Our voice is often something we take for granted. Forget about completely. Like breathing, it’s just something that…is. Literally and physically.
Physically, power in our voice comes from speaking clearly, with volume, and from a place of confidence. That confidence that comes from belief in our own words—ourselves—is sometimes a hard-fought thing. That’s where the power of our voice starts to diverge into something far more, well, powerful!
Or, we might say things that aren’t aligned with our inner truths to placate, fit in, and even make ourselves small. Thus we’re not really “using our voice” at all. And trust us, your voice IS important. Every single person has a unique gift to offer and if we don’t share it, we’re doing our community a disservice.
Have you ever listened to someone speak; a celebrity, a friend, a complete stranger you just met and there’s just something about how they speak that seems to command attention from…well, everyone in the room? You may disagree with what they’re saying, but they’re getting their ideas heard because of how they’re using their voice. They’ve got what’s commonly called charisma. While someone with something dare we say, more important or of better value, may not get heard at all because of a perceived lack of said charisma. What it comes down to is that power of voice. The combination of physical intonation appeals to the senses, to our emotions, to our intuition, and yes, is important to conveying the underlying message.
Practice is part of it, for the particularly introverted. And circling back to that crucial bit: confidence through remembering that we do indeed have something important to say and we deserve to say it—and be heard.
Practical Tips for How To Be Heard
1) Be clear. Both in your message, and your words. Articulation is key to being understood.
2) Watch your speed. Talking too fast can be overwhelming, while if you talk too slow, you risk losing your audience. Gage from them where the sweet spot is and use pauses for effect.
3) Use volume. If they can’t hear you, they’ll stop listening.
4) Tone. Sounding confident and appropriately emotional will automatically gain you a captivated listener.
The Power of Your Voice Shapes Community
Sometimes, we don’t even know when we’re influencing others with what we’ve said. They might carry it with them, hold it for a while, use it for inspiration to do something bigger and grander than they might’ve thought possible for themselves–all because we weren’t afraid to speak, they aren’t, either. It’s a beautiful thing.
At Verve Senior Living, we constantly strive to create opportunities for our residents to engage and connect; an important part of which is listening to each other. Empowering those in our care to make authentic connections by encouraging each individual to use their unique voice is part of our mission of inspired living. Because when you feel heard, you feel safe, empowered, and most important, like you matter.
