Owning Your Executive Voice: A Resolution for the New Year
As we look ahead to entering 2020 in just a few weeks, it’s a perfect time to evaluate your leadership toolkit and set fresh resolutions in areas that could benefit from some sprucing up. The SHAMBAUGH Leadership team has noticed one area that many leaders whom we coach could improve upon: learning how to enhance and master their executive voice. This is particularly true for those who are new to management and leadership roles, though it can be a deal breaker regardless of one’s technical skills and experience.
Executive voice is a key component of executive presence, which as SHAMBAUGH has pointed out is one of the top ways that leaders are evaluated. In fact, executive presence accounts for more than one quarter of a leader’s ability to influence others and get promoted, according to recent studies. Executive voice relates to your ability to effectively communicate with credibility and authority with your teams and colleagues. Executive voice also involves inspiring those you work with and influencing stakeholders.
While talking about executive voice can seem somewhat ambiguous, you can get an idea of what a strong executive voice looks like and sounds like by thinking of a leader you’ve seen who can “command the room.” This leader provides the people around them, including direct reports, with a sense of clarity, alignment, and clear accountability when it comes to key business objectives.
In fact, executive voice has become so important that I often say it’s “the new executive presence.” While the latter distinction traditionally referred to a senior-level person who “looked the part” of an executive or leader, executive voice goes beyond just charisma to incorporate trust-building and engagement, as well as the ability to set a company’s tone and strategy, for leaders of all levels.
Executive voice really comes down to the following five critical components that, when properly leveraged, allow you to maximize your potential as a strategic leader:
- What you say
- How you say it
- To whom you say it
- When you say it
- Understanding the proper context in which to say it
Let’s drill down into each of these five areas to reveal strategies for cultivating an effective executive voice:
What you say
Effective leaders are conscientious about what they communicate. Leaders with a strong executive voice demonstrate their understanding of the entire enterprise, while having a solid understanding of what the other business functions do and how they do it. Using an executive voice puts the focus on identifying viable, actionable solutions, rather than only pointing out problems or simply poking holes in others’ ideas. These solutions balance strategy—such as growth goals, cultural issues, or change initiatives—with execution, helping people in an organization connect the dots. A leader with a strong executive voice might come to the table prepared with strategic questions to get people thinking about specific issues.
How you say it
When it comes to executive voice, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. Effective leaders are thoughtful and concise, staying on point and speaking with clarity rather than rambling to a tuned-out room or using too much jargon. Leaders radiate confidence, which is demonstrated by how much energy and passion they project to others as well as how they present their ideas and opinions. Authenticity in your message is also important. How you say something goes beyond your words as well, to incorporate your body language. Research shows that nonverbal communication—such as your tone, posture, expressions, and eye contact—accounts for as much as 70 percent of what’s conveyed during dialogue, so these nonverbal signs and signals should be congruent with the words you’re speaking.
To whom you say it
As a leader, your network may be diverse and extensive, which allows you to develop insight about the big picture and how different people, roles, and departments fit into it. Know your audience and be relevant. When speaking with executives or key stakeholders, drive home the key messages and recommendations that matter most to them, and demystify complex jargon by using examples they will remember. Before sharing your messages, use these insights to determine whom the right person or group is to speak with about different topics. Executive voice is not just about knowing the right words to say, but understanding, strategically, to whom different messages are most effectively directed.
When you say it
Timing is another important element to consider when honing your executive voice. Whether delivering a corporate message to your entire organization or connecting one-on-one with an employee in your group, consider what else is happening with the company or specific individuals that might affect the timing of your message. For example, if your team is under deadline pressure to complete a deliverable by the end of the day, it’s probably not the right time to call an impromptu meeting about a procedural matter that isn’t urgent. Taking timing into account shows respect for others and can help build trust. Social intelligence, or your ability to read the room, is part of this equation. By being alert to social cues, a leader can, for example, suggest tabling a discussion for a better time if the audience seems distracted or disinterested.
By utilizing these strategies above, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running with a strong executive voice in the New Year, which will help you become a more effective and respected leader.
Contact me at info@shambaughleadership.com or link to SHAMBAUGH’s executive coaching offerings to learn about ways that SHAMBAUGH can help leaders and leadership teams master the art and science of executive presence and executive voice to strengthen your leadership effectiveness and influence others.
At SHAMBAUGH Leadership, we’re on a mission to develop high-performing and inclusive leaders who transform workplace cultures so everyone can thrive. As experts on building inclusive and high-performance cultures, we partner with companies and executives to address the whole system of an organization, unlocking and leveraging the full potential of the entire company. Rebecca Shambaugh is an international speaker on how to disrupt traditional mindsets and create a roadmap for driving greater levels of innovation and performance through a unified voice for leadership. Rebecca is Founder of Women in Leadership and Learning, a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, and blogger for the Huffington Post. She is author of the best-selling books It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor and Make Room for Her: Why Companies Need an Integrated Leadership Model to Achieve Extraordinary Results. To learn more about SHAMBAUGH Leadership’s trainings and customized programs in leadership development that help create inclusive, high-performance cultures, contact Rebecca at info@shambaughleadership.com.
Find out more about us at: www.shambaughleadership.com
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