We often equate developing a leadership voice with finding ways to appear more confident. We assume that our success depends upon mimicking someone else, increasing our self-promotion, or saying things louder than others. But rather than living with imposter’s syndrome, or feeling exhausted by wearing your game face all day, you can build a truer confidence by more intentionally focusing on cultivating many different parts of your leadership voice each day. Ultimately, you should cultivate enough parts of your voice so that no matter the leadership situation or audience you find yourself facing, you can respond in an authentic, constructive, and effective way. So, what are the various voices to access within yourself and cultivate over time? And what are the situations that warrant each voice?
You Don’t Just Need One Leadership Voice — You Need Many
Many aspiring leaders focus on developing a more confident-sounding persona. But building true confidence starts with cultivating a multi-faceted leadership voice. First, consider the voice of your character. This is the part of your voice that is grounded in fundamental principles about who you choose to be and what guides and motivates your interactions with others. Next, explore your voice of context: Instead of diving right into execution, take a moment to consider the strategic context of new initiatives. Third, in a world of high-intensity workplaces, leaders should aspire to be the voice of clarity, helping their team stay focused on the most-important priorities. Fourth, cultivate your voice of curiosity. As a leader, you have a responsibility to give direction, share information, and make important decisions — but you need to make sure that you’re not approaching every situation as if you have all the answers. Instead, bring a healthy dose of curiosity and open-mindedness when the situation calls for it. Finally, develop your voice of connection by improving your storytelling, expressing gratitude, and making time for your people. Ultimately, you should cultivate enough parts of your voice that no matter the leadership situation or audience you find yourself facing, you can respond in an authentic, constructive, and effective way.