Why the Best Introverted Leaders Trust Their Gut
Kendra Dahlstrom on the meeting-room regret that taught her to listen to her instincts.
Most introverted leaders know this moment. You sit in a meeting with something to say. You hold it, only to watch someone else make the exact point you didn’t—and get the credit.
Kendra Dahlstrom spent her twenties living inside that gap. A 28-year corporate veteran and leadership coach, she stayed silent out of fear of getting it wrong until she realized the regret she felt walking out of those rooms wasn’t anxiety. It was data—her inner wisdom telling her she had something worth saying.
What she learned is that quiet leadership isn’t about volume. It’s about preparation, clarity, and intention. As Kendra puts it, leadership is simply “being willing to do what’s needed in the moment.”
Sometimes that means speaking up. Sometimes it means making space for someone else. And sometimes, when the insight arrives after the meeting ends, it means sending the follow-up email anyway.
The conversation doesn’t end when everyone leaves the room. If your best thought comes on the walk back to your desk, write it down and send it—a Slack message, a quick email, a “one more thought” follow-up.
That approach works with how many introverted minds naturally process, ensuring your best ideas still make it into the conversation. Kendra’s full discussion is packed with practical examples like this—the kind you can put into practice tomorrow morning.
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