LEADERSHIP by Keisha A. Rivers Equipped for Change: Why Embracing Your Leadership Voice Matters At the age of seven, I found myself all alone at the front of my firstgrade class perched uncomfortably on a hard wooden chair, my eyes wide and my – mouth – taped – shut. Even though I was painfully on display, my classmates averted their eyes uncomfortably and I felt — alone, betrayed. Silenced. What had I done to “deserve” this? I had used my voice. I wasn’t disruptive. I wasn’t disrespectful. I simply didn’t adhere to the prevailing thought that young girls should be seen and not heard. For all those reasons, I found myself taped to a small wooden chair that day, with my mouth covered in duct tape. Why am I sharing this story? Because as women, as business owners, as leaders, it is important that we embrace and use our voices. It’s not enough to have vision. It’s imperative that our vision be communicated in such a way as to excite, mobilize, engage, and direct others. What is your leadership voice? Your leadership voice is important in several key areas of your business: laying a foundation; navigating change; enhancing engagement; and leveraging opportunities for growth. Laying a Foundation What clarity are you providing about the direction and expectations of your team and your business? What messages are you sharing with others that form the foundation of who you are as a team and what you stand for as a company? Are you silent on the things that matter, or are you providing guidance to help plot the course? Your leadership voice is what differentiates you from everyone else and creates an opportunity to attract others who want to work with you and alongside you. It positions you to create synergy and establish a clear path forward. When you embrace your leadership voice, you control the narrative of who you are, and who you are becoming. Navigating Change In working with organizations dealing with change, what separates those who successfully navigate the shifts from those who don’t is leadership voice. Most leaders tend to err on the side of caution by playing their cards close to the vest, so to speak. They don’t have all the answers, so they feel it’s best to hold back and only release information that they are 100 percent sure about. But, if your people aren’t receiving clear messages about change — the fact that change is coming, what they can expect, and what’s expected of them — they will begin filling in the blanks with their own ideas. That’s where their imagination runs wild. As a leader, you don’t want someone else to control the narrative. That’s your job. Enhancing Engagement Being transparent about your journey as a leader and your expectations is imperative to fostering a sense of psychological safety in your organization. It builds trust. It shows your people that you’re all in this together. People are more likely to connect and engage when they feel they are seen, heard and valued. How can they get to this point if you’re never sharing your thoughts, asking questions, or showing up authentically? This is especially important during times of uncertainty. Change causes psychological uncertainty and inhibits engagement. How you use your leadership voice in these situations will determine your team’s success. How Will You Use Your Voice? Embracing your leadership voice is intentional. It’s more than directing action or speaking up in meetings. It’s about thinking through what impact you want to make in when and how you use your voice. It’s recognizing that your voice matters, and that your voice has power. What are the ways you want to impact your business, your industry, and the world around you? How do you want to position yourself to speak into the lives of your team and clients? What messages do you want to share that will provide insight, encouragement, guidance, and support? How can you embrace your leadership voice to create a clear picture of what success looks like, and then position yourself, your company, and your team to make it happen? Think about the questions that have been posed and make some decisions about who you want to be and how you want to be known — both within your company and in the world. From there, discuss your plan, and engage someone to support you in your journey. The longest journey begins with the first step. Your voice matters. Embrace it. KEISHA A. RIVERS equips leaders to embrace, manage, and lead through change as Chief Change Officer of The KARS Group LTD, a change leadership consultancy. She is an Enterprising Women Advisory Board member and past recipient of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award. Enterprising Women readers can schedule a discovery call with her at https://www.talktokars.com. 94 enterprising Women
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzA5OTEy