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The Confident Communicator

Speaking Tips

How to project authority in an authentic way

Have you ever thought (or been told?) that you should speak with more authority, so that others “take you more seriously?” Do you sometimes feel like you need to prove that you know what you’re talking about? 🙄 You’re not alone. While I don’t believe in “should”s… … that you “should” do anything or be…

How to explain anything quickly and easily

As human beings, there’s one thing we all have in common. We want to be understood. We want to convey our ideas with clarity and ease, and we want to stay on the same page with our teams and clients so we can reach (and exceed!) our common goals. The problem? Sharing complicated ideas in…

The BEST way to improve your speaking skills today…

… is to watch 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 the sound of my own voice.” 😳 “Isn’t there another way? Can’t I just self-reflect without…

The best way to organize your message so it’s clear, engaging, and to-the-point

You’re in a Zoom meeting or interview and feelin’ good: you organized your messages into buckets so you wouldn’t have to worry about memorizing your lines or coming across overly-rehearsed, and you just delivered a killer answer to the age-old “tell me about yourself” with a professional introduction that was both to-the-point and authentic. You smile to…

How to pitch yourself without the ick factor… in interviews, networking situations, presentations and beyond

Welcome to January’s three-part series, where we’re covering the best way to approach the 3 most common questions you’ll face when pitching yourself—whether you’re presenting to stakeholders or asking for a raise. Since this month is the height of interview season, this series is geared towards the interview process. But don’t worry, ALL of these…

How to Genuinely Inspire & Motivate Others Using One Simple Phrasing Technique

Before we jump in, quick poll for ya: which of the following statements makes you feel more excited to keep reading? A. After reading this post, you’ll know how to genuinely inspire people and motivate them to act! B. If you don’t read this post, you’ll never be able to inspire or motivate others. I…

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

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.

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 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).

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

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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...”

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.”

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

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.

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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