Many of us have a difficult time sharing our thoughts and ideas in an impactful way. I have made presentations that I wished came out differently. Do you marvel at how other people can just present their opinions in a free-flowing way and everyone seems to pay attention to them and listen? Being able to express ourselves so we can be both understood and believed is a critical part of leadership. But it isn’t as hard as it may seem if we are willing to identify our authentic voice. And that’s key. We need to represent our true selves and not try to copy someone else’s style. We are credible speakers when we open up in our authentic voice, not merely mirroring the presentation of a team member, colleague, boss or friend.
Here are five shifts to lead with your authentic voice:
1. Create A Clear and Meaningful Message
Knowing what we want to say and the important points we need to make is the beginning step in finding our authentic voice. What happens to many leaders is that they are uncertain and not confident with what they want to say. We need to believe that that what we have to share with others has value. We need to harness those important ideas and pull them together in an organized and persuasive way in order to speak coherently. Try asking yourself:
- What is the most important idea I need to convey?
- How is my opinion helpful to others?
- What points do I need to make to clearly support my opinion?
- Do I make complete sense?
2. Use Words and Language That Reflect Your Style
Choosing the best words to express yourself is just as essential as the message itself. The language coming out of your mouth needs to be consistent with who you are and what you stand for to be authentic. Select words that you use in everyday speech that are respectful and exciting. Remember that to be impactful you need to energize others about your ideas. Stories that showcase your journey and lessons you learned can be incredibly powerful. When you share a story you share your authentic voice.
3. Be Aware of Your Non-Verbal Cues
Just as the words hold certain meaning, so do your non-verbal cues. To discover your authentic voice, it can be helpful to identify how you show up with both your message and your body. If hand gestures are part of who you are, use them! If you speak with emotions, use them! Be yourself and then you will be using your authentic voice. Some non-verbal signals can include:
- Matching your body language to your words
- Showing confidence with your uplifting posture
- Displaying good eye contact without staring
- Using hand gestures that support your message
- Speaking in a varied tone that captivates the audience you are addressing
- Making sure you smile to show caring and warmth
4. Test Out Your Delivery
It’s never a bad idea to try out your presentation or share your ideas with people you trust. Reach out to a colleague who may be attending a meeting that you want to speak at and ask them to listen to how you hope to present your suggestions. Or simply speak out loud your ideas and see how they sound. I have found that my written thoughts sound differently when I say them out loud. Become comfortable with your message and your voice.
5. Be Willing To Adjust
Finally leaders need to be flexible enough to make tweaks to their presentations to be authentic. Sticking with your planned presentation may not be as effective as you had hoped. When you speak in an authentic voice you know that you may need to amend your initial message.
- Be willing to hear feedback to make your message clearer
- Be open to adding new facts that just came through
- Modify your body language or hand gestures that really heighten your message
- Listen to the comments of others and incorporate them into your strategy
How do you lead with your authentic voice? If you are longing to discover your authentic voice and need a little help, click here.