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Five Steps to Finding Your Voice

 ·  2 minute read

In order to lead, you need a voice.

Finding your voice is the real challenge.

In my executive coaching work, I frequently find leaders who have no trouble verbalizing but still don’t have a voice. Finding and using your voice is absolutely essential because, without it, you aren’t effectively leading.

What’s the difference? Let’s look first at what it means to be ineffective even when you are speaking up and saying what you want. Leaders feel frustrated when:

  • By the authority vested in them by their title or position, leaders make pronouncements and issue commands. But people don’t abide by what’s been said.
  • In the heat of the moment, leaders emotionally discharge and expect others to respond to their outbursts. Yes, people react to anger… But that’s not the same as responding.
  • Others don’t keep up with a leaders frequent demands. People complain about the constant changes in direction and can’t makes sense of the latest edicts .

These are all examples of leaders who are vocal but have no voice. Barking command and control orders doesn’t work. It only causes resentment and a loss of followers’ faith in the leader.

Verbalizing forcefully is a cheap substitute for finding and using your voice. Leaders who have found their voice do things differently. They:

  • Connect the dots and explain why they are asking people to do certain things, linking the tasks to the larger and more inspiring purpose for the group.
  • Convey passion and enthusiasm when they speak, letting people know they believe in what they’re asking and that it goes beyond a power play.
  • Listen. Leaders who have found their voice also give voice to others because they value the individual thought that comes with finding and using ones’ voice.

To find your voice, follow these five steps. For some, it may take considerable time to work through these steps. Don’t give up. This is the very essence of credibility and leadership.

  1. Assess your values. Consider what you stand for, what you believe in, what matters most of all to you. Name them and claim them as your central values.
  1. Check yourself. Do your actions reflect your values? Are you operating in alignment with what you believe? If not, you haven’t been honest in naming your values OR you need to adjust your behaviors so you can be true to yourself.
  1. Keep your values front and center. Use them as your moral compass when you make decisions. Don’t allow yourself to make exceptions that would require you to set aside your own core values.
  1. Let others know what you stand for. Work through step 1-3 first, though, so you are not saying one thing and doing another. Once you’ve got a handle on this, be so committed to your values that you lay them out there and can explain what you do and why, using your values as the cornerstone of your explanations.
  1. Be careful not to let your values infringe on others’ values. Your voice and actions are now shaped by what you hold nearest and dearest. This does not give you the right to judge what is equally important to others. These are YOUR values and this is YOUR voice. Give others space to have their own values and voices, too.

When you have this clarity, you will show up differently as a leader. Others will understand what you are doing, what you are asking, and why. They will respect your character and be inspired by your dedication to your value system. Over time, they will see you as a highly credible leader who is consistent and true to what he believes.

This blog post is part of the CONNECT! Community’s October focus on connecting with yourself. As a leader, you will be able to CONNECT2Lead authentically and effectively when you are true to yourself. Subscribe to our weekly CONNECT2Lead Newsletter for special offers, content, and blog. To God be the glory!