Own Your Voice: Cultivating Voices of Impact

The aspiration to be better is inherently human and around new years is when we are - as a collective - inspired to do, be, and live better. This is the time of year to be inspired and to inspire others. In this episode of Own Your Voice podcast, Sahar Paz, talks to you about: 

• Your approach to any change you’re craving should reflect your personality, and come from a healthy place. 

You can find Sahar on:

• Website: http://www.voiceofimpact.org 

If you find value with the Own Your Voice podcast, please leave a review and/or share with someone who is finding their voice!

Sahar Paz is joined by Dr. Zoe Shaw to explore the process of redefining your voice,  your purpose, and your expectations. 

• The emotions that get in the way when you are redefining yourself  

You can find Sahar on:

• Website: http://www.voiceofimpact.org 

You can find Dr. Zoe Shaw on:

• Website: https://drzoeshaw.com/ 

If you find value with the Own Your Voice podcast, please leave a review and/or share with someone who is finding their voice!

For family members, conscious leaders, and everyone in between you know about running teams under one roof in 2020. In this episode, Sahar meets with Voice of Impact guest and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, Tieko Nejon Wilson. She will be sharing her story on speaking to be heard and allowing space for grace in an emotionally charged conversation.

• Discovers the power of her words

You can find Sahar on:

• Website: http://www.voiceofimpact.org 

If you find value with the Own Your Voice podcast, please leave a review and/or share with someone who is finding their voice!

From roundtable to dinner table; It’s impossible to silence your values in 2020. In this episode, Sahar talks about preparing for family gatherings in a time of high emotion.  

• Sahar’s voice through the ages, that one uncle she was determined to change. 

You can find me on:

• Website: saharpaz.com

Hello,

This week is undoubtedly a time of high emotions; I especially notice the difference in the tone of voice when speaking to my friends and clients in the U.S. versus overseas - I am continually revealing to you the link between your voice and your emotions to equip you for times like these. 

It’s not just what you say. It’s HOW you say it. 

You’ve heard that quote a million times! Think back to the amount of video or phone calls you’ve taken this year, without knowing it, you’ve tuned into and took more notice of the words you’re using, figured out how to emote how you feel without touch, and you have to project your voice to be heard more consistently.

Our ability as humans to perceive nuances in voices is more sophisticated* than we know.  When we encounter someone with a poker face, we most often still distinguish whether their tone of voice is genuine - or not. Our natural capability to differentiate notes of sadness, fear, anger, compassion, interest, or embarrassment from simple voice inflections is quite astounding.  

Why do I love this fact? It’s the building block to you, connecting with instinctual emotional intelligence; this allows you to facilitate conversations with significant impact and grace. 

Let’s make sure you’ve got what it takes to speak with wisdom during times of high emotion. Here is this week’s #WOWkit: 

EQ: INTERNAL VOICE 

Your inner voice is an extension of your emotions and your body. When an emotion activates in the limbic system**, nerve signals tell the body how to physically behave - hello spike of adrenaline, shortened breathing, quick decision-making, and a trembling voice. On the other hand, if you’re feeling comfortable and confident, your shoulders are back, which gives your chest more room for air, and you naturally project your voice better.* Think about the inhale you naturally take before you prepare to shout across your place to tell folks to be quiet when you're on a Zoom meeting!  

As you close out this week, focus on how deep you’re breathing, remind yourself to unclench your jaw and roll your shoulders back several times throughout the day, breathe big, give yourself time to think, then speak.   

IQ: EXTERNAL VOICE 

You’re emotionally pooped yet have heightened awareness around the power of your voice and what you want to say, but you’re not sure where to start. 

• Hone in on your values, try to keep your list between 8-9, and allow them to give you a north star and a backbone. My top core value is INTEGRITY. That single word gives me confidence and clarity when I am called to use my voice in conversations. Your values will steer your decision-making and hold you accountable. Choose them. I’m giving you access to one of the Words of Wisdom downloads from this year’s Own Your Voice Summit as a starting point!

• As a leader of your household and your office - it’s essential to understand that we are in the midst of change, which means increasing your ability to facilitate honest conversations when there are tense exchanges or outbursts; your job is not to swoop in and save the day or to explain. Pivot your energy and the narrative among your group in a way that allows you to use your voice in the most impactful way - see yourself, and position yourself as the facilitator.

I’ve facilitated many groups and conversations, from women circles to Diversity Equity and Inclusion training for organizations. Three principles help me facilitate conversations during tense times.

• Just Listen. Embrace empathy, be mindful of bias, don’t offer an opinion yet, just an ear.

From the bedroom to the boardroom, these principles bring your voice power in your personal and professional life. 

Please share this episode with a woman in your life who is learning about her voice. 

With gratitude, 

Sahar

You can find me on:

• Website: saharpaz.com

RESOURCES

Hi there,

“Clap back,” “come back,” or  “And, then I said…” are usually exchanges with other humans we feel proud to speak about. Society has long-defined a person who has a voice is someone with a deep voice, speaks loudly, or speaks over others to have a voice indeed.  

Every part of my work shows you that THIS IS NOT the only way to have a voice; from leadership consulting, developing online courses to creating personal brands, I champion your voice - YOUR WAY.

Last week at Own Your Voice Summit, I had a courageous attendee speak up in one of the live sessions about not being able to speak up at the moment, the immediate “clap back” that is oh-so-valued. 

My response to her will be my Words of Wisdom to add to your #WOWkit this week. 

EQ: INTERNAL VOICE

• What is my typical response? Does my voice adopt fight, flight, or freeze? 

IQ: EXTERNAL VOICE 

• How do I best express my voice? Written? Text message? Voice memo? Verbal? 

• Have the conversation. Don’t shy away from using your voice AFTER the exchange. With so much emphasis on how we respond immediately, we automatically rob ourselves of the chance to use our voice after the fact. The truth is many of us need to process before speaking up; that’s what makes you a conscious leader in your life, don’t focus on the immediate response; focus on what it is that you want to express. 

• Be mindful of the energy exchange. Express your voice in the best way for the situation at hand. If you are setting a boundary with someone you see almost every day, a softer approach is probably better. A handwritten card, sticky note, or even a gentle voice memo after the fact often lands much better with the recipient. 

Before you use the excuse that “the moment has passed,” or “I’ll say something next time,” I want you to consider this: Once the moment has passed, the emotions have settled, when you bring it back up, it allows everyone to know the importance of the topic at hand. 

It will not cause a confrontation; it will give you space to connect and gain respect. 

With gratitude,

Sahar

You can find me on:

• Website: http://www.voiceofimpact.org 

Your r/EVOLUTION is here. 

A quick recap of episodes 18, 22,23, and 24 and how they apply to today’s conversation about evolving. 

This year has primed you for an internal revolution, you’ve proven that resilience and perseverance are qualities you embody. 

Don’t let your exhaustion tell you to call 2020 a wash, this tired state is perfect for reflection and revolution. You’re not up for pushing back so much, you are more clear on what you don’t want from life, it’s time to go down an emotionally intelligent road with yourself.

Build your board of advisors, the same person that stands in the bedroom stands in the boardroom, so why not use this same tactic towards beating imposter syndrome, or approaching a project that means a lot to you, like Own Your Voice Summit does for me! 

Build on this year, don’t call it wash, when you stop listening to this, list out all the ways you surprised yourself this year, all the software you learned, all the days you mustered up the energy and got up again. You have a lot to celebrate. 

Today, I will talk about reclaiming your power with an emotional intelligent lens.

• What does power mean to you?

You can find me on:

• Website: http://www.voiceofimpact.org 

Check out the 2020 Own Your Voice Summit to help you reignite, reconnect, reimagine, reclaim, and revolutionize your voice from October 19-23, 2020 at https://2020-own-your-voice-summit.heysummit.com.

If you find value with the Own Your Voice podcast, please leave a review and/or share with people you know.

Today, I'm inviting you to swim with me and dive in the deep end together. 

• We're getting deep and episodes 18 and 22 will equip you for what we are going to talk about today

You can find me on:

• Website: http://www.voiceofimpact.org 

Check out the 2020 Own Your Voice Summit to help you reignite, reconnect, reimagine, reclaim, and revolutionize your voice from October 19-23, 2020 at https://2020-own-your-voice-summit.heysummit.com.

If you find value with the Own Your Voice podcast, please leave a review and/or share with people you know.