The former Secretary of State of the United States to the United Nations, Madeleine K. Albright, used to say, “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” This phrase resonates powerfully with me. It illustrates the often challenging yet essential journey to discover and assert our voice, and the commitment that follows not to remain silent once it’s found.
As a coach, I commit to guiding women on their journey toward the full expression of their personal and professional power. I witness the difficulty they experience in fully unleashing their potential without having found their voice beforehand.
Moreover, I notice that they tend to downplay their voice, to diminish their aspirations and ambitions due to lack of self-confidence. It’s a deeply introspective process that requires time and reflection, but once this inner connection is established, it’s as if an inner fire is reignited, empowering these women toward bold and meaningful actions.
My role is to accompany them with kindness and determination on this journey of emancipation, helping them to find and amplify their voice so they can achieve their boldest goals.
Many women communicate what they have accomplished hoping it will suffice to tell the whole story of their success. Unfortunately, this is not always enough. In addition to sharing their achievements, they must also highlight their journey, the challenges overcome, and the skills they have developed along the way. By unveiling these aspects, they offer a more comprehensive view of their success, which facilitates recognition and appreciation of their accomplishments.
CLOÉ’S TIP
Here’s one of my tips that I propose for communicating with impact and making your voice heard:
- Know your intention: Be intentional in the actions you take. Ask yourself questions like: What is my intention, my goal? What result do I want to achieve? It will be important to share this intention, this goal.
- Share the objective: When communicating, make sure to clearly share the objective you had in mind when you took the action. Explain why you undertook this action, with what intention.
- Share the action taken: Explain the concrete actions you have taken or suggest you’ll take time to achieve the set objective. Be precise and transparent about the steps to follow or the measures to put in place.
- Identify the impact of this action in relation to the objective: Finally, emphasize the expected impact of the proposed or implemented action in relation to the defined objective. Highlight the benefits for your audience and show them how this action will contribute to achieving the desired results.
By listening to and supporting women in this journey, we contribute to creating a world where everyone can freely express themselves, where the diversity of voices is celebrated, and where female leadership is fully recognized and valued.