11/19/2025

Quiet Connectors Often Drive Real Organizational Change

Don't mistake the loudest voices for the most influential

Meeting- and hallway-dominating voices often attract attention, but they can drown out the quiet connectors — those who build deep relationships, bridge silos and help organizations evolve.

I've spent the past several years helping a company transform an outdated, sometimes toxic culture. At my first listening workshop, one employee quickly took over the conversation. He was outspoken and opinionated and seemed to serve as the group's informal spokesperson—exactly the sort of person I, as a fellow extrovert, instinctively gravitate toward. I assumed his vocal support would be crucial in driving culture change.

But I was wrong.

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