“A comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows there.” Unknown
This is the third and final post in the series. “Your voice matters-liberate it” and “Find your voice―the power of authenticity” are below.
Sometimes learning new things is nerve-racking, frightening even. Sometimes it pays to experiment a little before diving in.
This post is about the little things you can start experimenting with to build confidence liberating your voice.
Some may look easy to you. Some may look irrelevant to you. Fine, go on to the next one. If these are too easy or too hard, modify them. It is easier for some people to talk and act publically. Other people just want to “blend into the woodwork”.
We are all in different place in our journeys and our own reactions are entirely legitimate based on where we are. The opportunity here is to stretch to make little steps that take us down the road.
Maybe think about it as three phases:
Be seen / heard
- “Like” an online comment, article or blog post
- “Share” an online comment, article or blog post
- Enter a status update in your social media
- Send a private note thanking a contributor and expressing your appreciation for their input
Speak (“Write”) out
- Submit a post in a LinkedIn discussion. Offer an additional resource. Share your experience. Ask a question. Ask for clarification, additional resources, etc.
- Host a LinkedIn Discussion or co-write a blog post (contact me if you are interested)
- Deliver a speaking engagement, maybe a lunch n’learn for your colleagues.
Take a stand
This is a tough one. Here you will take a different point of view than others and will be open to their responses. It might be as simple as “This is not consistent with my own experience. In situations where abc, I found xyz.” Here are a few
- Write an anonymous “Letter to the Editor”
- Write an open letter.
- Disagree with someone. This is tricky because live debate really speeds it all up. The funny thing is that it’s not about preparing your argument or having great data. It’s about accepting the flow.
Do you have other mindsets or techniques that have utility for you? Please share in the comments section.
Got more resources or ideas for how to stretch your voice? Let’s hear them in the comments section.
Related Posts
- Your voice matters―liberate it (Liberate your voice series, Post 1 of 3)
- Find your voice―the power of authenticity (Liberate your voice series, Post 2 of 3)
- The beginnner’s mind
Change Whisperer by www.gailseverini.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Hi Gail. You are challenging me here to step back into the dialogs I had stepped out of.
I will say for me, one of the most important items is #10, about diagreeing with someone. Part of what individuals often do is focus more on what they are going to say, preparing their arguement and less on really listening. “Accepting the flow” to me is that you are fully engaging both your ears and your mouth. Really listening and processing what the other person is saying.
Reminded me of an blog I wrote a while back on the concept I call “authentic listening” I’ve included a link in case any of your readers is interested.
It was a good reminder to myself to go back and read it. To make sure I too am listening authentically.
https://synergetic-solutions.com/authentic-listening/
yes 🙂 #10 is the hardest. To disagree with a tone that respects the other and leaves for more conversation, that leaves ego and self interest out, that is not just about me and my view of the world … hard – and an important growth effort. Authentic listening is indeed the starting place.
Thank you Gail, I have found this series to be incredibly empowering. It has not only challenged and inspired me to revisit writing about what I love (after a period of no inspiration whatsoever), but primarily to remember that everyone has the potential to contribute and be involved.
Hi Naomi. Thank you so much for reading and sharing here. Means a great deal to me. I am delighted that these ideas resonated with you. Gail