Today, there are many calls to use your voice. You might feel overwhelmed, tongue tied, unsure of what to say, skeptical of whether anything you do matters, or already be reeling from the backlash of using your voice.
As we head into the new year, let’s pause. What is your voice, anyways?
Sure, your voice is the words you speak in a meeting and that you use to advocate for things you care about. But fundamentally, your voice is how you move through the world. It is the values you hold. The actions you take. And yes, the words you use, too.
Using your voice can but doesn’t have to mean attending a protest or using your body to stop traffic on a highway. Because of who you are and how you’re wired, your voice is going to look and sound different from anyone else’s.
And that’s a good thing. Equity, peace, dignity, and justice are going to take each of us.
So what helps you move through the world as you intend? Below are three strategies:
1) Don’t go it alone.
The pressures of who we’re supposed to be, how we’re expected to show up, and what people want from us are real. So, who is on your team? Who knows who you want to be and can nudge you in the ways you want to go – especially when the going gets tough? For me, it’s my best friend. Whenever I express doubt, she texts back: you do you. That phrase is enough to remind me to keep fighting for what matters.
2) Start small.
While the tensions and devastation of the world can feel overwhelming, each of us doing something really does matter. What is one thing you can do to live out your values today? Is it bringing food to a neighbor? Is it sending a text message to let someone know you’re thinking of them? Is it taking time to rest when the world expects you to hustle? Is it listening to a perspective different than your own? Is it making a spreadsheet to organize? Each choice we make impacts how we move through the world and what becomes the norm.
3) Frame your actions as experiments.
Perfectionism and the pressure to get things exactly right too often get in the way of taking action. Life is messy. So it’s no wonder that using our voices is messy. The point of an experiment isn’t to get to a specific outcome, but to learn something from the resulting data. As you experiment with how you show up in the world, see what you learn. Then, iterate from there. It’s not about taking the perfect step, but taking a step.
I’m excited to see and hear how your voice shapes the world,
Elaine
P.S. If you’re looking for additional resources on what your voice might look like, Deepa Iyer’s Social Change Ecosystem Map and Omkari Williams’ book Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference In the World Without a Bullhorn are two of the best resources I’ve found for broadening our understanding of the unique role we each can play.
When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help…
- Connect with me on LinkedIn for tips on leadership, communication, and navigating toxic workplaces weekdays at 9am ET.
- Preorder my book Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully (Penguin 2024) – for yourself, or for someone you care about. Preorder bonuses available here!
- Hire me to speak virtually or in person.
