In a week that\u2019s featured the return of Adele\u2019s powerfully emotional voice, the silencing of Whitney Houston\u2019s soaring vocals, and the imminent finale of Glen Campbell\u2019s crooning to Alzheimer\u2019s disease, I feel compelled to share this this truth: Use your voice. It\u2019s the center of your influence.<\/p>\n
Ever lost your voice? I\u2019ve been silenced by a case of full blown laryngitis this week and am under doctor\u2019s orders to stay completely silent for 48 hours. No talking. No whispering. Not so much as a gentle throat clearing.<\/p>\n
You\u2019d be surprised at how much you learn about your ability to influence when you\u2019re suddenly silent \u2013 and what others imply by your stillness.<\/p>\n
In a week that\u2019s featured the return of Adele\u2019s powerfully emotional voice, the silencing of Whitney Houston\u2019s soaring vocals, and the imminent finale of Glen Campbell\u2019s crooning to Alzheimer\u2019s disease, I feel compelled to share this truth: Use your voice. It\u2019s the center of your influence.<\/p>\n
Ever lost your voice? I\u2019ve been silenced by a case of full blown laryngitis this week and am under doctor\u2019s orders to stay completely silent for 48 hours. No speaking. No whispering. Not so much as a gentle throat clearing.<\/p>\n
You\u2019d be surprised at how much you learn about your ability to influence when you\u2019re suddenly silent \u2013 and what others imply by your stillness.<\/p>\n
My silence thrust a bank into high alert. Blame my upbringing, but while making a deposit at my local bank branch, I slipped the teller a note apologizing for my silence. When I looked up, I spotted the camera zooming in really tight on me. Hold-up note, anyone? Lesson learned \u2013 never overcompensate when a red panic button is on the line.<\/p>\n
I learned that I deeply value and miss sharing exchanges with strangers like \u201cthank you\u201d and \u201cyou\u2019re welcome.\u201d I missed chatting with my college daughter on the phone. I missed the ability to call my dad. And to exchange quick pleasantries with the flyer in the next seat. My doctor-induced silence felt foreign and borderline rude, apology notes notwithstanding.<\/p>\n
Of course, my friends and family had a different viewpoint. My son found my predicament ironically funny since I wrote a book entitled\u00a0\u201cTalk Less, Say More.<\/em>\u201d Now he\u2019s playfully re-titled it\u00a0\u201cTalk Less, Write More<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n How does my laryngitis relate to your influence? More than you\u2019d think. As an executive coach, I witness a world full of people who aren\u2019t using their voices. They\u2019re withholding when they should be contributing. Sadly, they\u2019re being misunderstood and losing opportunities for advancement as a result. Not to mention that their organizations are missing important contributions. Some quick tips:<\/p>\n Others make judgements about your leadership abilities from the way you contribute. People size you up to decide if you merit their support. Use your voice. The alternative is a real pain in the neck.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In a week that\u2019s featured the return of Adele\u2019s powerfully emotional voice, the silencing of Whitney Houston\u2019s soaring vocals, and the imminent finale of Glen Campbell\u2019s crooning to Alzheimer\u2019s disease, I feel compelled to share this this…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5088,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[57,50,51,52,56],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n