How To Find Your Authentic Voice

“To be nobody but yourself

In a world which is doing its best day and night

To make you like everybody else

Means to fight the hardest battle

Which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.”

― E.E. Cummings

I have loved this quote and this led to me to writing today. It's about finding your authentic voice - as a communicator, as a speaker, as a professional, as a creator, as a human being.

In a world filled with noise and 'Expertise', you may lose your real voice. This article is to remind you of what really matters when you communicate.

The first example of that is Nick Vujivic's talk. It is the epitome of vulnerability, bravery and authenticity told with dollops of humour. Go on, watch this clip.

Done watching? How do you feel now?

Nick's talk made me think about the question -

'What Do The Best Communicators Have In Common?'

• You listen to them with attention
• You remember their message/ question long after
• You identify with the story they share
• You leave with positive emotions

Have you been able to evoke these emotions with your communication, be it verbal, non-verbal or via the written medium?

"Be Yourself; Everyone Else Is Already Taken" - Oscar Wilde

If you want to find your authentic voice as a speaker and communicator, ask yourself these three questions:

Who are you?

Where are you going in life and why?

How did/will you get there?

Once you have these answers, you have a clear point to start off.

To create impact with your communication and storytelling, there are 3 crucial steps in a framework to build their authentic voice:

• IDENTITY
• VISION
• JOURNEY OF MASTERY

IDENTITY

• Understand what your truth is - how do you perceive everything around you - what is your worldview like?
• What is your story? Which challenges and struggles did you have to overcome? Where has it led you?
• What drives/motivates/energizes you?

VISION:

• What is your legacy? What do you want to remembered for/ Who do you want to be remembered as?
• What is your purpose/ North Star when you communicate?
• What impact do you wish to have?
• If no one paid you, would you still do this? Why?

“People don’t buy what you do; people buy why you do it.” - Simon Sinek?

The best communicators understand and articulate their 'WHY' to their audience.

JOURNEY OF MASTERY

What have you learnt from role models and mentors around you?

What did your failures teach you?

How hard did you have to work to reach where you are?

How did you achieve mastery and expertise in your field?

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Watch how the framework of Identity, Vision and Journey come together in this World Championship winning speech by Dananjaya Hettiarachchi.