Finding Your Voice: How To Become A More Powerful Speaker By Speaking From The Inside Out
Introduction
Women often ask me, “How do I become a better speaker?” But the real question is: “Whose voice are you using?” Many of us spend years trying to speak in a way that sounds polished, acceptable, or successful. We soften our expression. We borrow phrases. We follow formulas. In the process, we forget that our real power isn’t in sounding perfect—it’s in sounding real.
Why Finding Your Voice Matters
There’s a difference between being heard and being felt. Audiences can listen to words, but what they carry with them is the part of you that dares to be honest. That begins when you stop trying to guess what people want to hear—and start telling them what they need to know. For years, I heard the phrase, “When there’s a will, there’s a way.” But I often felt stuck, and saw no way out. Eventually, I reframed it: “When there’s a will, there’s a new skill.” I began asking myself, What do I need to learn to get from here to where I want to go? And then, I shared those stories.
Step 1: Strip Away, Don’t Add On
Most coaching focuses on what to add—gestures, vocal tone, posture. I teach the opposite. Strip away the mask. The fear. The expectation to sound like someone else. Ask yourself: What am I not saying? Why not? That’s often where your true voice begins to rise.
Step 2: Take the Plunge
I never felt ready to speak, even though I had so much to say. My first public talk happened to be TEDxCincinnati. And it took everything in me not to cry—not because I wasn’t proud, but because the stories I carried were heavy. I didn’t want to relive the pain on that stage—I wanted to transform it. My advice? Don’t wait. The best time to start is now. Speaking is a muscle, not a moment. The more you use it, the more you grow into it.
Step 3: Speak from the Wound, Not Just the Scar
Healing is beautiful, but your real power lives in the moment where you were still rising. When you speak from that place—with humility and heart—you don’t just inspire. You liberate. Finding your voice means being willing to tell the truth, even before you have all the answers.
Step 4: Lead with Identity, Not Imitation
Stop trying to sound like someone else’s TED Talk. You are not an echo. You are the origin. Your cadence, culture, humor, accent, and experience—they are not things to hide. They are bridges. Let them carry your message across.
Quick Tips to Practice Daily Speaking Confidence
– Record your story. Don’t aim for perfection—aim for practice.
– Try “Mirror Minutes”. Speak to your reflection for 60 seconds a day.
– Start a Voice Vault. Save voice memos of thoughts and stories that matter to you. They will be gold one day.
– Use Otter.ai on the go. This free app lets you record your thoughts—even while walking—and provides both the audio and transcript so nothing meaningful slips away.
– Join a Toastmasters Club. These supportive speaking clubs—offered both in-person and online—are where growth comes alive. Membership is just $60 for six months. Last year, I challenged myself to speak in all 50 states, and Toastmasters helped me refine my talks, tighten my content, and make sure the humor landed. I didn’t do it to be perfect—I did it to grow.
Learn more at https://www.toastmasters.org
Conclusion: Your Voice is a Bridge
Finding your voice isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present. And when you do that, you create a space where others can rise with you. So here’s your invitation: tell the story only you can tell, in the way only you can say it. Because somewhere, someone is waiting to hear it—and heal by it.
Reader Challenge – Your Voice in 7 Days
If this message stirred something in you, take the next seven days to meet your voice head-on. Each day, record a 60-second voice memo telling a story, a reflection, or an experience from your life—no polish. Just truth. At the end of the week, listen back and ask: What patterns emerge? What do I sound like when I’m not performing? What story is asking to be told on a bigger stage?
Your voice is already there. You don’t need permission.
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About the Author
Name: Leila Kubesch
Professional Title: International Keynote Speaker, TEDx Storyteller, and Documentary Photographer
Bio: Once shy and soft-spoken, Leila Kubesch found courage in her voice and rose to become an international keynote speaker, TEDx storyteller, and documentary photographer. She gives voice and visibility to the overlooked—empowering women to speak up, stand out, and lead through the transformative power of storytelling and photography.
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