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The Confident Communicator

Mindset Hacks

Why we all feel socially awkward—and what to do about it

After a year of isolation, social anxiety has never been more common. For a lot of us, socializing in person again feels both awkward and overwhelming. If you’ve been repeating “just be yourself” before and during most interactions (whether they’re social or work-related!) trust me, you’re not alone—I’m right there with you. In a recent…

How to show up with authentic confidence and ease in any interaction

Picture this real quick… You’re heading into your next presentation, meeting, or interview and you notice that, instead of feeling a familiar rush of anxiety, you actually feel grounded and excited to speak up. You trust your ability to bring the best of who you are to this interaction… even though you didn’t have as…

Break free from anxious “internal chatter” with this mindset trick

When it’s your turn to speak up and you feel that pressure to prove you know what you’re talking about—whether in a team meeting, on a client call, or even when pitching to investors… Do you ever feel a nervous “internal chatter” getting louder and louder inside of you? To the point where it feels…

The truth about “executive presence”

Have you ever been told that in order to succeed and move forward in your career, you need to… have more “executive presence” appear more confident and decisive, regardless of how you feel on the inside be more assertive (or even aggressive) in team calls or client meetings? Ugh—you’re NOT alone. And I’ll be honest…

How to stay true to yourself despite nerves, anxiety or pressure

Imagine it’s a Friday morning. You’re amped up on coffee and the fact that the weekend is around the corner. Heading into a meeting with your boss, you’ve got plans to speak up about an unclear expectation that’s been stressing you out. But five minutes into the meeting… you feel your nerves pulling you into…

5 Powerful Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Wash Your Hands of 2020 [+ free worksheet!]

Before we jump into today’s blog post, make sure to download the FREE companion worksheet, 2020: Reflect and Reset, right here. It’ll take you through each step of today’s year in review, and help you reflect on all you’ve learned, and all the ways you’ve stretched and adapted in 2020. So grab your free copy…

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

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

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 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’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.

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

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 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’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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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...”

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

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.

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

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

“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 for driving innovation and inspiring people to work toward a common purpose.

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

Last thing - let's get your email so we can send you your results!

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Top Categories

Speaking Tips

Practical tips and frameworks to help you speak like a pro, but sound like yourself.

Mindset Hacks

Techniques to help you dial down nerves, build self-trust, and express yourself with more confidence.

Advice For Teams

Empower your team to build leadership presence and elevate their communication skills.

Case Studies

Hear from real-life Self Spoken students who overcame fears, roadblocks, and old habits to step into their next-level selves.

Freebies to

Level Up!

01

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.

02

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

5 Tricks To Be More Clear & Succinct

03

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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What’s your authentic communication style?

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