Quietly Powerful: How your quiet nature is your hidden leadership strength

Too much talent is being wasted in organisations where biases exist not only against minority groups but also against certain leadership styles. Because of our traditional view of a ‘strong’ leader, talented quieter professionals, both men and women, are overlooked due to their style and impression before they are given the opportunity to demonstrate their competence and substance.Discover:

• The cost of undervaluing our quiet nature
• How introversion is not the only reason why people remain quiet and hidden
• The value of quietly powerful leadership and why we need them now, more than ever
• How to develop quietly powerful attributes and skills
• How to find and develop the hidden talent as organisational leaders, HR, leadership and diversity & inclusion practitioners

Ultimately the book is an invitation for all of us to start expanding our view of good leadership. Given there is plenty of evidence that the current quality of leadership leaves a lot to be desired, this book provides an avenue to enhance the quality of leadership. In doing so, it also increases the likelihood of making more progress on diversity in leadership.

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Reader’s Comments

“As a coach who trains leaders in coaching skills, and who helps professionals to connect with their authentic selves at work, I firmly believe this is a going to be a book that I will recommend to my clients over and over.

In a world that won’t stop changing, and where sources of stress are endemic in workplaces, having leaders who are confident in their skills and super-powers to observe, reflect, listen and ask questions will be paramount – and these abilities will not come easily to everybody.

This is a book about celebrating difference – it’s also a book that will challenge your perception of what good leadership looks like. Expect to have to think hard and expect some discomfort reading this book.

This book also provides a firm challenge to leaders that are not quietly powerful, and gives permission/confidence for leaders who are, so I’m personally delighted that it’s found its way to join all the other resources that celebrate the quieter forces within our workforce.”

–Kathryn Jackson (FCIPD, Senior EIA, FRSA)

“Any organisation is only as good as the quality of its people.  This is particularly so when the leaders can create a culture that potentially allows it to perform at its best.

Unfortunately, there have been many examples lately that have led to questionable practices from leaders who have convinced others of their somewhat shallow ‘authenticity’ through ego-driven charm and self-interest.

It’s sad that these leaders have become role models for aspiring future leaders who are confused about what it really means to become a leader.  They then perhaps decide not to step-up.

Megumi Miki has addressed this issue head-on in her aptly-titled book ‘Quietly Powerful: How Your Quiet Nature is Your Hidden Leadership Strength’.

The five-part book firstly tackles the issue of the ‘hidden waste’ of talent whereby ‘quietness is seen as a weakness’.  “How can one be quiet and powerful?” the author asks upfront.

The book weaves ample evidence to suggest that the two can in fact cohabitate, and builds a convincing argument that it is indeed essential for a productive organisation to harness this combination.

The author weaves her own story and experiences of being able to adapt and even thrive in a large consulting firm, and was an integral team member in ANZ Bank’s ‘Breakout’ cultural transformation program.

So, with insider experience of having to influence sceptical and hard-nosed senior managers, the author has demonstrated that a ‘quietly powerful’ approach can bring real, measurable positive results in challenging, complex environments.

When organisations are hungry for the right combination of unique leadership talents to enhance diversity and harness the potential in their workforces, the author outlines the ideal attributes of the ‘quietly powerful’ leader to both build the necessary trust, and to get results.

Faking it until you make it used to be the leadership mantra in times gone by.  This book challenges that by allowing future and current leaders to shine by bringing forth their quiet nature as a strength, not an impediment to success.

This book has deservedly been the awarded career book for 2020 as it will resonate with career practitioners who have a major role to play in assisting their clients make decisions about whether leadership is a viable career option.

The book has a resounding positive message for future leaders who doubt their own abilities to make a difference.  It’s very clear.  The quietly powerful can make an immense difference.  This is so important in an age where human skills are paramount.”

Warren Frehse