Back before any “matter”-related movements came about, I interned for a social change organization in Chicago with the tagline, “Your voice matters.” At the time, I understood that that was a nice sentiment, but I didn’t understand how important that concept was. Your voice is something of which you are in control, and it affects how others perceive you.
When you think about your voice, your first thought is likely related to the actual sound your vocal cords produce when you speak. Some people have very unique voices, others more common, and many people hate the sound of their own voices. When we talk about defining your voice for leadership, we aren’t talking about the actual vocal quality and audible sound produced. We are talking about the context and content that that sound creates.
As a leader, you have a lot of opportunities to get your voice out there. Communication is incredibly important, and it is essential to running a successful business. It is also vital that you establish your voice before others have the chance to define it for you. If you are a person who does not speak up much, people will start to get ideas in their heads about what you may or may not be thinking. As humans, we don’t like to have information gaps, so when we are not presented with adequate information, our brain fills in details to help us understand. This means that when you are not shaping your voice by speaking up, people are creating stories to check a mental block of understanding your opinions and feelings. This is not a good position to put yourself in. You need to be active in your communication so that people will know your voice and know what you believe.
We need to use our voice to inform others and shape their perceptions of us, but we also have a responsibility to use our voice. As a leader, you should use your voice to speak up for those who have not been given the same platform as you. When you see injustice in the world, it is your responsibility to speak out against it. Doing this can reinforce your voice and your stances amongst those around you. It can also strengthen your relationships because people will see you as someone who stands up for what he believes in.
Establishing your voice also has some more selfish motives. When you have established a clear voice, other people can defend you against false claims. If someone in your life is claiming that you said or did something out of character, those around you who have learned your voice can easily understand when the claim does not fit into what you have established as your voice. When you establish your voice, it is easier to disavow negative statements that people attribute to you because the people around you will recognize that that is not your voice.
One final piece of advice for establishing your voice is to set some guidelines for yourself. Think about what you want to communicate to the world and put specific things off limits. Consciously doing this will help you maintain the voice that you want to put into the world. When you set and maintain standards for how you communicate, you are more in control of the voice you are communicating to everyone around you.
Bria