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Show Notes
Have you ever wondered if your quiet nature is actually your greatest strength? In this episode of The Quiet And Strong Podcast, host David Hall sits down with Shannon Lyn Maynard—certified coach, author, and advocate for introverted professionals—to explore how introverts can embrace authentic leadership, build true confidence, and thrive at work without pretending to be extroverts.
Listeners will learn practical strategies for increasing visibility at work, harnessing the power of introverted strengths like deep listening and empathy, and managing energy for sustainable success. You’ll hear inspiring personal stories of embracing authenticity, tips for navigating the workplace authentically, and powerful insights on using tools like AI as a thought partner. Discover why embracing your quiet leadership is not just beneficial for you, but essential for your team and organization.
Tune in to gain actionable advice, boost your quiet confidence, and walk away inspired to lead as your true self—no masquerade required. Embrace your strengths, share your unique perspective, and be strong.
Embracing Your Quiet Strength: Lessons in Authenticity and Leadership from Shannon Lyn Maynard
The True Power of Introversion
As the host of The Quiet and Strong Podcast, I’m passionate about understanding and amplifying the quiet, powerful voices among us—those of introverts. In Episode 298, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shannon Lyn Maynard, a professional coach, author, and fierce advocate for introverted leaders. Her story of self-discovery and professional evolution powerfully illustrates how embracing our true wiring is not just liberating, but essential for finding authentic confidence, energy management, and meaningful leadership.
Who Were You Meant to Be? The Journey to Authenticity
One of the central themes of our conversation—and Shannon’s new book, The Introvert’s World: How Introverted Leaders Can Build Quiet Confidence, Influence, and Purpose—is the importance of questioning the narratives we’ve internalized about who we should be. Shannon shared a powerful quote from Glennon Doyle’s Untamed: “Who were you meant to be before the world told you who to be?” For many introverts, this question hits close to home. Like Shannon, I too spent years trying to mold myself to fit the extroverted mold the world seemed to demand.
Shannon described her childhood: a calm little girl with “big dreams and an even bigger heart,” gifted in empathy and sensitivity. But as the world around her suggested she needed to be more outgoing to succeed, she learned to mask her true self. That masquerade eventually led to exhaustion and the feeling of living as someone else. What happens when we suppress our authentic qualities? According to Shannon, landmines of inadequacy are buried throughout our lives, waiting to be triggered each time we feel pressured to abandon who we truly are.
The “No Shell” Moment: Letting Go of Extroverted Expectations
Shannon’s transformative realization—the “I have no shell” moment—occurred during her coach training. For years, she’d been told to “get out of her shell,” a phrase countless introverts will recognize. But on a beach in Santa Monica, she realized that there was no shell—she was simply wired differently. This shifted her mindset and propelled her mission to help fellow introverts embrace their true selves, professionally and personally.
I resonated deeply with this. The idea that there’s nothing to “fix” about being quiet, reflective, or reserved is at the heart of my podcast and my own journey. Our work, and our sense of self, improves dramatically when we release the expectation to constantly perform as extroverts.
Recognizing and Celebrating Introvert Strengths
As Shannon points out, introverted strengths often go underappreciated in both education and the corporate world. Skills like deep listening, empathy, and the ability to make others feel heard may be dismissed as “soft,” but they are the foundation of great leadership and collaboration. Shannon recounted being recognized with a Lean on Me Award—a rare public acknowledgment of her quiet contributions. It meant more to her than any praise for visible, conventional achievements.
These strengths are also critical for us professionally. Introverts often notice what others miss, pick up on subtle cues, and process information deeply. While we may not always speak up first or most often in meetings, we deliver thoughtful, nuanced insights that enrich decision-making and team dynamics.
Myth-Busting: Quiet Doesn’t Mean Disengaged
During our discussion, Shannon highlighted several persistent myths about introversion. One is that quiet equals disengaged. In reality, an introvert may be the most engaged person in the room—listening, processing, absorbing, and formulating their thoughts more deeply simply because they aren’t focused on dominating the conversation.
Another common misconception is that introverts lack leadership qualities or can’t rise to the top without “masquerading” as extroverts. Shannon’s experience (and mine) says otherwise. Not only can introverts lead at the highest levels, but their approach may be exactly what their organizations need.
A scientific note worth sharing: research by Dr. Marty Olson-Laney shows that introverts have longer neural pathways for information processing and store more in their long-term memory than extroverts, which is why we may need more time to respond but often deliver richer, more considered answers.
Navigating the Workplace as an Introvert: Strategies and Mindsets
Much of Shannon’s expertise—and a significant portion of her book—focuses on strategies for introverts to thrive professionally without losing themselves. Here are a few actionable tips that stood out:
- Build One-on-One Relationships: Instead of competing for airtime in crowded meetings, invest in strong, meaningful connections with key colleagues.
- Take Initiative Through Your Strengths: Volunteer for projects that align with your skills, process improvements, or interests (Shannon became known as the in-house AI expert at her company).
- Follow Up in Writing: If you don’t get a chance to speak in a meeting or want to share a more polished thought, use Slack or email to follow up.
- Start Small and Grow: Whether public speaking or leading a new initiative, start with manageable steps and build your confidence over time without comparing yourself to extroverts.
One critical mindset shift: Visibility doesn’t mean being loud. It’s about making your impact clear. There are many authentic ways to be seen and heard as an introvert without compromising your natural inclinations.
Using AI as an Introvert’s Thought Partner
We also dove into how AI can be a powerful tool for introverts. Shannon uses AI as a “thought partner” to help brainstorm, prepare for meetings, recap events, and develop strategies. Tools like ChatGPT or Claude can help introverts shine even in environments that otherwise require fast responses or constant communication. For those of us who process deeply or struggle with last-minute brainstorming, AI is a neutral collaborator, always available to help us organize and express our ideas.
Energy Management: Protecting Your Battery
Protecting energy is essential for every introvert, and Shannon offered a behind-the-scenes look at her own routines: a morning practice of gratitude, journaling, and meditation; solo lunches; strategic breaks; and rituals for transitioning from work to personal time. She emphasized listening to your body and not succumbing to guilt when you need to step away from social activities to recharge.
Importantly, people are usually too busy with their own concerns to notice or care if you skip an afterparty or say no to an outing. As introverts, we owe it to ourselves to prioritize our own well-being.
Lessons in Quiet Leadership
The world often equates leadership with charisma, volume, and commanding presence—qualities traditionally seen as “extroverted.” Shannon’s lived experience, and research, tell a different story: Introverted leaders bring empathy, psychological safety, inclusivity, and deep listening to their teams. These are not just “nice-to-haves”—they create high-performing, innovative groups where more people feel safe contributing diverse perspectives.
Introverts who’ve spent a lifetime feeling “different” often cultivate greater understanding of others and naturally foster environments where all voices are valued.
Making Time and Space to Think
Quiet time is not a luxury for introverts; it’s a necessity for creative and strategic thought. Shannon shared how her most productive ideas don’t arise from back-to-back meetings, but rather from unstructured periods—walking, paddleboarding, even in the shower. I can absolutely relate. Whether you use a notebook, your phone, or another method, finding ways to capture these flashes of insight is crucial.
Key Takeaways
- Embracing your authentic introverted self leads to greater confidence, fulfillment, and effectiveness, both personally and professionally (Shannon Lyn Maynard at 20:44).
- Introverts possess valuable strengths such as deep listening, empathy, and noticing subtle cues that often go underappreciated in loud environments (Shannon Lyn Maynard at 11:39).
- Visibility and leadership do not require extroverted behavior; introverts can excel through one-on-one relationships, becoming go-to experts, and contributing thoughtfully—even after meetings (Shannon Lyn Maynard at 27:34, 29:05).
- Using AI as a thought partner can help introverts prepare, brainstorm, and participate more effectively in fast-paced, unstructured workplace settings (Shannon Lyn Maynard at 34:20).
- Managing energy proactively—through routines, breaks, and setting boundaries—enables introverts to thrive without burnout (Shannon Lyn Maynard at 36:50).
Make Changes Now
Immediate Actions to Take After This Lesson
- Embrace Your Authentic Self
- Reflect on the question, “Who were you meant to be before the world told you who to be?” as suggested by Shannon Lyn Maynard at 00:00 and 20:07.
- Spend time journaling about your authentic strengths and values, specifically those that align with your introverted wiring.
- Advocate for Your Needs
- Start communicating your introverted needs to others, such as taking recharge breaks or declining social activities when necessary, as discussed by Shannon Lyn Maynard at 38:25 and 40:39.
- Practice explaining your preferences calmly and confidently, helping others understand the importance of protecting your energy.
- Leverage Your Introvert Strengths at Work
- Focus on building one-on-one relationships for more meaningful connections, a strategy emphasized by Shannon Lyn Maynard at 28:08.
- Volunteer for projects that align with your strengths, and follow up meetings with thoughtful written contributions if you weren’t able to speak up during the discussion (30:40).
- Utilize AI as a Thought Partner
- Experiment with using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to help you brainstorm, prepare for meetings, or process your thoughts, as Shannon Lyn Maynard recommends at 35:06 and 35:56.
- Set up a specific project or workspace with an AI tool dedicated to your professional needs.
- Establish Daily Energy Management Routines
- Create and protect a morning routine involving activities like journaling, meditation, or gratitude practice, as Shannon Lyn Maynard describes at 37:01.
- Add in regular breaks throughout your day to recharge and process, even if just for a few minutes at a time.
Taking these immediate actions can help you begin living and working more authentically as an introvert, supporting both personal wellbeing and professional success.
Final Reflections: Embrace Your Quiet, Lead Authentically
As Shannon so eloquently put it: There is beauty and freedom in living aligned with the way you’re truly wired. When we do, we experience less overwhelm, more peace and energy, and can finally offer the world our genuine gifts. Quiet leadership is not just valid—it’s needed.
If you’re an introvert doubting your strengths or struggling to find your place, Shannon’s story and her new book are a beacon. Embrace your uniqueness, leverage your strengths, and lead in a way that is genuinely, quietly, powerfully you.
Connect with Shannon Lyn Maynard and The Quiet and Strong Podcast
Shannon Lyn Maynard is a Certified Professional Coach, Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, INFJ, and HSP who spent most of her life masquerading as an extrovert, especially at work. She’s the voice behind The Introvert’s World, where she writes about how introverts can protect their energy, understand their unique value, and build quiet confidence. She’s Canadian, lived in Los Angeles for 14 years, and now lives in Georgia with her introverted husband and two equally introverted cats.
Connect with Shannon:
Website: introvertworld.com
Get Shannon’s Book: The Introvert’s World: How Introverted Leaders Can Build Quiet Confidence, Influence, and Purpose
Shannon’s book, The Introvert’s World, is available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats. Visit her website introvertworld.com for more resources.
For more insights, stories, and proven strategies tailored for introverts, subscribe to The Quiet and Strong Podcast and check out the resources at quietandstrong.com.
Contact the Host of the Quiet and Strong Podcast:
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Timestamped Overview
00:00 The text discusses how introverts often feel pressured to conform to extroverted traits, masking their true selves, which can lead to stress and losing touch with their authentic identity.
05:06 The speaker noticed extroverted behavior in their coaching peers, felt pressured to be more outgoing, grew frustrated after being urged to “get out of their shell” during training, and sought solace at Santa Monica Beach to process the experience.
08:12 The author realized from an early age that they were an introvert but felt the need to adopt an extroverted persona to succeed, a behavior that intensified in their corporate life, until a moment of self-acceptance led them to embrace their true introverted nature.
11:39 The author discusses their introverted strengths such as empathy and deep listening, noting these skills helped them make people feel heard and understood, and mentions a significant moment of recognition when they won the Lean on Me Award for their contributions.
14:16 The text discusses how introverts often need time to process information before responding, which is scientifically supported, and this does not indicate a lack of intelligence despite common misconceptions in the workplace.
16:50 At a conference, I expressed admiration for his quick thinking, revealed my struggles with on-the-spot responses, and he shared that he too worked on pausing before answering and never judged me for needing time to respond.
19:42 The section discusses an excerpt from a book chapter about managing one’s inner critic, inspired by Glennon Doyle’s quote on discovering who you were meant to be, especially resonating with introverts who feel different.
25:59 The work I started before being laid off helped me avoid forming harmful beliefs by accepting the company’s reorganization and focusing on my skills rather than taking the layoff personally.
29:48 The speaker finds presenting nerve-wracking yet exciting, becoming more visible in the company, and believes introverts shouldn’t force themselves to speak in meetings unless they have valuable input.
31:52 The speaker emphasizes the importance of starting small to build expertise and confidence, recounting their own journey from being an introvert to enjoying public speaking and podcasting through gradual practice and experience.
34:20 The section discusses how traditional work environments favor extroverts, while AI offers new opportunities for introverts to excel by helping them prepare, process, and contribute effectively in meetings and brainstorming sessions.
38:04 The author emphasizes the importance of protecting personal energy by recognizing their limits and opting to recharge alone after attending a company event and dinner, instead of participating in an afterparty.
41:53 The section discusses how aligning leadership with one’s introverted nature, demonstrated by an introverted leader who found joy in helping team members and improved her job satisfaction by creating more opportunities for such interactions, can be transformative.
44:17 The author finds inspiration and mental clarity for writing during morning paddleboarding on the lake and while showering, taking advantage of these moments to let their thoughts flow freely.
47:10 The host expresses gratitude to listeners, encourages exploring other episodes and using a free personality assessment on the Quiet and Strong website, and invites connection via email or social media.
Podcast Transcript
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:00:00]:
And in the book she asks this question, who were you meant to be before the world told you who to be? And after I read that, I sat down and I wrote, I journaled. It’s such an important one for us introverts, such an important question, because so many of us have spent our entire lives feeling different. I was meant to be a quiet, calm little girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart. I was meant to grow and share my gifts of sensitivity, intuition, and empathy, to contribute by listening and understanding, empathizing and caring. But then the world told me to become outgoing and fun, to hide my sensitivity and empathy and masquerade as an extrovert if I wanted to be liked and accepted and successful. So I did, until I believed that’s who I really was. I became stressed out and exhausted. and someone else.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:00:54]:
And those beliefs have created landmines of inadequacy throughout my life. And I wanted to share that because I had, I have a personal story about what can happen when we hit one of those landmines and I abandoned my authentic self.
David Hall [00:01:16]:
Hello and welcome to episode 298 of the Quiet and Strong podcast. Especially for introverts. I’m your host, David Hall, and the creator of quietandstrong.com. It’s a weekly podcast dedicated to understanding the strengths and needs of introverts, along with strategies for success. Introversion is not something to fix, but to be embraced. Normally, we air each episode on a Monday. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite platform. Leave a review or a rating.
David Hall [00:01:43]:
That would mean a lot to me and help others find the show. Tell a friend about the podcast and help get the word out there that introversion is a beautiful thing. Shannon Lynn Maynard is a certified professional coach, Energy Leadership Index master practitioner, INFJ, and HSP who spent most of her life masquerading as an extrovert, especially at work. She’s the voice behind The Introvert’s World, where she writes about how introverts can protect their energy, understand their unique value and build quiet confidence. She’s Canadian, lived in Los Angeles for 14 years, and now lives in Georgia with her introverted husband and 2 equally introverted cats. All right. Well, welcome to the Quiet and Strong Podcast, Shannon. Shannon, it’s so good to have you on today.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:02:33]:
Thanks so much for having me. I’ve really been looking forward to the conversation.
David Hall [00:02:36]:
Yeah. Congratulations on your new book. We’re going to get into that.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:02:40]:
Thank you. Thank you. It’s, it’s been a really fun week.
David Hall [00:02:42]:
Yeah, I’m sure. Before we get into your book, tell us a little bit about yourself and just your journey to writing your book and to what you’re doing now.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:02:54]:
Sure. So I’ve been in corporate marketing for 18 years. That’s my professional background. And that’s where so much of my book came from. I spent a solid decade masquerading as an extrovert in the corporate world. My coaching journey began in 2015. I got a new job after 7 grueling months of job searching. The company is known as a great place to work.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:03:21]:
And I thought this was the job I’ve been waiting for. And at first, I loved it until I discovered I was working for a hard-to-please, micromanaging boss who was not a great communicator. I gradually realized that the role drew on my weaknesses more than my strengths. And he just— this boss slowly killed my confidence and made me feel not good enough at every turn. I even started questioning if I belonged in marketing, and that was my whole background. And the problem is I didn’t have it in me to job search again. I just did that. So instead, I started soul searching.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:03:58]:
And I will never forget this day. It was raining. I was working in a high-rise building in downtown LA. And I always ate lunch by myself to recharge. That’s one of my strategies. Because it was raining, I couldn’t go outside. So I went down to the basement of this high-rise building, found a secluded spot, and I started going through my email on my phone, just kind of winding down from the morning. And an email from a friend caught my eye.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:04:30]:
He had written a blog about positive psychology. I’d never heard this term before, and it’s kind of self-explanatory, but I was immediately intrigued. And this sent me down a research rabbit hole that eventually led me to life coaching. The moment my eyes landed on that career path, I knew, like, this is what I was created to do. And I started my coach training about 3 months later. I loved my training. I learned so much throughout. But it involved 3 in-person weekends with 10-hour days that were so draining for me.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:05:06]:
And I started noticing a lot of my coaches in training, they were extroverted and they were networking through every break. They were participating at every turn. I was by far the quietest coach in that program, but I came alive in smaller groups and one-on-ones. And the second weekend, 2 classmates separately told me to get out of my shell. Now, I’ve been told that my entire life, but for some reason, this was the moment something snapped inside me. I tried not to show it, but I was just steaming. At the end of the day, I went to Santa Monica Beach just to unwind and process. I can still see myself sitting on the sand, just coming down from the day.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:05:54]:
Mm-hmm. and really processing the get out of your shell comments. And all of a sudden it hit me, I have no shell. I’m just wired differently because I’m an introvert. And in that moment, my belief shifted enough to give myself permission to end the extroverted masquerade. And I knew I wanted to help introverted professionals do the same. So I went on to have a private coaching practice for about 6 years while working full-time. And that eventually led me to write the book.
David Hall [00:06:27]:
Awesome. I hate that phrase, come out of your shell.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:06:30]:
It’s terrible.
David Hall [00:06:32]:
And you’re, you’re, you are spot on. It’s, there is no shell. You just have to learn to understand yourself so that you can get what you want. So let’s, let’s back up just a little bit. Let’s talk about when did you figure out you were an introvert?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:06:48]:
So I don’t, I don’t remember the exact moment. I like took a Myers-Briggs or, or knew I was an introvert. I know I knew it for a lot of my life, but I can take you back to the moment that I first felt different, and that was 4th grade. I don’t have a lot of memories of my childhood, but this one is vivid. So it was 4th grade. Our teacher gave us— gave the whole class a colors test. And as I was going through this test, And looking at the questions, I knew my answers would be the opposite of most of my classmates. Got through the test, and after we all finished, my worst-case scenario happened.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:07:29]:
The teacher asked us to all raise our hand when our color was called. Of course, most of the class raised their hands for orange, which I remember being the extroverted color. I was blue. And when my color was called, only 2 other kids raised their hand, 2 out of a class of about 30. And I was someone who always wanted to blend in. I didn’t want to stand out. So I was mortified that I was one of the blue kids. And then everyone ran off to recess and probably forgot all about this.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:07:58]:
But it clearly became a defining moment for me because I’m still talking about it. And it’s in my book. Yeah. The story I started telling myself in that moment is different means something is wrong with me?
David Hall [00:08:12]:
Oh.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:08:12]:
And I think deep down, I knew I was different because I was an introvert. I didn’t have the words for it then, but I knew I needed to become orange to be accepted and fit in and succeed. So I started masquerading as an extrovert. I think that started in 4th grade. And this really ramped up when I entered the corporate world as an adult and actually got so good at turning on the extroverted persona that coworkers and friends were genuinely surprised. when I said I was an introvert. I got that good at it. And it was that I have no shell moment on the beach that allowed me to start embracing my introverted wiring and learning there’s so much beauty and freedom in living aligned with the way that we’re wired.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:08:58]:
And for me, this process has involved a lot of unbecoming, shedding that heavy extroverted layer that never fit, and finally embracing my quiet nature.
David Hall [00:09:09]:
Yeah. Yeah. 4th grade’s probably a little young to be giving out the colors test. It’s, you know, if people don’t know, it’s a personality test. There’s 4, you know, usually it’s like green, blue, orange or red and gold or yellow. And yeah, it’s a little too early and, you know, things like that could actually be harmful if they’re not explained properly, which sounds like might’ve been the case. But when you had your moment, Was there any other particular things, any books or any other resources that you tapped into to come out of your shell or, or to realize, I’m sorry, to realize you had no shell?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:09:48]:
Oh, the I have no shell moment. No, I was in the middle of my coach training. So it was a really beautiful time to have that realization because coach training is all about going deep into our blockers and changing our limiting beliefs. So I think I was probably halfway through my coach training on that second weekend. And I was starting to gain the tools as a coach to self-coach myself out of that and change the belief from I’m too quiet, get out of your shell, to I have no shell. So And I really kept— I mean, it’s a work in progress. The unbecoming I will be doing my entire life. I still to this day have to keep myself from masquerading as an extrovert and putting on that persona because I did it for so many years.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:10:40]:
But it really was the tools that I developed in coaching that has helped me keep doing that really important work.
David Hall [00:10:48]:
Yeah, yeah. I love that. I have no shell, and we should be saying that. The other one is that we, you probably hate as much as I do. Why are you so quiet? I’m sure you’ve gotten that before and it doesn’t help. These phrases do not help. So
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:11:05]:
no, and something, this is in the book about the why, why are you so quiet? Something that drives me crazy is if we were to flip it and say to extroverts, why are you so loud? That would be considered rude. And for some reason saying, why are you so quiet? Isn’t. And something I’ve started doing is when someone asks me, why are you so quiet? I say, because I’m an introvert and people don’t know how to respond.
David Hall [00:11:28]:
Yeah, yeah, definitely. Uh, there’s some teaching that we do, right?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:11:32]:
There’s so much educating. Yes. It’s so important.
David Hall [00:11:35]:
Shannon, what’s a strength that you have because you’re an introvert?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:11:39]:
So I’ll give you 3 because my book is very much designed around introverted strengths. I’d say my biggest one is helping people feel heard and understood and I do that with the other 2, which is empathy and deep listening. I think a lot of introverts have these strengths, and it honestly took me a long time to recognize them as strengths because soft skills, soft areas like this are not always acknowledged or celebrated the way other strengths are. For example, I’ve been praised my entire life for my writing and editing ability, while being too quiet was treated like a flaw. There are exceptions, though. Years ago, I won the Lean on Me Award. And that recognition meant a lot because it was a rare moment when my quiet contributions were celebrated in front of the entire company. And what I’ve learned is that— and again, this is so true of so many introverts— because I listen more than I speak, I often notice what others miss.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:12:42]:
I pick up on subtle nonverbal cues. Which can reveal so much when you’re paying attention. And these are just a few things that introverts bring to the table. And I think collectively our introverted strengths bring balance to a world that prioritizes noise over nuance.
David Hall [00:12:58]:
Yeah, absolutely. I think we might’ve done some myth-busting already, but is there any other introvert myths you wanna bust today?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:13:06]:
Yeah. I mean, my whole book was, without me thinking of this framing, was written to bust the myth You don’t have to masquerade as an extrovert to succeed professionally. You don’t have to masquerade to be an exceptional leader. And I think the masquerade starts in school when raising your hand and participating is rewarded. And in the corporate world, the loudest voice in the room typically gets the most airtime. I’ve been told over the course of my career I need to be more visible, talk more in meetings, have a stronger POV. And I hear that from VP level and above. If you want that promotion, you have to be more visible.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:13:45]:
You have to be more assertive. And it’s not true. It’s not how I’m wired. It’s not how most— I think I can say introverts are wired. And it’s not how we deliver our value. And the biggest aspect of this myth that I’m very passionate about and want to call out is quiet does not mean disengaged. When I’m in a meeting, especially if it’s a bigger meeting or I’m newer at a company, I’m very quiet. But I might be the most engaged person in that meeting.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:14:16]:
I’m listening, I’m processing, I’m absorbing, and when I have something to say, I say it. But I’m not— because I’m not waiting for my chance to insert my opinion, I’m getting it all. And I think that’s really valuable and not valued enough in the workplace. It’s also so common for introverts not to be great at thinking on our feet. We need time to process and respond, and that’s not a reflection of a lack of intelligence. I struggled with this for years. My brain freezes when I’m put on the spot, and that tends to trigger a not— I’m not smart enough message. But something I’d love to share with your listeners is there’s a scientific reason that introverts aren’t great at this.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:15:03]:
So I came across research from Dr. Marty Olson-Leany, and he found that introverts have a longer neural pathway for processing information, and we store more in our long-term memory than extroverts do. So that’s why it takes us longer to retrieve information, and that’s why we have a harder time providing an answer in the moment. Learning that was a huge relief for me, which is why I wanted to share it. There’s actually a scientific reason that we’re not good Yeah.
David Hall [00:15:33]:
Yeah. And, uh, understanding that makes all the difference and, you know, we can prepare ahead of time, can’t prepare for everything. So that’s something, you know, if you’re asking me about introversion, I can talk all day without preparing. You know, there’s other topics I definitely would need to prepare for.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:15:54]:
Yeah.
David Hall [00:15:55]:
And sometimes we need to say, hey, give me a moment to think about that.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:15:59]:
Yep. I’ll get back to you.
David Hall [00:16:00]:
Yeah, but it’s a strength because we’re going to come up with something good. You know, I think about some decisions I’ve made and I, I, I’ve thought, you know, most of the big ones have been better with time, you know, have been better letting my brain, let ideas roll around in my head, let the dots connect, all that. It’s been better with time.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:16:22]:
Yeah. And if I can share a quick story about that, so Years ago, I had an extroverted boss, and I loved him. He was one of those people, he could walk into a room. So he was always coming into meetings late because he was coming from another meeting. And I remember this one distinct meeting. He walked into the room. Someone asked him a question as he was walking to his seat. Before he sat down, he eloquently answered this really difficult question.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:16:50]:
And I just admired the ability in him. And at a conference, I told him, I told him that, that I really respected his ability to think on his feet. And I also told him my inability in this area felt like a limitation. He told me he’d been working on taking more time before answering because he realized that the first thing that came out of his mouth wasn’t always the best answer. And also, he’d never thought less of me for telling him I needed to get back to him. And there were so many times where he’d ask me for something and my brain would just freeze and I’d say like, I’ll, I’ll, I’ll look into it. I’ll find out. But it was so validating to hear that he probably didn’t even notice or think oddly.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:17:38]:
I think it was odd that I couldn’t answer him in the moment. So that was extremely validating for me.
David Hall [00:17:44]:
Yeah, that’s a great story. And it’s, you know, He has his gifts, you have yours, and we can learn from each other, but also learn to respect, okay, Shannon needs a little time, but she’s going to come up with something great, you know?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:17:58]:
Yeah.
David Hall [00:17:58]:
So that, that’s, that’s awesome. So what is the full title of your book?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:18:04]:
So my book is called The Introvert’s World: How Introverted Leaders Can Build Quiet Confidence, Influence, and Purpose.
David Hall [00:18:13]:
Awesome. And what inspired you to write it?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:18:16]:
So I started the book about 5 years ago. It’s been definitely been a labor of love. At that point, I was coaching. I’d been going deep into introversion. And as I got better at living and working aligned with the way I was wired, I was noticing that allowed me to lead with more confidence. And I was figuring out and talking to people about introversion, having really great conversations, coming up with strategies. I wanted to go beyond my private part-time coaching practice and help more introverts with what I was learning. And a book seemed like the best way to do that.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:18:57]:
And since I was in the corporate world, I was living through introverted struggles every day. Each time I was inspired by something or figured something out, I wrote another chapter. So I’m proud of the way that it— I certainly didn’t mean to take this process and for it to take so long, but I think the book is even more valuable because I took so much time and put so many strategies into it from my real life and from things coworkers taught me that I think it’s a really solid resource for introverted leaders.
David Hall [00:19:28]:
Yeah. Yeah. And as I told you before we hit record, I’m enjoying it. It’s a great book. So congratulations.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:19:34]:
Thank you so much.
David Hall [00:19:36]:
And, you know, part of what we’ve been talking about, we need to learn to live authentically. Why is that so important?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:19:42]:
So I want to read, as part of my answer to this, I want to read an excerpt from the book that is especially meaningful to me and relates to this. So chapter 12 is all about, the title is Identifying and Managing Your Inner Critic. And this section was inspired by a quote from Glennon Doyle. She wrote the book Untamed, which is an exceptional book. And in the book, she asks this question, who were you meant to be before the world told you who to be? And after I read that, I sat down and I wrote, I journaled. It’s such an important one for us introverts, such an important question because so many of us have spent our entire lives feeling different. I was meant to be a quiet, calm little girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart. I was meant to grow and share my gifts of sensitivity, intuition, and empathy, to contribute by listening and understanding, empathizing and caring.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:20:44]:
But then the world told me to become outgoing and fun, to hide my sensitivity and empathy and masquerade as an extrovert if I wanted to be liked and accepted and successful. So I did until I believed that’s who I really was. I became stressed out and exhausted and someone else. And those beliefs have created landmines of inadequacy throughout my life. And I wanted to share that because I had— I have a personal story about what can happen when we hit one of those landmines and I abandoned my authentic self. I was a music major in college. And I, I’d sung my entire life. I’ve sung in church since I was 5.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:21:26]:
But as I got older, and there’s a parallel to my corporate career, I started struggling with more and more inadequacy around my voice. My senior year, I had the opportunity to go to an artist colony on Martha’s Vineyard, and it was just for a semester. It was an incredible experience. There was only 20 of us, and we spent the semester writing, performing, recording, The end of the semester, we all met one-on-one with one of the 2 professors, and during my meeting, the professor asked me about my plan B. I’m sure he said a lot of other encouraging things. I don’t remember any of them. All I remember— and I’m sure he was probably trying to protect me. I have a softer voice.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:22:07]:
This was the Kelly Clarkson era. But that’s the only thing I remember from the meeting, and I was young, I was 21, and I didn’t have the resilience to use that as fuel to keep going. Instead, I changed my major from music to journalism because I was more confident in my writing. And I turned my back on music so completely that for years I couldn’t imagine stepping on a stage or recording a note. And I didn’t. I didn’t. I’ve started singing again, but I didn’t for a solid decade. And I did that to keep myself small.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:22:38]:
And safe. And the lesson in this is when we don’t embrace who we are authentically at our core, when we don’t embrace our introverted wiring, we start making decisions from a place of fear instead of possibility. We keep ourselves small and safe, and this can lead to abandoning things that sometimes the things that make us feel most alive. And that’s why I think embracing our authentic selves and our authentic wiring, our introversion, is so important. When we hide our unique gifts, perspectives, and strengths, we’re depriving the people around us and the world and ourselves of what only we can contribute.
David Hall [00:23:21]:
Oh, beautiful. That’s beautiful. And I lived through that myself. I tried to be somebody I wasn’t. And it is so freeing when you realize who you are, what you have to offer. It’s, it’s, it’s amazing, but you know, it was definitely a long journey for me to get there. So we need books like yours.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:23:39]:
Thank you.
David Hall [00:23:42]:
So did you have to learn to be confident?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:23:44]:
I did. I did. And it’s definitely, it hasn’t been a straight line. I was a really shy kid. Over the years, I’ve learned the difference between shy and introversion, and I do have some shyness in addition to my introversion. I was confident in certain situations. So when I stepped on a stage at 5, at 10, at 15 to sing a solo, I was fully confident. But I felt my confidence wax and wane as I realized the world thought I was too quiet, and as I realized the world really wasn’t designed for a sensitive, quiet person like me.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:24:20]:
And I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the past couple years because I’ve changed companies a lot. In my early career, I gained a lot of confidence, and I felt a bit invincible. In my 20s, I talked my way into positions that I was not qualified for, and I just figured it out. My determination carried me, and I believed I could do anything I set my mind to. But as I’ve progressed and as I’ve been in corporate for longer, I’ve noticed especially in the past 4 or 5 years or so, my confidence has— I’m not invincible. And I have to focus on building my confidence more. The first big hit was that micromanaging boss I talked about in the beginning. That experience shook me.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:25:09]:
And it took me almost a year to rebuild my confidence. And over time— and this is one of the most important things I’ve learned— I started to realize I had been putting my sense of self-worth in other people’s hands. I was letting bosses, coworkers, companies decide my value. And that is so dangerous to do because our worth is inherent. And as I started to drop the extroverted masquerade and go deeper into how I can own my unique value as an introvert, I realized true confidence is quiet. It’s not the loudest voice in the room, and it comes from within. Confidence built on outside approval is temporary, and it needs constant fueling, which is an uncontrollable variable. I started doing some personal work around self-worth 2 years ago.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:25:59]:
And ironically, I started this work a month before I was laid off. And doing that work made a massive difference because when something like a layoff happens, often we’re left with gaps of information. And we start to make up stories about what it means. We don’t fact-check them, and these stories can easily turn into really dangerous beliefs that drives our thoughts and our feelings and our actions. And that action generally proves and deepens that belief. For example, I could have made my layoff mean I wasn’t valuable to the company to keep. And maybe that was true, but if I decided that was true, That would have significantly impacted my confidence and made it a lot harder to job search. Instead, I accepted the company was going through a reorg, and my skill set no longer matched what they needed.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:26:52]:
That’s it. So I share that just as an example of there’s so many things, so many stories we can make up when we have gaps in information. And those stories, if we don’t fact-check them, can really influence our confidence. And create really damaging beliefs.
David Hall [00:27:10]:
Yeah. Yeah. That’s, we do tell ourselves stories.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:27:15]:
Yep.
David Hall [00:27:17]:
So Shannon, your book is a lot about, and a lot about what I talk about is introverts at work. You know, what, what’s your advice for the introvert that, you know, wants to be more visible, wants to show up, but again, like we’ve been talking about in an authentic way.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:27:34]:
This is something I’m really passionate about. The whole— the entire section 2, which is the biggest part of the book, is about this. How do you get noticed at work? How do you thrive as an introvert while staying true to your wiring? And my main message is to be visible, you do not have to lead loudly. Visibility is about making your work and your impact easy to see. And I’ll share with you a couple of the strategies that have worked for me over the years and are in the book. The one I invest in most has building one-on-one relationships. So whenever I join a new company and throughout my time at every company, I figure out who the key people are and I build those relationships one by one. This makes cross-functional work smoother.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:28:21]:
A friendly face in the meeting makes a big difference. But the best part is when you really invest in someone one-on-one, when you join a meeting, you can go past what’s the weather like where you are, which is how so many meetings start when you’re waiting for everyone else to join. You can go deeper. And even on one-on-one calls with the people you’re building relationships with, it gives you the rich conversations that introverts and I definitely crave. And we can also take initiative in ways that fit our strengths. If you see a process at work that doesn’t exist or can be improved and you have the expertise or the initiative, improve it. Volunteer for a project that you’re excited about. Help outside your role.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:29:05]:
These things come across as ownership. And leadership, and they’re visible while allowing you to stay behind the scenes if you’d like. My favorite strategy: become the go-to expert in one area or more, but choose one to start. For me, this was AI. When I first discovered ChatGPT and then other LLMs, it just clicked for me. And as I started using it, it kept blowing my mind with what it could do. I became more and more passionate about it, and I’ve learned— so I’ve done trainings. I created a power users group, and I started realizing I had more confidence doing those things because I knew AI so well and I was so passionate about it.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:29:48]:
I still got nervous when I was presenting and doing a training, but I was excited to do that. And this made me very visible at that company. And I’ll share one more. I don’t believe introverts have to fight or should fight for airtime during meetings. And if you go into meeting feeling like you don’t have to say anything— like, there’s been times in my career when I’ve been told, you know, you have to be more visible, and, and I start thinking, okay, like, I have to say something in this meeting— it never goes well. I might say something and it lands flat, it doesn’t add value, and I’m not— and I’m not paying attention to what everyone else is saying. So what I do is I take the pressure off myself. And if I have something to say, I say it.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:30:40]:
If I have something and I, I can’t get a word in edgewise, which happens, I follow up in writing by Slack or email. And this also creates beautiful visibility, allowing you to, like you said, to come up with a better, more thoughtful answer. And start small. Like, think of One thing you could commit to this week that would increase your visibility and then go do it.
David Hall [00:31:04]:
Yeah. Yeah. A couple of things there. Definitely don’t feel the pressure to talk nonstop, but use some strategies, especially that you’ve outlined in your book, to be heard when you do have something to say, because that’s very important. And ideally it’s best to contribute in the meeting. But it needs to be okay to contribute afterwards too, you know, because everybody— oh man, I should have said that. That happens to us all.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:31:37]:
Yeah, it does. And the chat feature is great. Like, if you’re remote with meetings, it’s great to put something in the chat. You don’t have to wait for an opening. There’s a lot of ways to go about it that does not look like the extroverted ideal.
David Hall [00:31:52]:
Yeah. And the other thing you said I wanted to just expand on a little bit was, uh, start, you know, and start small, whether it’s to gain some more experience in an area to become the go-to person. You know, I love doing this podcast. I love public speaking, but I didn’t always, you know, a long time ago, I, you know, I figured out what I needed as an introvert. Yeah. And I started, you know, I gave a presentation, maybe, maybe I volunteered to give something small and it just, you just build on that, but you have to start and, you know, you may not be perfect at it when you start, but you’ll get better.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:32:33]:
I really like your example of, especially because public speaking is usually not preferred for introverts. I like that you started Giving like a smaller talk, smaller presentation, and then worked your way up. I think that’s a really smart strategy. And my goodness, it’s so hopeful. Gives me hope to hear you say that you enjoy it now. Like you worked your way up, you understood what you needed. I know you take recharge time afterwards. I do.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:33:01]:
And I think that makes a massive difference. Yeah, it’s so important. Yeah.
David Hall [00:33:05]:
And I’m enjoying this talk so much, Shannon, but guess what? No offense to you, but I’m going to take a break after this. And it’s not because you drained me. It’s just because I just, you know, I don’t, I don’t plan anything after my podcast. And I also just learned, you know what, going back to what you said, we’re not the best at thinking on our feet. So we need to think ahead of time. I don’t script my presentations generally. Some people do, and you just got to figure out what works for you. But I think a lot about, okay, what do I want to share? What stories are good? that kind of thing.
David Hall [00:33:39]:
And so it’s a matter of preparing. And I could, you know, say, oh, I wish I could be more like this extroverted friend that doesn’t prepare as much, but that’s not going to be me. If I don’t prepare, it’s not going to be as good of a presentation or speech.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:33:55]:
Yeah, that you just hit on the comparison element, which is so important. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to extroverted presenters who can present with no notes and not prepare and wing it.
David Hall [00:34:08]:
Yeah, I could talk, I could do a whole episode on, on that. So you started getting into AI, and I know that you also wrote about AI in your book. How can introverts use AI to be helpful?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:34:20]:
Yeah, so workplaces are designed for extroverts to thrive, and this is true if you’re remote, hybrid, in-person. The most common introverted challenges in the corporate world, I think, are thinking on our feet, which we’ve talked a lot about, speaking up in unstructured meetings, and brainstorming with no prep time. We’re not wired to work that way. And I think AI changes the games for everyone, but specifically for introverts. It can help us prepare, process, contribute in ways that play to our strengths. I’ve done a couple presentations about AI. And whenever I know there’s introverts in the room, I include a slide. 5 ways introverts can use AI at work.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:35:06]:
And those 5 things are last-minute brainstorming, prepping for unstructured meetings with vague or no agendas, recap meetings when you’re feeling overstimulated, turn ideas into visible impact after a meeting, and preparing for high-stakes conversations. And my favorite way to use AI is as a thought partner. I’m in marketing, and I have a Claude project that is called my co- CMO. So it essentially acts as my AI chief marketing officer. And I use it to challenge my thinking. I use it to bounce ideas off throughout the day. I help— I use it to create strategy. It’s gotten to know me very well.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:35:47]:
I have solid instructions in there. And I highly encourage everyone to create something like this, to use AI as a thought partner. Think on your feet. It’s such an incredible way to help us show up the way we’re demanded to show up in the workplace while still staying in line with the way that we’re wired.
David Hall [00:36:08]:
Yeah, yeah. Thought partner. I love that phrase because that’s what it is for me too. It’s incredible, but it definitely doesn’t take away from our expertise and our creativity. It just kind of— it’s a It’s just what you said. It’s a thought partner.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:36:26]:
Yeah. And it augments our creativity if we use it in the right way.
David Hall [00:36:30]:
Yeah, absolutely. And it just, it just keeps changing exponentially. It just, it’s, it’s amazing. There’s things that it’s doing now that it didn’t do a few months ago. It, it just continues to change and we’ll see where it leads.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:36:44]:
Yeah, it’s exciting.
David Hall [00:36:46]:
So what have you learned about managing your energy? Especially as an introvert?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:36:50]:
Oh, I’ve learned a lot. So protecting my energy has become one of the most important things for me. I have to start— so every morning I have a morning routine that I really protect, and if I don’t do it, my day is so much more chaotic. So every morning, and this takes less than 20 minutes, I read my devotions. I do a journaling exercise. It’s my gratitude practice. I write at least 3 things I’m grateful for. And I do a 5 to 10-minute HeartMath meditation, which I absolutely love.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:37:25]:
It’s so grounding and calming. I use that to pray as well. And then I start my day. And throughout my day, I have things built in as well. I mean, I work fully remote, so it’s very easy to take my lunch alone. But I also try to build in a 5-minute espresso break in the middle of the afternoon. And something I do that’s so important Because I work remote, the end of every workday, I find a quiet space and I do a 5-minute meditation. And that allows me to process my day, let go of my day, and start my, my day a lot— start my evening a lot more easily.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:38:04]:
So just building, building those things in. And I’ve learned over the years, protecting my energy is so important because I don’t get a lot of warning signs when My social battery is going on empty. I was just at an in-person company event for 2 days this week, and there were— all day we had to be in sessions. We had a very short break. There was a dinner and then an afterparty, and I knew I could not go to that afterparty. I went to the dinner. I showed up fully engaged, knowing, like you said about the podcast, that after the dinner I would go to my hotel room and recharge. And I think that’s so important to understand our limits energy-wise and not be afraid to ask or do what we need to protect that energy.
David Hall [00:38:52]:
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think about that. Maybe I’ve been to a conference with colleagues and maybe it’s sometimes I want to go with them and explore the town that we’re in or whatever, but sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it’s like, oh, I just want to go back to the room. And, you know, they might look at me like I’m strange, but you understand that sometimes that’s the best thing in the world and that’s what you need. You know, sometimes it’s fun to have adventures and sometimes you need some space.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:39:23]:
Yeah. And I’ve noticed people are so self-focused and I don’t mean this as a criticism, but a lot of times they don’t notice. On Wednesday night, everyone went to this after-games thing. I went the other way and went home. I never heard about it the next day. No one said, where were you? And I think that can be really freeing if we realize when we ask or do what we need, a lot of people won’t even notice. They’re there having a great time, and we are protecting our energy and recharging.
David Hall [00:39:56]:
Yeah, I think that’s key. Because a lot of times when we’re not feeling good about ourselves, when we’re thinking we’re less than, it’s because we are thinking about what other people think. And like you’re saying, they’re not thinking that much about us as we think they are.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:40:13]:
Yeah. Usually never.
David Hall [00:40:15]:
Yeah. And I mean, sometimes they are and sometimes they care, but you’re explaining what you need and how you’ll be your best. And, and it’s, if you can do that. then people will understand, okay, you know, Shannon needs this and that’s good. I’ll respect that.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:40:32]:
Yeah. It can be an educational moment, which we’ve already talked about that today, but it’s so important to educate other people. This is what introversion means. This is what I need. It’s different from you, but it’s just as important and legitimate.
David Hall [00:40:46]:
Yeah. Yeah. So the warning to people out there, if you equate introversion and shyness, I will correct you. I’ll do it nicely, but I will explain to you that they’re not the same thing.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:40:58]:
Because they’re not.
David Hall [00:41:01]:
No. So what have you learned about leadership and introversion? Your book has a lot about leadership as well.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:41:09]:
Yeah. So I think this is a biased opinion. I think introverts make exceptional leaders, maybe the best leaders. Um, in our corporate world, leadership is— and just in general, I think leadership is mostly defined by charisma, volume, and how much space you take up. And I very strongly disagree with that opinion. I have not had many introverted leaders in my career, but the couple I’ve had, and also from doing this work, I’ve learned quiet leaders bring deep listening. And that builds trust. They often bring empathy, and that creates psychological safety.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:41:53]:
And the thoughtful decisions they make, the time they take to think, it’s such a game changer. Like, that kind of leadership feels different. I am— I was coaching an introverted leader a couple years back, and she was really unhappy at work. But every time she talked about helping one of her team members, she lit up. And we worked together to create more opportunities for her to do that. And she got happier. She felt better, and things changed. And that goes back again to really leading in line with our introverted wiring.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:42:34]:
Research actually suggests that introvert-led teams can perform better because there’s more space Especially for diverse ways of thinking. I think because introverted leaders— or I’ll speak for myself as an introverted leader— I have felt so different my entire life, and I welcome diversity of thought maybe more than others. I don’t have research to back that up, but I really do think that introvert-led teams feel different, and there’s more space and It’s, it’s your greatest advantage.
David Hall [00:43:09]:
Yeah. Introverts can be amazing leaders. Absolutely. So thank you for saying that. And, you know, not all introverts felt like something was wrong with them. Some have always been confident. You know, I’ve met many loud and outspoken introverts, but often, you know, with, there’s just a bias out there that makes introverts often more understanding of others, you know? So I’ll, I will say that that’s, that’s my opinion too.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:43:39]:
Yeah. I like that. The understanding piece.
David Hall [00:43:41]:
Yeah,
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:43:41]:
it’s true.
David Hall [00:43:43]:
Whether it be for leadership or, or whatever you’re doing, how have you found to make yourself time and space to think?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:43:51]:
So this one, it’s so incredibly important. I know I already talked about like my morning routine and I’ve noticed the importance of creating space throughout the day. And I think I do it automatically. So in the shower in the morning, I’ll preface this by saying my best ideas do not come when I’m at my desk for hours and hours in back-to-back meetings with no time.
David Hall [00:44:17]:
Yeah.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:44:17]:
In the morning, like a lot of times in the morning, I love going paddleboarding and I bring my phone because I write a lot out there. I will be standing in the middle of the lake and I’ll be writing a blog or a LinkedIn post. on the paddleboard because my mind just starts going and I have the space. In the shower, it’s the same thing. I know this is across-the-board ideas. Great ideas come from the shower. But like, sometimes I don’t play music or a podcast, and so I can let my mind just go. I, I move a lot during the workday, so I’m walking up to the kitchen to make lunch, and I take a proper lunch that create space as well.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:44:56]:
And that meditation at the end of the day helps me wind down. So I think about creating space a lot. I do it automatically because I’ve learned I need it. I cannot function if things are packed. And there are times when life is more chaotic. And I try to, when that calms down, build in more space, more time. Our weekends, a lot of times we don’t have plans. Those are the most magical weekends.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:45:21]:
I don’t plan things on weekday evenings a lot too, just to give myself— the wind-down time to prep for the next day.
David Hall [00:45:29]:
Yeah. I always say sometimes no plans are the best plans.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:45:33]:
Absolutely. And I never regret not making plans over a weekend.
David Hall [00:45:37]:
Yeah. And it’s, it’s, yeah, so often it’s when we’re not trying to force ourselves to think, that’s when the ideas come. And whether we have our phones nearby or a notebook nearby, it’s so important to capture those ideas. I know some people capture ideas in the shower. I haven’t figured that out, but you know, after sometime soon is usually a good idea.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:45:59]:
Yeah.
David Hall [00:46:02]:
Shannon, this has been a wonderful conversation. It’s gone by so quickly. Is there anything you want to leave us with today?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:46:08]:
I think I’ll close by saying there is so much beauty and freedom in living aligned with the way that you’re actually wired. It brings less overwhelm, more calm and peace, more energy. It helps you live and lead as your actual self, and that’s what the world needs. And if I can leave your listeners with just one thought, your quiet leadership is your greatest advantage, and it’s time for the world to experience it.
David Hall [00:46:39]:
Wow. Well said. And of course, where can people find out more about you and your book?
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:46:45]:
So the book is available now on Amazon. I have the Kindle version and the paperback. You can find it just by searching The Introvert’s World on Amazon. It’ll pop right up as the first search result. And if you’d like to, um, go deeper into my work beyond the book, my website is introvertworld.com.
David Hall [00:47:06]:
Awesome. Thanks again, Shannon.
Shannon Lyn Maynard [00:47:08]:
Thank you so much. This has been fun.
David Hall [00:47:10]:
Thank you so much for joining me. I appreciate you. I hope you take the time to explore other episodes and learn from other amazing guests. Remember, if you’re interested in getting to know yourself better, there is now a free Typefinder personality assessment on the Quiet and Strong website. This free assessment will give you a brief report including the 4-letter Myers-Briggs code. I’ll add a link in the show notes. And I’d love to connect with you. Reach out at [email protected] or check out the quietandstrong.com website, which includes blog posts and links to social media for Quiet and Strong.
David Hall [00:47:45]:
And much more. Send me topics or guests you would like to see on the show. So many great things about being an introvert, and so we need those to be understood. Get to know your introverted strengths and needs and be strong.
David Hall, M.Ed. is a speaker, author, and host of the Quiet and Strong Podcast, where he interviews thought leaders, creatives, and professionals who help introverts thrive. With over 25 years in higher education, David has led workshops, trainings, and presentations on productivity, personality, and introversion. His mission is to help introverts honor their needs, understand their strengths, and succeed on their own terms. He is the author of Minding Your Time: Time Management, Productivity, and Success, Especially for Introverts and a passionate advocate for creating work environments where introverts can do their best work.
