Do you believe your voice matters?

Do you believe your voice matters?

Famous, charismatic, and speaks on a large stage. That's how we think of thought leaders.

The reality is that there is space for many more authentic corporate leaders. There is a need to hear useful and relatable stories with important messages on an online platform like LinkedIn. 

But, what's in it for me? And how can I start this journey?

This was the topic of our brown bag session for the new class of the Executive MBA Digital Leadership HWZ. Together with my friend and communications expert, Yvonne Samaritani, we shared our private and professional journeys, some tips & tricks, and most importantly, we had a great discussion.

We realized many of us had the same questions and doubts. 

As a leader of large transformation projects at EY, I appreciate getting an external view, reflecting on learning from others, and having good conversations on how to drive change successfully.

↳ But it's not easy to start: together with the group, we all shared the fear of 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Telling a story of my professional life with personal experiences and lessons can feel exposing. Many leaders worry about being judged or appearing less authoritative.

↳ Also, how do I find my 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲: what are the topics I truly care about, and what unique perspective can I offer? It can be overwhelming to narrow down my focus.

↳ And when do I do this? 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 for communication, engagement, and building relationships online takes time. What's the best platform, and how can technology help me?

My learning is that the secret lies in practice and offering value with our stories. Being a thought leader isn't about having the loudest voice. It is about authenticity, connection, and using our unique strengths to create change.

Thanks for the invitation, Sunnie J. Groeneveld, and thanks to all the digital (thought) leaders in the room for challenging us.

Do you use your voice to make a difference?

#tlchange #airevolution #thoughtleadership

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