Sundaymail Editor
Hunt For Greatness
Milton Kamwendo
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” — 1 Corinthians 13:11
There comes a time in every leader’s journey when maturity is not just about age or experience but expression.
Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, identifies speech as the first mark of maturity and growth.
He says: “I spoke as a child.”
When you open your mouth, you reveal your pedigree as a leader.
In Paul’s model, the second element in the maturity continuum is understanding, then thought, but speaking comes first. In leadership, you grow by speaking. Leadership is vocal.
It is expressive. It is a calling to give voice to values, vision and victories yet unseen. Many potential leaders stay silent. They think that title is the licence to speak. They itch for a moment of perfection before they find their voice.
Silence is not neutrality.
Silence is forfeiture. You do not grow into leadership and then start speaking.
You speak your way into leadership.
Greatness is voice activated.
Judith Humphrey, founder of The Humphrey Group and author of “Speaking as a Leader”, shares her model for speaking as a leader. There is a compelling call to develop the leader’s voice early. It takes intentionality, modelling and grooming towards maturity.
When leaders speak, you want to listen. According to Humphrey, the greatest leaders lead through their words.
Those words are shaped by intention, clarity and purpose.
Power of voice
Great leadership begins with thinking, speaking and acting like a leader.
All three factors often converge in a single moment when a leader stands to speak. Your voice is not simply empty sound. It is the tool by which your leadership is expressed and extended. In leadership, the microphone is never switched off. To grow by speaking as a leader means owning your voice before others assign you authority.
Articulate a clear point of view even when others are unsure.
Speak with confidence from a place of conviction rather than fear or approval. Remember the case of David, when he was confidently stating that he could take on Goliath. When Paul matured, he said that he put away childish speech. That does not just mean immature words. It means uncertain, ungrounded and unfocused expression.
Your voice as a leader must be rooted in purpose and presence.
Frame your ideas
Humphrey teaches the power of framing. As a leader, you must frame your communication within a structured thought process.
Ask yourself: What do I want my audience to think, feel and do? What is my core message? How can I express it with confidence and clarity? To speak as a leader, you must think in terms of impact, not just information. Speaking without framing is like building a house without a plan. Your leadership voice grows in strength when it is focused, intentional and outcome-driven.
Substance for silence
There are times when silence is golden. However, many times it is plain yellow. Too often, especially in early leadership stages, you are tempted to wait for permission to speak.
You think to yourself: “Who am I to speak in this meeting?” or “I’ll wait until I have more experience.” This is all fallacy. True leadership is earned through contribution. You register your presence by speaking at a meeting, not just eating the cookies. Speaking with insight builds credibility. Silence in critical moments may be perceived as disengagement or lack of value. Do not confuse humility with hesitation. Grow by making substantive contributions. Ask insightful questions. Offer solutions. Share lessons.
Tell stories that move hearts and minds. You learn how to speak like a leader by speaking when there are other leaders.
Speak vision
Leaders are visionaries.
One of the greatest gifts you can give the people you lead is a clear, compelling vision for what could be. Humphrey calls this “speaking with inspiration”. As a leader, you aim to hit the head and the heart. When you speak only in technical terms or just recite data, you miss the opportunity to galvanise hearts.
Stop reading PowerPoints to people who can read. As a great leader, you grow by speaking possibility.
You have to confidently state: “Here is where we are going.”
You declare boldly: “We can overcome.” As a leader, you affirm others.
Speak with hope.
Speak with future.
Speak with fire.
Growth comes when your words elevate others. Your words as a leader are the tinder needed to ignite the wood.
Speak in alignment
Leadership credibility is delivered on the wings of consistency.
Your words must align with your actions and values. Hypocrisy shrinks leadership. Alignment grows trust.
To speak as a leader is to say what you mean, then mean what you say and live what you say. People follow voices that they trust. If you speak one thing and live another, you confuse the culture around you. If your speech aligns with your spirit and strategy, you become a leader whose voice carries weight.
Listen and speak
Mature leaders know when to speak, what to say and also when to listen.
Speaking as a leader is not about dominating the room.
You discern what the room needs.
Listening expands perspective. It informs your speech. It sharpens your message. As a leader, be audience-focused. Consider who you are speaking to and what that audience needs to hear, then you speak with intentionality, empathy and precision.
Speak up, be bold and be kind.
Speak up when it is hard
True leaders are willing to speak even when the room is tense, the topic is tough or the truth is unpopular.
This is not about aggression; it is about courage. Leadership is often tested in moments when speaking is risky. Speak your heart. Be a voice of reason. Speak encouragement in crisis.
Speak wisdom into confusion. Your voice is the difference. To grow as a leader, speak. Let your voice become a vehicle of vision, value and vitality.
Aim not to impress but to communicate. Speak up. Speak out. Speak life.
When you speak, something happens. You grow.
Committed to your greatness.
Milton Kamwendo is a leading international transformational and motivational speaker, author and an accomplished workshop facilitator. He is a cutting-edge strategy, team-building and organisation development facilitator and consultant. He can be reached at: [email protected]/ WhatsApp: +263772422634.
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