The Quiet Leader

In society, I think we tend to think of leaders as the people who stand out, who are always vocal, who focus in on the way that things should be done.
But in my work, I have come across two strong 'quiet' leaders. These are the people who make incredibly thoughtful responses to issues that are raised. They challenge the more vocal leaders, not by undermining their leadership, but by pushing the envelope. They pay attention to the details, and think of new ways to present information.
But they are also cheerleaders. They pick us up when we are down. They look for the positive angle, but aren't afraid of negativity. They can handle the truth, and are not crippled by it.
And, I've noticed, they tend to be very creative and artistic. My quiet leaders, F and H, on the surface, may seem incredibly different, but when I look at how they lead, they are so similar. They both see things differently than the vocal leaders. They both bring an incredible sense of self and goals to the team. They are able to describe theories with imagery that just knocks my socks off. Their responses can be laddened with emotions, but not so much so that the response is completely emotional. They think outside of the box, but not so far outside of the box that their ideas are completely abstract. They challenge but don't demean.
Perhaps most importantly, F and H lead by example. They are positive role models. They never blame anyone else for their not finishing an assignment. They never back down from a challenge. And I can always count on them to keep the group grounded.
They've both crept up on me, each right around the time they become seniors. I find it fascinating. I'm incredibly grateful. I see the torch being passed, and the quiet leader actually being able to handle more pressure, be more sure of themselves, and bring an incredibly array of positive qualities to our work. I feel like if I would have blinked at the wrong moment, I would have missed the metamorphisis.
I'm grateful for all my leaders - no matter the form. But I'm even more grateful that they're all different. And I look forward to seeing how the quiet ones assert themselves more in the coming weeks...