About
Programs
Testimonials
Blog

Home
About
Blog
Services
Testimonials
Contact
The Confident Communicator

Speaking Tips

The key to dealing with speaking nerves

Have you ever looked around the room during a big meeting, presentation, panel, or group interview and thought: I’m the only one here who seems nervous! I must be doing something wrong… Everybody around me seems so confident and at ease, but I can’t shake the jitters that crop up every time it’s my turn…

How to stop using filler words

Picture this: you just nailed a presentation, and you even answered a full round of impromptu questions on-the-fly! You’re riding high on positive feedback, but your manager also offers a constructive critique: you use a lot of filler words, and they’re distracting us from hearing some of your main points. Suddenly, you start replaying the…

My #1 tip to improve your speaking skills

Love it or hate it, today we’re talking about an established SelfSpoken truth: the best way to improve your speaking skills is…watching yourself on video. And before we go any further, I know what you’re thinking! “I can’t stand to watch myself on video—it makes me cringe, hard.” “I feel like I don’t even recognize…

How to stop rambling: fewer words, greater impact

Whether it’s in interviews or Zoom meetings, do you ever have those mid-response *record scratch* moments? You know, when you realize that while you’ve been weaving your answer, you’ve forgotten the actual question you were supposed to address? You want to stop rambling, but you’re not quite sure how to structure your answers without that…

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…

Is your humor serving you or undercutting you? Here’s how to tell

“I’m such an idiot.“It’s like I’ve lost my brain today.”“Ugh—I’m all over the place.” Real talk… did reading these “self-digs” make you go 😂 or 😬? Whether you forgot to ‘unmute’ yourself as you began talking on a Zoom call, or you tripped over your words mid-sentence… Taking a stab at yourself might *feel* like…

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
…
8
Next »

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

Learn More

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

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

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’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).

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.

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 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.

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...

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

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

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

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)

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

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...

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 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.

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’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.”

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

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

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.

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

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

Name

First Last

CAPTCHA

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

Learn More

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.

TAKE THE QUIZ