First Person

Tales of an Introverted Leader

By Anthony White

Hi, my name is Anthony, and I am an introvert. There, I said it, although it would be pretty obvious if you spent any time around me. Unless you are in my inner circle, you catch me at a conference, or are present when my competitive nature kicks in, you wouldn’t know. I have been this way for as long as I can remember. I have also had pretty much every teacher and supervisor that I have had tell me that I needed to speak up more, be more outgoing, and share the great ideas I come up with amongst my colleagues so that they can know all the wonderful things that I or my team were doing. I will say that I have gotten progressively better at this, but it still doesn’t move the needle for me. I emphasize the importance of telling our departmental story to our team, yet I am uncomfortable telling my own.

As an Xennial, geriatric Millennial, or old head (as the students call me on the basketball court), I grew up in a time when extroverted leaders were praised and viewed as the standard. This was especially true when I was a young athlete. You wanted a charismatic leader who could give the riveting pre-game speech that inspired everyone and led the team to victory. What about the unsung hero on the team? The player who was the first at practice and last to leave. The player who has a connection with everyone on the team and helps build the culture and fabric of the team behind the scenes. That’s the player and type of leader that I was.

Long before I knew that my top strength is what the CliftonStrengths assessment refers to as a relator, I was putting it to good use. This carried over when I became a student leader and RA in college. Navigating through selection processes and interviews was always a tricky task. The phrase authentic self wasn’t the buzzword that it is today, but I always had to worry about how to show up for these things. Too much outward excitement would be the bait and switch. How would they feel when the real me showed up on campus? Too much of the real me would make them question my ability to engage and program. 

While the entry-level positions can vary from campus to campus, they are all student-focused and student-facing. They can be a lot: not only while working but even when you are seemingly off the clock, given the live-in nature of the positions. You can see or hear residents constantly, and for some people that hinders their ability to recharge. While it is definitely possible to be successful in these positions, as many of us have been, I think it is important to provide potential practitioners with both sides of the coin when they inquire about the work we do in general and especially during Careers in Student Affairs Month. It’s similar to that RA who hears about (insert institution-specific name here) chats and goes, “Wait, you want me to actually talk to people?” The more prep we can do up front, the better.

Two or three buzzwords ago, we as a field were all about meeting our students where they are. Today, that is literally all over the place. The impact of the pandemic on today’s students can’t be overstated. Our students are learning to socialize all over again or outwardly for the first time in some instances. Who better to help students navigate these transitions than students who are literally dealing with and navigating these same things themselves? It is important to note that introverts are not monolithic. All people are not alike. They can find themselves on various ends of the spectrum. They also have the ability to move and change. As we find ourselves in the “great resignation,” we need all the people we can get to help do this work. Being introverted is not a character flaw. We are dedicated and hard-working individuals who have lots to say (we just might not say it in front of you). And we are committed to examining what we can do as leaders to create inclusive environments where all our students and staff feel comfortable and are able to learn from their lived experiences, be successful, and thrive.

Anthony White is the executive director of university housing at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. First Person is an opportunity for ACUHO-I members to share more personal insights into the news and issues affecting campus housing and student affairs. Interested contributors should complete this form.