Quiet Leadership

Samantha Clay
Blog 1 – Quiet Leadership

Growing up as an introvert, the classroom could be both my favorite and my least favorite place.  I was a very good student and loved to learn, so when given independent assignments, projects or assessments, I flourished in my element.  Then there were the times when collaborating with classmates nearly drove me mad and times when being required to speak up in a discussion or provide an answer for participation points made the classroom a nightmare – why couldn’t I just turn in the work I had done on my paper instead?  I frequently knew the answers and, of course, I had opinions, but I’d rather write them down than shout them out.  The classroom was frequently too loud and I didn’t feel the need to add to that.  I often found myself getting tired of hearing the same students speaking at every possible chance they were given, often blurting out the first thing that came to mind without even thinking.  I, on the other hand, liked an opportunity to think and to contemplate before having to share my thoughts, if I must share them at all.  So when I became a teacher, I remembered how I had felt and vowed to never make a student feel like that.  I recognized differences in students and understood that there are ways the students can participate, in very meaningful ways, that don’t require putting a child on the spot.  In addition, group work and collaboration are all the buzz in education, but it is time we stop and realize that silence is also an incredibly important tool for promoting learning and teaching patience.  As a whole, schools often neglect a segment of students who work better in quiet settings.  As an aspiring school leader, this is something I’m passionate about and I’d like to focus on improving.

Classroom environments that embrace extroverted behavior are being promoted now more than ever. These can be appealing qualities in the classroom, of course, but overemphasizing them can undermine the learning of students who are inward-thinking and easily drained by constant interactions with others.  With the Common Core and similar state standards being implemented, there is a greater emphasis on collaboration and student discussion.  I have read that there are studies which show that students who engage in cooperative learning tend to outperform those provided with lectures.  However, cooperative learning doesn’t have to occur every minute of every day or include excessively social or overstimulating environments.  Teachers can infuse quiet components that facilitate internal contemplation.

This is where the Quiet Schools Network comes in to play.  Quiet Revolution partners with schools to foster inclusive teaching and learning communities that leverage the strengths of introverts and extroverts.  Part of the mission of the Quiet Schools Network is to encourage teachers to reframe “classroom participation” as “classroom engagement,” the idea being that there are other, quieter ways to measure students’ understanding of the material than how quickly and loudly they can talk about it.  For example, employing social media or classroom blogs can serve this purpose.  I have found that students who are more reluctant to raise their hands or speak out in class provide amazing insights when given the opportunity to share their thoughts in another format. 

The Quiet Ambassador Program offers a year-long comprehensive training and support for one or more Quiet Ambassadors from the school and includes in-person and online workshops, individual and team coaching sessions, and online resources.  School Administrators are empowered to cultivate a school culture that enables introverts to reach their full potential for the benefit of the entire school.  Educators are empowered to create classroom environments in which everyone’s strength – no matter what their personality type – is validated.  And students are empowered to be self-aware individuals who are able to unleash their creativity in solitary and group settings.

So as a prospective school leader, I’d love to have my school join the Quiet Schools Network one day and help transform the school by training Quiet Ambassadors to serve as experts in introversion/extroversion to help enhance engagement, creativity and kindness; foster the ability to communicate with presence and compassion; and tap into the power of quiet leadership.  In participating in this network, I feel that schools can create an inclusive culture in which everyone is recognized for their potential to learn and lead in authentic ways.  We focus on many various categories of students, but never do I recall reading about schools focusing on meeting the needs of introverted learners, which make up at least one third of the population.  This should change so that we provide an education that will meet the needs of all learners.

Quiet Schools Network:  http://www.quietrev.com/quiet-schools-network/