Benedict asks the leader of the community to have a multitude of people skills. It would almost be easier for all leaders to be extroverts but then we would lose much wisdom from the more reserved leaders among us.
In reading the list of qualities and attributes that the superior needs to lead a group well, I am reminded of an artist mixing paints. My parents and younger sister are all artists of sorts and I remember watching them spend hours mixing and blending paints to get various nuances of colors. Where I (a definite, non-artist) would be tempted to just slosh some colors together and call it good enough, my sister would patiently add a dab of two or three colors, stir and evaluate before finishing. That is the type of care that is required of the Prioress.
Every person and every situation must be considered individually--what is good in one situation is totally inappropriate in another. Care must be taken to ponder every option and do what seems best. This process is usually not a rush job. The leader holds the burden of everyone's failure as well as the glory of all successes. Benedict encourages those in authority to pray well and to adjust all responses to the particular circumstance.
Sr. Catherine, OSB
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Regarding comment that all leaders be extroverts. I know that this is true, but introverts suffer much in this world because of their nature. It is believed that St. Joseph was a "quiet" man. Our holy father Joseph Ratzinger, seems to have this quiet nature also.
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