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The Confident Communicator

Case Studies

From Anxious Over-Preparing to Trusting Her Expertise & Presentation Skills: A Presence Under Pressure Case Study

Do you ever feel nervous or insecure speaking up in meetings with clients and execs, even though you’ve had plenty of opportunities to practice your communication skills? Ever spend what feels like HOURS of time preparing your presentations or talking points in order to feel confident about landing your message? If so, you’re not alone!…

Ditching the Pressure to Prove: A Presence Under Pressure Case Study

Imagine: you walk into a boardroom full of colleagues and executives who are waiting for you to present on a given topic. You’re the subject matter expert in this scenario, but when the pre-meeting small-talk dies down and all eyes are suddenly on you—does the pressure to *prove* that you belong there (and know what…

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

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

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

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

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’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.

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).

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 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.

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?”

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)

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...”

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

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...

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

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

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.”

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

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

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

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

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!”

ileana M.
Pressence Under
Pressure student

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