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The Confident Communicator

Mindset Hacks

How to land your message by getting grounded in your “why”

Here’s the truth: No one else will ever say anything quite like you. Because no one else has, or ever will have, your exact lived experience. No one else holds your specific combination of values. No one else has your particular blend of passions and concerns. And NO ONE else carries the same distinct energy…

How to calm nerves with one beautifully simple trick

Palms slick with sweat. Heart beating in your throat. Thoughtsracing, pulling you down into a spiral: “Why am I nervous? I’ve prepared for this, and I know what I’m talking about…” You tell yourself to relax, but that just makes you MORE anxious. So what the heck is goin’ on here? And what can you…

The #1 hurdle to staying present under pressure, and how to overcome it.

Pssst! In today’s post, I’m going to let you in on a little secret… By now, I’ve coached hundreds of kickass individuals to speak more clearly and confidently under pressure. No matter your workplace, title, knowledge, or experience, there is one hurdle we ALL must conquer if we want to improve our speaking skills and…

How to deal with that pesky (and sometimes mean!) internal chatter

We all know the classic high school stereotype… The queen bee… the most popular girl in school… the girl everyone fears yet everyone wants to be… the mean girl. I mean, remember Regina George? How she’d get Cady at her most open and vulnerable, and then hurl out an insult that was cruel, yes, but…

What to do when you lose your train of thought – and how to get back on track!

You’re making a point, zeroing in on exactly what you want to say and then…. A flat line. Mental radio silence. You completely lose your train of thought. You feel your eyes dart around the video call, or worse, video INTERVIEW, and you get that terrible “I look like an idiot” feeling. But guess what? …

How to stay centered (literally & figuratively) when all eyes are on you

Quick reminder before we dig into today’s extra juicy blog post below… I’m teaching a Free Live Masterclass! It’s called How To Articulate Yourself Clearly and Confidently When it Matters Most: 5 Game-Changing Strategies for Turning Pressure into Presence—Anytime, Anywhere. It’s the perfect appetizer to our Presence Under Pressure group coaching program (opening back up for enrollment…

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

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

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’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 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 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’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 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.

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

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

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)

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...”

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

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

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

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’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 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.

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.

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?

Get instant access to a custom roadmap to help you ditch second-guessing, leverage your unique gifts, and express yourself with more ease and intention.

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