Building the voice of a leader
Odds are that you weren't born with a leader's voice. Here's how to fix that
Gary Bloomer | SHAKING THE TREE # 265
While there are a few born leaders, most of us are not that inspiring.
If you think about the last meeting you were in I’ll bet that the person who commanded the room probably wasn’t the loudest voice. That’s because leading is less about being visible and more to do with being heard.
We have this cultural myth that some people are just natural-born leaders with a certain vocal quality or an unteachable charisma. It’s a comforting thought, because it lets the rest of us off the hook. We can tell ourselves. We tell ourselves: “Well, I just don’t have that voice.”
Nonsense. A leader’s voice isn’t found; it’s forged. A leader’s presence isn’t a natural gift, it’s a piece of deliberate, strategic communication that you build, word by word, pause by pause, and it all rests on three pillars you can start practicing today.
1. The architecture of your message
Most people build their sentences in the same way a novelist writes a detective story. They give you all the background, the process, the reasoning, and then—ta-dah!—the point of the story appears on the last page. Sounds great, expect that in a business context, this is the perfect way to lose your audience.
Effective leaders do the exact opposite. They lead with the headline—the outcome—then they work backwards.
“We need to delay the launch by two weeks. Here’s why ...”
“My recommendation is Option B. Here’s the evidence to support my thinking ...”
”iPod: 1,000 songs in your pocket.”
The point is to get the point on the table first. Then explain.
This isn’t just efficient; it’s a power move that shows you’ve distilled the complexity of the debate or issue and that you’ve arrived at a conclusion. Leading with the outcome forces people to engage with your central idea. Nothing gets lost in the weeds and clarity becomes the basis of your continuing credibility.
2. The currency of calm
While we regularly equate leadership with energy, true authority is often found in the pause.
Rushing your words, filling silences with “um” or “like,” speaking in a frantic, upward-inflected tone—these vocal ticks all speak of insecurity. They scream, “I’m not sure I belong here!”
Now, imagine the alternative. A deliberate pause before you speak, not as hesitation, but as collection. A steady, even tone. The confidence to allow a moment of silence to hang in the room after you’ve made your point, so that what you’ve just said gets absorbed.
This sense of calm becomes your social currency; its exchange rate buys you attention in any situation and its value projects a sense of unshakable certainty. It’s not about being the loudest; it’s about being the most grounded and level-headed.
3. The discipline of connection
This is the part most people miss. You can be clear and you can be calm, but if you’re broadcasting without receiving, you run the risk of being seen as a lecturing professor.
Executive presence isn’t about talking at people; it’s about connecting with them. Read that again. This ability becomes the glue that makes your clear message and your calm demeanor stick.
This requires you being able to read and comprehend the room, adjusting your tone and delivery accordingly and in real time. Are people confused? Anxious? Bored?Be ready and forearmed to listen to understand, not just to simply reload and respond. This approach requires translating all technical jargon into their business language—speaking to their goals, their fears, their KPIs and on their terms.
Again, your goal is to make yourself heard, to listen accordingly, to understand, and to be understood in turn. The key lies in creating mutually agreeable dialogue.
While people often won’t follow a perfect argument, they will follow someone who makes them feel understood and who paints a clear path forward.
Forget the idea of being a natural-born leader. That’s largely a fantasy. The reality is far more powerful: with a little practice and patience you can build the voice you deserve.
The trick is to begin with your next sentence, to lead with the point, to embrace the pause, and to truly connect with the people you’re speaking to.
The floor is yours. Take it. Own it.
As always, thanks for reading.
—Gary
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Next time on Shaking the Tree: Why ‘enough’ is the new rich
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Originally from the U.K., Gary Bloomer is a writer, branding advocate, marketing specialist, and an award-winning graphic designer.
His design work has been included in Creative Review (one of the UK’s largest design magazines). Since 2009, he has answered over 5,000 marketing and business questions in the Know-How Exchange of MarketingProfs.com, placing him among the top 3% of contributors. He lives in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.