You’re great at solving problems, leading teams, and building systems — but during meetings people interrupt you, your presentations fall flat, and your ideas get overlooked. Why?
Your voice is a leadership tool. And if it’s not working, your authority fades. Here are 5 common voice mistakes made by CTOs and tech leaders — and what to do about them.
1. Monotone — like reading a manual
Case: Alexey, CTO of a cybersecurity startup, speaks in a flat, emotionless tone. One investor said: “He sounds like he’s reading a router manual.”
Mistake: Monotone speech disengages listeners. The brain tunes out after 30 seconds.
2. Too quiet — as if you fear your own code
Case: Maria, CTO in a fintech company, speaks so softly that colleagues strain to hear her. One said: “When Maria speaks, I just wait until she’s done and read the slides myself.”
Mistake: A weak voice is perceived as a weak position — especially online.
3. Fading endings — message gets lost
Case: Igor, a senior architect, starts sentences strong but fades at the end, making his words unclear.
Mistake: Losing clarity at the end of a sentence confuses listeners and dilutes your point.
4. No pauses — like unformatted code
Case: Natalia, VP of Engineering, talks fast with no breaks: “WeupdatedthereleaseandneedtoreconfigureloggingandCI/CD...”
Mistake: Without pauses, there are no highlights. Complex ideas get lost.
5. No support — voice lacks foundation
Case: Sergey, AI tech lead, has a high, shaky voice during board meetings. He may be right, but doesn’t sound right.
Mistake: A voice without support lacks presence and confidence.
3 Quick Voice Exercises That Work:
Breath & sound
- Breathe deeply;
- On the exhale, say “Yesss…” in a relaxed, low tone;
- Repeat 10 times.
Why: Builds vocal support, removes tremble, adds calm strength.
Intonation ladder
- Say: “We’re launching the new release today";
- Emphasize different words and endings (statement, question, surprise).
Why: Trains vocal variety and expression.
Pause = Power
- Read a paragraph aloud;
- Pause intentionally before key points.
Why: Helps control audience attention and increases authority.
Conclusion:
A strong voice isn’t a bonus — it’s your leadership infrastructure. Want to test your voice and get a personal feedback? Message me via mail info@ekaterina.kardakova.eu for a free 15-minute voice check.
