Developing a Powerful Voice

Part of the definition of power is that when you speak, people listen. Some years ago, the financial advising firm E.F. Hutton made this their advertising slogan – “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen." One of the challenges for women leaders is that our voices often do not command attention. In my experience there are two main reasons women have difficulty making our voices heard. The first reason is behavioral. Many women have vocal qualities and speaking styles which undermine their authority and impact. Voices that are quiet, high-pitched, or breathy are more difficult to hear and do not ring with authority. Many women have a speaking style which turns statements into questions, either through their words, “Our business did very well last quarter, don’t you think?,” or through their intonation, by raising the pitch of their voices at the ends of their sentences. The solution to this is for women to listen to tapes of their speaking styles and work to correct any habits that undermine their authority, using a voice coach if necessary. The second reason women have difficulty making our voices heard is psychological. As the mother of three sons, I have learned that, at least in American society, for a boy to become a man requires that he emotionally breaks away from his mother. This process is often quite painful for both the boy and the mother, but it is a necessary step in male development. Breaking away from Mom often involves the young man tuning out his mother’s voice. The problem is that many men generalize this tuning out to other women’s voices. As a result, many women in business settings find it difficult to get their male colleagues’ attention and alignment. What woman hasn’t had the experience of putting forward an idea, being ignored, and then hearing her idea put forward a few minutes later by a male colleague, to enthusiastic response? The solution to this challenge is more difficult. It requires women to think about how we can avoid broadcasting on the “Mommy channel.” This may mean kidding around as if you’re one of the boys. It may mean being unexpected and unpredictable, not stereotyped, in your interests and opinions. It may mean not falling into the role of being the nurturing “Office Mom,” which is typically not a powerful role. In spite of these barriers, many women leaders do indeed speak with a voice of authority and impact. One of the best tips for women is to watch and listen to those leaders, analyze what they are doing, and copy those aspects of their style which are authentic and genuine for you.