Unlike most speakers, Brayden Harrington never aspired to be in front of millions. His viral video from the Democratic National Convention was sort of accidental.
If you don’t know his backstory, Brayden first met Joe Biden at a 2020 campaign event. He asked his dad to take him to the rally because he and Biden had a difficult quality in common: Stuttering.
They briefly connected, and Biden wound up taking Brayden aside, spending time sharing tips and tricks Biden used to make speaking easier. He promised to follow up but acknowledged that speaking by phone is extremely difficult for people with special speech needs. Brayden and his dad choked up at Biden’s show of compassion and healthy vulnerability.
Harrington was so dedicated to using Joe’s ideas that he made strides in just a few months. And that’s how he wound up speaking to a national audience. Now, Brayden’s courage and transparency about adversity has inspired many. He’s even gone on to write two books encouraging kids to be their authentic selves. That’s pretty impressive for someone who was once anxious about communicating.
You may not have a physical barrier to speaking, but everyone can relate to Brayden’s struggles. That’s because getting your words in order is only half the battle. Authenticity is the secret to turbocharging your message.
But the tricky part is that being principled isn’t enough—authenticity must be applied. So, let’s get back to basics by describing authenticity qualities. One way to discover those qualities is to noodle on synonyms.
For instance, authentic people:
Let’s wrap up the exercise by putting the keyword qualities into action. The relatable statements below are one way to describe your authenticity expertise, but be sure to identify descriptors reflecting your style.
For example, you could say:
In the October series, Showcase Your Authentic Voice at Work, we’ve discussed how to combine being genuine with excellent communication skills. At the beginning of this series, I mentioned how bestselling author Fran Leibowitz once stated that she doesn’t care what people write about. She just wants people to write in their own voice.
Everyone wants to be their authentic self, but let’s face it: There are a lot of blocks in the real world. Those blocks run the gamut from being a little unsure of yourself to people-pleasing. But you want to get ahead of those uncertainties because they can show up in how you communicate, especially in emotionally charged situations.
Let’s recap what we’ve learned about how to find your voice, redefine raising your voice, and ultimately elevate your voice:
Don’t put your genuine nature on the shelf. Showcase your authentic voice and marketable people skills in every meeting, presentation, and hallway conversation.