Do Leaders need to have a Leadership Voice

We all have a signature voice. Do leaders have anything different?

Voice has two meanings. It is the sound produced in a person’s larynx and delivered through the mouth with resonance of the vocal cords. It is also an expression of opinion. 
Both define us. 

Individuals produce unique sounds. Why should our audio identity matter?
Emotional calmness, mental toughness, clarity of thought, and linear articulation are cognitive hallmarks of strong leaders. These behavioral attributes manifest themselves in the voice and body language. Both are strong markers for a leader’s resilience. In a world with rapidly shrinking attention spans, audio (voice) and visual (body language) communication cues instantly influence our acceptance of leaders. We tend to naturally stay tuned in to a voice that can be understood, is empathetic, exudes confidence, and feels close. 

Our opinions are formed over years of conditioning through our upbringing, real-world experiences and contextualized interpretations.

Leaders THINK before expressing an opinion. Check for Truth. Does it Help. Is it Inspirational. Is it Necessary. Is it Kind. Every battle is not to be won; every argument is not to be argued. Instead, strong Leaders spend time having a word with themselves. They seek education, analyze situations, understand their audience, weigh the consequences before expressing themselves. They really think.

Is a leader born with the genetic jackpot and therefore entitled to a leadership voice? Or is it laboriously earned? This debate has witnessed many moons. Our deep-rooted assumptions force us to stay on either side of scientific evidence.

Our physiology gets hardwired in the womb; we control the events outside. Conditioning the sound box, exercising the skills, and staying informed for intelligent opinions are the moonshot worth the effort. 

Leadership starts and ends with acceptance. Leaders are accepted not because of their conformance to a standard leadership template but because of their cognitive uniqueness to resonate and connect. Resonance requires clarity and conciseness; connection requires depth of understanding and empathy.

Leadership comes with its rewards. Acceptance of that leadership requires effort. Self-awareness is the first effort. A leadership voice is the first act. Leadership Coaching