as easy as... finding your voice

What do we mean when we talk about the voice? Finding your voice? Losing your voice? Using your voice?

I think it’s a little akin to style, maybe even personality. We have innate preferences for how we present and express ourselves in the world, and we can learn to adapt and modify our approaches. “Voice” is a form of expression. It involves speaking, of course, but it goes deeper to connect with identity, choices, and awareness.

A leader’s voice has significance. Sometimes this is the case only because of a title. Best case? It is because of the person. When a leader speaks, people listen. When a leader does not speak, people are still watching and waiting. So, being mindful of your choices is part of leading well. This means intentionality when you consider words, channels, and moments. These choices, the process of crafting your voice, are not about building an artifice. Instead, it allows you to connect to your authentic self and give it a voice to speak as you lead.

All of this to say, your voice is how you express yourself, and it influences the moments when you speak up, the impact you have, and the impressions you create. Do you have a gentle, guiding voice? An aggressive, commanding voice? A visionary, confident voice? Do you know? If not, it’s time you found your voice.

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“Finding your voice”—there is something both poetic and trite in this idea. You may feel encouraged by it, or you may experience an itchy discomfort. Or both. Regardless, it is still the responsibility of a leader to find, nurture, and use the voice they’ve been gifted.

It may surprise you to hear that finding your voice is only the first step. I think of this step as being like an audition, the work that happens offstage. You begin with awareness and explore yourself. Discover what preferences, mindsets, and strengths you possess. Consider how each serves you, particularly when it comes to expressing your ideas and needs. This process can involve reflection, assessments, or even auditing your past. Use tools like your calendar, performance feedback, and memory to guide you.

Think of auditioning as an invitation to try out your voice in private. It’s where you explore who you are before others form opinions or expectations. There’s no spotlight yet—just you, noticing what feels natural, what resonates, what falls flat. You’re not trying to impress anyone. You’re listening closely to yourself.

Once you’ve auditioned and discovered the tone and tenor of your voice, you can move on to rehearsal. Practice is essential to gaining competence and confidence with any skill, including expressing yourself. This is the work that happens backstage; it is essential to your success.

Where do you find opportunities to rehearse your newfound voice? Everywhere!

• You can start small: reread emails and ask yourself if the message “sounds” like your voice.

• Ask trusted colleagues for feedback. “How do I come across? What adjectives would you use to describe how I express myself?”

• Use low-stakes meetings to rehearse. If this is a big change for you—you have rarely spoken up in meetings, never mind speaking with awareness of your voice—then consider playing out scenarios in your mind as a way to rehearse. You can use past events and imagine what you might have done instead, or use upcoming interactions to think through choices you can make when the time comes.

Small steps like these will keep you moving forward. It’s okay not to attempt big leaps. This is a process of self-discovery and learning through doing. Some people take years to fine-tune their voices, and no one does it in one go. In fact, your voice will likely evolve and change over time as you gain experience and perspective. I know mine has. I can barely remember how I expressed myself early in my career! And my self-employed voice is different than what I used as an executive leader. I’m still me, but my voice has evolved over time. Yours will, too. Rehearsal will still matter at each point of your evolution to ensure consistency and authenticity.

Remember, world-class musicians, athletes, speakers, and other experts don’t stop practicing once they achieve expertise. Neither should we. Rehearsal doesn’t end, and doesn’t mean you never perform. Because performance—using your voice in service of others—is the ultimate expression of leadership. It’s when your preparation meets purpose.

Each step of this process is important—auditioning, rehearsing, and performing—and they are tightly interconnected. However, each possesses increasing visibility and responsibility. This is why discovery and practice are so important. When you reach the point of using your voice, you are doing more than stepping onstage: You are stepping into leadership.

Auditioning your voice is a process of exploration and creating a foundation. Rehearsing your voice involves refinement and deepening self-knowledge. Both of these steps focus on your learning and growth. Performance, using your voice, involves turning your focus and attention from yourself to others. A leader’s voice is at its best when it is used to benefit others. It is your instrument for modeling the behaviors you want to see, for mentoring others, and for advocating for those who may not yet have a voice.

Your voice matters—not just for what you say, but for what you make possible by using it.