One of the most common questions I hear from leaders, speakers and content creators is this:

“How do I know when I’m speaking in my authentic voice?”

Not the polished, professional mask.
Not the version that’s second-guessing every sentence.
But the voice that feels true—especially when you’re nervous, under pressure, or speaking about something new or challenging.

Whether it’s a boardroom presentation, a high-stakes meeting, a keynote, or being put on the spot with an awkward question, the desire is the same: to speak with clarity, confidence and authenticity.

In this article, I will unpack what your authentic voice really is—and share three practical techniques to help you access it consistently.

Why Leaders Struggle to Access Their Authentic Voice Under Pressure.

When the stakes are high, many capable leaders notice a familiar shift.

They become more formal. More careful. More contained.

This isn’t because they lack confidence or expertise. It’s because pressure activates well-worn professional habits—patterns that once helped them succeed, but now limit how fully they show up.

Understanding this is the first step in reclaiming access to your authentic voice.

What Is Your Authentic Voice, Really?

The phrase “authentic voice” is often used. Sometimes it refers to brand voice. Sometimes to writing style. And often, the advice is simply:

“Just be yourself.”

Great advice—however not particularly helpful when your nervous system is activated and your inner critic has taken the microphone.

Here’s my perspective: your authentic voice is not one fixed version of you.

We all have multiple facets of who we are. They shift depending on context—the room you’re in, the people you’re with, the material you’re delivering.

One client, a highly respected subject-matter expert working at board level, said to me:

“When I’m presenting, I become a completely different person to the one who writes my content or chats easily with colleagues. I go stiff and formal—and I hate it.”

What she was experiencing wasn’t a lack of authenticity.
It was a habitual version of herself taking over.

And this is a crucial distinction.

Why “Just Be Yourself” Stops Working When Pressure Enters the Room

Under pressure, we don’t default to our most authentic self.

We default to habit.

That’s why authenticity can feel elusive in high-stakes moments—not because it’s gone, but because access to it has narrowed.

Developing authentic presence isn’t about trying harder. It’s about building the capacity to stay embodied when it matters.

Authenticity vs Comfortable Familiarity

What we often believe is our “authentic self” is actually a set of familiar habits—a professional mask that may have served us well in the past.

It’s not who you are.
It’s who you’ve been.

And that difference matters.

Your Voice Is Trainable (And Why That Matters for Leadership)

Another important insight: your physical speaking voice is largely set by around the age of seven.

We unconsciously model the voices around us. In loud environments, we learn to project or push. In quieter or more controlled settings, we may learn to soften or shrink.

The challenge is—we rarely revisit this as adults.

I often work with senior leaders who say:

“But this is just how my voice is.”

In reality, the voice is a set of muscles.
And muscles can be trained.

I’ve worked with women in their 50s and 60s—CEOs, partners, executives—who were still speaking with a childlike vocal quality. When they learned how to access a fuller, grounded tone, their authority shifted almost instantly.

Not because they became someone else—but because they aligned their voice with who they truly are now.

Authentic Voice Looks Different for Everyone

For some people, authenticity means quiet power.

I often hear:

“I’m naturally softly spoken—I worry I come across as weak.”

Yet when these leaders learn to own stillness, intention and presence, they become deeply commanding. People lean in.

For others, authenticity means more ease.

They have big energy. Strong presence. And sometimes they over-compensate—pushing too hard, trying too much. When they allow themselves to relax into their power, they remain magnetic without overwhelming the room.

In both cases, what once worked for them has quietly started to hold them back.

Tip #1: Give Yourself Permission to Explore

Authentic voice doesn’t emerge under self-judgement.

It requires safe exploration.

Find environments where you can practise speaking out loud with people you trust. Experiment with taking up space. Notice what happens when you don’t shrink or over-perform.

Be willing to take small, audacious risks.

This is where richer, more truthful expression begins.

How Do You Know When You’re Speaking in Your Authentic Voice?

There’s ease.
There’s flow.

You feel connected to yourself—and, interestingly, more connected to others.

Whether your style is expansive or understated, there’s a sense of rightness. And your audience feels it too.

This is congruence.

Tip #2: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Body

When we feel anxious about speaking, our instinct is to go into our head:

·       Am I saying this right?

·       What if I forget my words?

·       They’re not really listening…

Ironically, being in our head is not a strategy that works when we want to feel free and in flow.

The answer is the opposite.

Map what authenticity feels like in your body:

·       How you breathe

·       How you stand or sit

·       How your voice sounds when you’re grounded

·       How your movement supports your message

Practise speaking from this embodied place until it becomes familiar.

Because people don’t just listen to your words—they read your voice, your movement and your mindset for congruence.

Tip #3: Practise Before the Pressure

Accessing your authentic voice in high-stakes moments is difficult if you haven’t practised it in low-stakes ones.

Think of it like learning an instrument or refining technique at the gym. You don’t build mastery under maximum load.

Slow, regular, conscious practice matters:

·       Notice vocal pitch and pace

·       Notice habitual movements

·       Notice the beliefs that support or undermine you

·       Notice what presence feels like for you

When these elements align, you create an internal map—a reliable pathway back to your authentic voice, even if you momentarily lose it.

When Voice, Movement and Mindset Align

This is when communication becomes powerful and easeful.

You amplify intention.
You connect deeply.
You build trust without effort.
You lead without force.

And most importantly—you feel like yourself.

Ready to Explore Your Authentic Voice?

If you’d like a supportive space to uncover your personal map—your natural zone of genius—I’d love to support you.

Whether you’re a leader, speaker or content creator ready to move from good to truly compelling, this work is transformational.

Get in touch with me to explore your Authentic Voice. Your voice is already there.

Let’s help you access it—consistently, confidently and comfortably.

‍

‍