“His personality so crowds the room that the walls are worn thin and threaten to burst outward. You go to the White House, you shake hand with Roosevelt and hear him talk--and then go home to wring the personality out of your clothes."
This was said about Theodore Roosevelt, who is well known for his personal development and his growth in different leadership roles. He was also known for a larger than life personality.
You may ask, “Can I be a good leader if I do not have a personality like that?”
You definitely can be a great leader even if your personal does not completely fill the room. Here are three aspects to remember if you are questioning your leadership ability with respect to your personality.
Do not compare yourself to others. To use the vernacular, “You do you.” When you embrace your personality, your strengths, and your style, your organization will better respond to you.
Listening and Eye Contact can be more powerful than a booming voice and a six-foot four stature. Rabbi Susan Goldberg “has such beautiful eye contact, arresting eye contact in which you just feel so held and so seen.” True listening will often attract and build loyalty in many people who may not respond well to a drill sergeant barking orders.
Introverts make great leaders. Warren Buffet, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Barack Obama are all considered introverts. As society opens to the fact that everyone is different and cannot be put into uniform round holes, introverted leaders will appeal to a broad range of people.
If you do not see yourself fitting into Teddy Roosevelt’s leadership shoes, do not worry. Your own shoes will be just right for your journey as a leader.
References
Theodore Roosevelt on Leadership: Executive Lessons from the Bully Pulpit by James Strock (New York, Three Rivers Press, 2001)
Great short novel dealing with different leadership styles in a military setting. “Leadership Material” by Dale Brown as found in Combat edited by Stephen Coonts (New York, Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, 2001)