Speak with Impact & Own the Room

Issue #6

Hello hello!

Last weekend, I did something delightfully different. I went out Bollywood dancing in New York. Think thumkas, sweat, and high-energy Govinda moves on full blast. It was loud. Really loud. You couldn’t hear a thing.

But here’s what fascinated me: even without words, we were all communicating. A quick glance. A nod. The exaggerated movement of someone’s lips mouthing “LEFT!” or “AGAIN!” across the room and somehow, I understood them.

It reminded me of something I say often in my workshops:
​You don’t need to say a lot to communicate a lot.

In fact, the best communicators know how to say less, but mean more.

Whether you’re presenting in the boardroom, walking into your appraisal meeting, or pitching a new idea to a skeptical boss - remember that your facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, and posture do half the talking.

So yes, a Bollywood dance floor can teach you something about executive presence 😄

👔 From the Coaching Room: Training for a C-Suite Level Appraisal

Well, my last newsletter brought back my valued client Umesh whom I had coached in 2024 in areas like presentation skills, podcasting and value based leadership communication. He read my appraisal dos and don'ts in the last edition of this newsletter and decided to clock in a few sessions with me for his upcoming promotion!

While we'll work on many different aspects that go into this (often) career defining meeting, I started by telling him to shift his mindset from wanting to "prove his worth" to "claiming his real value".

When you walk in thinking “I hope I don’t miss anything important” - you make yourself shrink.
But when you walk in thinking “This is my chance to elevate the conversation and my role” - you are ready to lead.

Here’s what he’s doing now:
✅ Reflecting on his biggest wins, through the lens of business value
✅ Framing feedback he received as learning milestones
✅ Asking the right forward-looking questions

He’s not rehearsing a monologue. He’s preparing to co-create a roadmap.

Communication Tip of the Week 🗣️

Don't just prepare your words. Prepare your energy.​
Before a big meeting, don’t just rehearse what you’re going to say. Practice how you’re going to show up.

Your energy walks into the room before you do.

Calm, grounded, and open always beats fast-talking, fidgety and defensive.

🧠 This Week’s Challenge: Speak Without Speaking

Here’s a fun challenge for you this week:
​Try communicating something without using words.​
It could be a thank you, an apology, or a signal in a meeting. Use only eye contact, gesture, facial expression. You’ll be surprised at how expressive and effective you can be.

🚀 Ready to Communicate with Clarity & Confidence?

Whether you're heading into a high-stakes appraisal, addressing your team, speaking on a panel, or going live on a podcast - how you show up and speak can shape your entire professional journey.

Here’s how we can work together:

✅ 1:1 Appraisal Preparation – Walk into that meeting with clarity, strategy, and gravitas.
✅ Workshops for Your Teams – Equip your employees with the tools to communicate impactfully across all levels.
✅ Pitch Training for Founders – Nail your next investor conversation with compelling storytelling and sharp delivery.
✅ Keynote & Panel Coaching – Get ready to own the room and deliver memorable messages with confidence.
✅ Podcast, Interview & Media Training – Learn how to speak in soundbites, stay on message and bring your best voice to every public platform.

📩 Reply to this email or DM me on LinkedIn to explore the right format for you or your organisation.

If this edition sparked a thought, a smile, or a shift, forward it to a colleague or friend who could use it today.

And if you’re new here, you can read previous editions here

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Until next week, it's goodbye! :)

Warmly,
​Mridu Bhandari 💫🎤​
Public Speaking Coach | Leadership Communication Expert | TV Anchor & Journalist
Founder & Chief Mentor, Mentorleap
​Helping you own the room & speak with impact!

LEARN ABOUT SPEAK WITH IMPACT