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The Confident Communicator

Advice for Teams

How to Make The Most of Holiday Parties And Networking Events (Parts I, II & III)

It’s the holiday season, which means it’s holiday PARTY season. Are you looking forward to connecting with people outside office life? Be honest: Does some part of you wish you could skip the small talk, avoid awkward conversations, and *actually* connect with a couple people you’ve been meaning to spark a deeper relationship with? If…

What to do when people tune out or look skeptical when you’re talking to them

Earlier this week, I was asked a VERY important (and common!) question: “What do you do when you’re talking to people and it seems like they’re tuning out or just not picking up what you’re putting down?” Have you ever experienced this? Or wondered what to do about it? If so, you’re not alone (I’m…

Want To Make Your Message More Inspiring? Use This Simple Technique.

Have you ever struggled to phrase things in a way that really inspires people? Be it your colleagues, potential customers, or an audience eager to learn from you? While there’s no one-size-fits-all method for putting together an inspirational message, there is some compelling science behind the kind of language that motivates people to act. In…

How to manage conversational expectations (and not ruin someone’s day!)

My mother-in-law does this hilarious and very HER thing whenever she hosts a big meal at her house. She’ll make an amazing spread with enough food to feed the whole town, and she’ll put everything out on the table in the kitchen. Before she invites you to grab your plate and “go enjoy the buffet,”…

3 Ways to Signal “You Belong” At Work.

“I just wish people felt more comfortable and connected here. I know if they did, they’d be more productive and perform at a higher level.” This is what the Director of Organizational Development at a fast-growing tech start-up said to me the other week. And she isn’t our first client to say something like this…

The smart thing to do when you feel stupid – and how to get help that’s actually helpful!

This week, I’ve been feeling particularly uneasy. On Monday I woke up feeling amazing, like I could do anything. But by the end of the day on Tuesday, I felt like a total fraud. So I called one of my best friends to check in. “Stein, I feel like I’m all over the place. One…

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I’ve taught thousands of big-hearted go-getters how to communicate more clearly, confidently and authentically when it matters most—from business owners to leaders (and emerging leaders) in every field

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Take Free Quiz

Step 1 of 11

How would the people who love you and know you best describe you?(Required)

You’re very in tune with yourself and those around you.

You're creative and have a knack for making people think outside the box.

You tell it like it is and never beat around the bush.

You’re perceptive, quick-witted, and love to make others laugh.

Which GIF describes how you usually feel just before a high stakes situation, like presenting to an important group?(Required)

Which GIF describes how you WANT to feel just before a nerve-wracking conversation or or presentation?(Required)

You’re at a party where you only know a couple of people. Where could we find you?(Required)

I’m getting into a spirited debate with a stranger about a current event and what it implies about human nature.

I’m chatting with new friends about what we each do for work... before moving on to exchange podcast and TV recommendations.

I’m teaching the host how to cool down wine faster—wrap the bottle in a damp paper towel before popping it in the freezer! (You’re welcome).

I’ve wrangled control of the sound system and am encouraging people to queue their favorite songs so we can belt out our favorite hits together.

You have an idea for how to solve an issue your team has been dealing with. What’s holding you back from sharing it?(Required)

I’m worried I might step on some toes by proposing this idea. I want to test it out on a colleague or two first and see what they think before pitching it to the group.

I know this is a solid and creative solution, but I’m worried it's a little too out there for my team. What if they don’t get it or think it’s too “idealistic?”

I want to look at all our data first. I don’t wanna propose a solution if it’s half-baked, that’d be a waste of everyone’s time...

I need to think of a clever way to pitch this, so that people are genuinely excited about the idea.

Picture this: half of your team feels strongly about one strategy for a project, but the other half insists that there's another (better!) path forward. The deadline is looming and tensions are rising, but you *have* to come to a collective decision. What’s your first instinct?(Required)

Let’s diffuse the tension by highlighting the progress we’ve made so far, then encourage cooperation to take it to the finish line.

Let’s take a minute to hear everyone out and see if we’re closer to a compromise than we think.

Let’s consider the facts and go with the smartest, most efficient solution.

Let’s zoom out and remember our ultimate goal, then let's decide which course of action will get us there.

You suspect a friend is going through a difficult time, but you’re not totally sure… they haven’t said anything about it, but they also haven’t been their usual self lately. What do you do?(Required)

Tell them that you sense something's up, and remind them that you’re always here if they wanna talk or vent about any of it...

Wait for them to say something—it’s their business, they’ll share if and when they’re ready to.

Send them something funny to cheer them up, like a jumbo wine glass that says “I am woman, hear me pour” on it, with a note that says “figured you could use an extra glass...”

Ask them how they are and then get quiet and listen.

Think of your current professional goal—maybe you’re itching to switch career paths, get promoted, or grow your own business. Which of the following concerns is playing on loop in your brain?(Required)

I’m worried that I don't have the time, resources, or know-how to turn my dream into a reality.

I need to research and prepare more. If I don’t have everything mapped out, I’ll open myself up to unnecessary risk.

I know I want to engage people at a higher level, but I’m afraid I won’t be respected enough to be taken seriously.

I know I have what it takes to be great at this, but I’m afraid of putting myself out there and getting rejected.

Which frustrating piece of feedback do you hear most often?(Required)

“You’re coming across as overly-rehearsed— ditch the script and trust that you know what you’re talking about.”

“You’ve given us the details, but you need to explain why they’re important in the grand scheme of things.”

“You’re undermining your own points—quit being so hard on yourself and try speaking with more confidence.”

“Your big ideas are great, but you need to be more realistic and consider the practical constraints of each project.”

What do you want to be *known for* professionally?(Required)

I want to be known for empowering people and creating a safe space for them to be true to who they are.

I want to be known as a go-to source for clear, reliable information—someone who’s adept at keeping everyone on-track and in-the-know.

I want to be known for lifting people’s spirits and making our work together something we’re all excited (rather than obligated) to do.

I want to be known for driving innovation and inspiring people to work toward a common purpose.

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Presence playbook

Presence Playbook

Got a meeting or presentation coming up? Want to show up with less nerves, undeniable presence, and a game plan for articulating yourself clearly? Let me send you my "Presence Playbook"—it's designed to help you do just that.

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5 tricks for being more clear & succinct any time you speak

5 Tricks To Be More Clear & Succinct

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How to Outline any presentation in 5 simple steps

Outline Any Presentation in 5 Simple Steps

“Brenne is a life-changer. These are skills that everyone needs in order to navigate today’s challenging work environments. Also, the fact that I got to do something for myself and make the time… it was a really worthwhile thing to do, and I can’t wait to continue learning with this community!”

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