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The Confident Communicator

Speaking Tips

3 surprising tricks for engaging your virtual audience with slides

Video of a baby cuddling with a big, chill dog. (Adorable.) Scroll. Meme of people turning household items into masks. (Clever.) Scroll. A photo of someone you admire doing something awesome in the world. (Love it. Click heart.) Scroll. You spend plenty of time staring at screens voluntarily. But the last thing you wanna do…

Ever feel unsettled when you speak up? Use this trick to get in the groove more easily

Remember middle school gym class? I know what you’re thinkin’: “Why would I EVER want to remember middle school gym class?” Well, before you stash those memories of smelly locker rooms away (deep into the attic of your mind), remember this: STRETCHING. Before every gym class or virtual workout you do nowadays, you warm up.…

How to speak your audience’s language so they trust that YOU can help them

Real talk… Do you hear yourself saying a lot of this lately? “I know these are really unsettling times…” “I know there’s a lot up in the air right now… “ “I know you’ve been dealing with all sorts of new challenges…” Because if so, your heart’s clearly in the right place, but you might…

Need to be more concise when you speak? Use this trick to skip the rambling

Do you find yourself zoning out during these virtual meetings? Ever think to yourself: “How long is he gonna go on for?” “She made that point three times.” “When is he gonna hurry up and stop talking already!?” Because if so, you’re not alone (and you’re not a horrible person.) But here’s the uncomfortable truth:…

How to spruce up the first 20 seconds of any presentation or conversation

Have you ever struggled to organize your talking points so they’re clear, engaging and to-the-point? Maybe there’s a lot you want to cover, but you’re not exactly sure how to start it off? Well, you’re not alone, and this month we’re ZOOMing ? in on your virtual communications to focus on how to prep and…

How to avoid sounding scripted or overly rehearsed

Welcome back to our Virtual Communication Series: Let’s Get Virtual, Virtual! During one of our FREE workshop/fundraisers last week, Rose asked a brilliant question about how to avoid sounding scripted or overly rehearsed. She was curious if I ever worry about becoming “sing-songy” when giving a speech or presenting something I’ve rehearsed 1,000 times… Short answer?…

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

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

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’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 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.

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 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 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.

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)

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...”

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...

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’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 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.”

“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 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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Speaking Tips

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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.
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