Not the Loudest in the Room?
“Leadership does not have to be loud.”
Archie Messersmith-Bunting invites a new generation of students to reimagine what it means to lead.
In a world that often equates leadership with charisma, spotlight, and stage presence, Archie delivers a bold reminder: the best leaders aren’t always the loudest in the room. Sometimes, they’re the ones sitting quietly, paying attention—ready to guide with steadiness instead of volume.
This blog is a love letter to the students who don’t see themselves as traditional leaders—and a challenge to every campus to start seeing them.
Loud Doesn’t Equal Effective
When today’s students think of “leaders,” they may picture influencers, politicians, CEOs… people with microphones, cameras, or Twitter followings.
We’ve taught students that to lead, they need to perform. But what they really need is to reflect.
Loudness can sometimes mask insecurity, ego, or chaos. But calm confidence? That creates safety. That grounds teams. And that, Archie says, is the kind of leadership campuses need right now.
Anchored Authority: A Different Kind of Power
One of the pillars in the SAFE leadership framework is Anchored Authority—the idea that true leaders are rooted, not reactive.
Archie shared a story from his time performing on cruise ships, when a real emergency forced the crew to spring into action. The loudest voice wasn’t the most helpful—it was the captain’s calm presence that got everyone through safely. That’s anchored authority in action.
For students, this means leadership isn’t about how much you talk. It’s about how much you hold—emotionally, mentally, and interpersonally.
The Quiet Leader’s Strength
If you’re the student who:
- Reflects before speaking
- Notices the energy in the room
- Leads by example, not by command
- Prefers structure to spotlight
…you are already leading. And we need you.
Quiet leaders are often:
- More empathetic — they listen deeply
- More self-aware — they know their limits
- More reliable — they create consistency
- More thoughtful — they act with intention
How Campuses Can Support Quiet Leadership
Student leadership programs often reward volume, visibility, and enthusiasm. But to create inclusive and effective leadership pipelines, campuses need to:
- Celebrate varied leadership styles (not just extroverted ones)
- Offer leadership roles that value organization, emotional intelligence, and planning
- Create reflection spaces alongside icebreakers
- Train students to recognize leadership in presence, not just participation
When we build systems that only notice the loudest voice, we risk missing the wisest one.
Reclaiming Your Role as a Leader
Archie’s own story is a testament to self-awareness. He shared how, early in life, he tried to fit a mold that wasn’t his—yearning to be cast as the lead in shows. But when he embraced who he truly was (the comic relief, the steady friend, the real human), his life and impact changed.
“The moment I got honest about what I actually bring to the table, I started working,” Archie said.
This message is for every student who feels like leadership spaces weren’t designed for them. You don’t have to become someone else. You just have to become more of you.
“You might not speak first. But when you do, people listen.”
We need bold voices. We also need steady ones. Archie’s message reminds us that real leadership is about presence, not performance.
So if you’re not the loudest in the room?
You just might be the leader we’ve been waiting for.