The importance of your leadership voice
Recently, I came down with strep throat and lost my voice for two weeks.
Since I was restricted from speaking, I had time to think about the importance of our voice and how powerful of a tool it is— particularly when you’re in a leadership position.
The effects of a leaders’ voice are huge. It influences communication, team morale, trust-building, and overall organizational culture. It helps with problem solving, creates inclusiveness and dialogue, and stimulates innovation and creativity.
Depending on the need and situation, there are different ways to use our voice to be effective.
Using voice to command a room
We often think of leaders as being the ones we listen to, whose words influence us,and who lead the way. A leader’s voice is the primary tool for conveying ideas, goals, and strategies to your team.
How you speak influences how well your message is understood and received. The tone, energy, and passion conveyed through your voice can inspire and motivate your team members. Conveying confidence, empathy, encouragement, or decisiveness can influence the morale of your team. And calmness in your voice can help problem solve and create constructive dialogue.
What you say matters as well and words matter. You reflect the values and vision of the organization and what you say reinforces those as does consistent communication, honesty, and transparency. These foster trust with team members so it’s important to think about your words and your message in the “what” you say in addition to “how” you deliver it.
Staying silent is powerful too
Your voice is a powerful leadership tool, but some of the biggest acts of leadership can actually come from not speaking. Listening is a valuable part of leadership that has similar benefits to using your voice.
When leaders actively listen to their team members, it demonstrates respect and genuine interest, which in turn builds trust and strengthens relationships within the team. It allows you to truly understand perspectives, concerns, and emotions of team members which creates empathic responses.
Leaders can also grasp nuances, clarify misunderstandings, and ensure their messages are received in the way they intended when they listen. They can better identify issues to make informed decisions and help with problem solving, acknowledge different viewpoints, and facilitate constructive dialogue.
There was a conversation on LinkedIn the other day that talked about being “shut down”. Several leaders were talking about how they were quieted in a room by other, and how it quickly diminishes your passion or enthusiasm.
When a passionate team falls silent, it can signal a culture problem. The fix starts with leadership demonstrating the behaviors they want to see with active listening and by inviting feedback and conversation.
Impactful leaders do not have to be the loudest and are adept at listening to, and engaging team members, inviting them to contribute and be heard. Listening encourages growth, learning, and a sense of valued contribution among team members. It promotes an inclusive environment for diverse perspectives, allowing people to be heard and creativity to emerge.
Great power equals great responsibility
Your voice is a powerful tool and as leaders, we have a job to use it accordingly. Remember our voice represents values, a brand, a vision or purpose. It represents shareholders, employees, and those who don't have as loud of a voice.
Having a voice doesn’t mean being the loudest in the room. Listening to people is just as important as verbal communication.
Take the time to think about what you say, how you say it, and when it’s time to just listen. When it comes to impactful, effective leadership, your voice makes a huge difference.
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