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My personal goal for the new year is to cultivate more silence and space. Silence manifests when I listen to less podcasts and take quiet time whenever I can get it. But taking space is trickier. 

How does your physicality change when speaking in important interactions? Most people notice that they make themselves smaller, talk faster, take up less space or lean in.

That’s my tendency too: This leaning in can make it harder to breathe and be present, cutting off my ability to think clearly and speak powerfully. That's why I always say, Don't lean in. Lean back instead. 

But there are circumstances where I intentionally want to take up less space: When I am in a position of privilege, I deliberately give away my power. 

The act of choosing to do something different from my innate tendency jolts me out of habitual behavior and forces me to be present. And as long as I am choosing to do something consciously, it’s hard for the choice to be wrong. 

So lean back and listen more. Set the pace and take your time. See what changes when you take up space with your body and voice.

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? 
I had a great time talking to Aliza Licht about building my consulting business. Aliza uses her voice to elevate the world's leading brands. Read the piece here and be sure to check out Aliza's podcast, Leave Your Mark.  

Video chat is the new public speaking
I talked to Rachel Sklar about how to show up with confidence and clarity on video. Here's the piece which features tips from some of my favorite leaders. Rachel uses her voice to amplify and promote women, and if you're not following her, you must! 

Tech Tuesday with Scarlett Sieber
I talked to Scarlett Sieber about the impact of communication on organizational effectiveness for #TechTuesday. Read the interview here and watch our chat in a bustling cafe. Scarlett uses her voice to educate and innovate in the worlds of FinTech and business. Check out Tech Tuesday interviews here and be sure to subscribe! 

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Join the conversation by following @presentvoices.co and let me know what you want to talk about. Get in touch to be featured in the upcoming series, #TalkAboutTalking. In this series, I want to talk to you about how you use your voice to make an impact in your work and life.  

Thanks to all of you who are joining the conversation. It's been wonderful to #TalkAboutTalking with you all! 

PresentVoices was founded by Leah Bonvissuto to help people talk to each other at work, so more voices are heard.
Through interactive training programs for individuals and groups, PresentVoices helps organizations transform miscommunication into engagement. Creating experiences where people speak up and feel heard, PresentVoices combines evidence-based tools, data assessments, and real-work relevance to help people have meaningful conversations at work.