I have a tendency to over explain. To justify myself. To embellish my point with examples and evidence. Us recovering people pleasers can be like that.

Learning the art of coaching has been helpful to me more generally, because, for the most part, coaches listen.

That's why we are there, to help other people to filter through their thoughts, ideas and emotions. And so, if we fill spaces with our own stuff, we are not holding space for the client.

I want to tell you something now that I haven't told many people. I have a word that I use to remind myself of the energy I want to bring to my work and to the influence I have in the world.

That word is, potent.

It's symbolically and emotionally important for me. It's not a word you would have heard me using a few years ago.

But, here's how that relates to voice and power. If you think about someone who is genuinely confident. Standing square on their feet. Sure of their centre. How do they speak?

They say what they think, right? They don't hide what they think. But they also don't justify what they think.

And, most of what they say, is said with silence.

Stephen

If you are trying to find your voice, try my 14-Day Stagnation Breaker.