Soft Power

In the United States we tend to equate powerful people with larger than life personalities, but that isn't true of every country or culture. Susan Cain discusses the concept of soft power in her book The Quiet Revolution. 

Soft power is most easily summed up with quietly leading by example. Many of us know that quiet person that one day spoke up and startled a whole conversation. When you are quiet, just the act of speaking up adds weight and power to the thought. Showing where you stand on issues with action instead of only speaking louder. Introverts can make great leaders because of their tendency to listen and speak purposefully. That thoughtfulness coupled with action is inspiring and powerful. Soft power is like the power of water in a stream. It flows babbling softly but molding every thing it touches both leaving a path for the water behind it and a current for those wanting to be carried along.

A few of examples of leaders with soft power are Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt.









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