Those of us who have spent time on the air have had to learn to hear our own voice. Usually, we cringe a bit—or a lot—and then try to figure out how to make it better. When I started in radio almost sixty years ago, I quickly learned I had a Texas “twang.” So, I set out to overcome some of the bad vowel sounds, replacing them with sounds that could be heard without distracting the listener.

Have you experienced that in your leadership role? If nothing else, it is a reminder of the value of our voice as we present information and inspiration to others. Whether you are presenting on the air, to your board, your donors, or even your family, you want to convey your message in the clearest and most powerful way.

A great way to start is by listening to yourself. As you present to others, record it and listen back. Be less concerned with the content and pay more attention to how you say something. Ask yourself:

  • Did anything distract from the information that was given?
  • Did the timbre and volume of my voice help tell the story?
  • Did I use the full range of my voice to express the depth or intensity of what I was saying?

Listening that way will give you things you can work on to improve the sound of your voice. But there is more.

Are you creative in your use of words? My friend and communication coach Valerie Geller says we need to be creative and descriptive in what we say and how we say it. Her phrase: Talk to the blind man. Describe things visually. It’s not just a pretty sunset, it’s a tangerine sky.

Our voice has power, and our words have weight. Together, they can become the palette of colors we use to paint word pictures to help others understand and feel what we feel.

Our voice also helps us build relationships that are strong and lasting. Jesus pointed that out when He said:

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27 NLT

There is a lot wrapped up in that verse. There is the recognition of Jesus’ voice that reminds the “sheep” of who the Shepherd is. There is a feeling of security, of peace, of comfort. So much so that the sheep follow the Shepherd willingly.

Most of us have sat through class lectures and even sermons where the speaker droned on and on. There may have been good information, but the voice did not express much passion or drama to let you know what he or she thought about the topic. There wasn’t a sense of importance or urgency expressed through their voice. More than likely, you were not driven to action by the way the voice expressed the information or the story.

Your voice is critical and should be an important component of the presentation you are making. Don’t take it for granted. Use all the colors of the vocal palette God has given you to tell your story…and to tell His story.

God’s best,