Leadership expert Jennifer Marcou says companies risk missing talent when they equate visibility with ability. She recommends sending meeting materials in advance, allowing reflection and reopening key decisions so quieter employees' ideas can surface.
Marcou's book, Lead with Quiet Confidence: A Practical Guide to Success for Introverts, draws on her leadership experience at Microsoft and American Express and coaching hundreds of professionals. She argues that growth should expand a person's options, not require adopting an extroverted persona.
Marcou also warns that the first or most confidently delivered idea can be mistaken for the best. She suggests having participants write ideas before discussion and systematically asking for input; she says the goal is better information and decisions, not equal airtime for its own sake.
