points out are pretty common knowledge, but this book will help you focus on the important aspects and remember that there is a reason that opposites attract and can work well together.… (mere)