Stage fright? Fear of public speaking? Too shy to speak up? Intimidated by authority figures? Struggling to connect with your team members? If you're an entrepreneur or working professional and you're facing these or other communication challenges at the workplace, hop on! I'm Mridu Bhandari, TV Anchor & Journalist, Podcast Host, Public Speaking & Workplace Communication Coach & Entrepreneur. Every week I share learnings, experiences and actionable tips to help you SPEAK WITH IMPACT & OWN THE ROOM!
Headed for your appraisal meeting? Say THIS not THAT!
Published 2 months ago • 3 min read
Speak with Impact & Own the Room
Issue #5
Hello hello!
It's appraisal season. Yes, that time of the year - again! And if you’re like most professionals, you’re feeling hopeful, a little anxious, and unsure how to position yourself powerfully in that one conversation that can change the trajectory of your year.
Let me start with a simple truth. You’ve done the work. You’ve delivered. But performance doesn’t speak for itself, people do. And how you speak in that room makes all the difference.
I'll tell you a short story.
Last year, one of my coaching clients - a brilliant young manager, came to me just after her appraisal. Her feedback was glowing, but she didn’t get the promotion she was hoping for.
Why?
Because she never asked! Sounds silly? Maybe it is. But it happened. She did not ask for what she wanted - clearly, confidently, compellingly. She hoped it would happen. But in the absence of articulation, hope often falls flat - as she discovered first hand.
That’s when it hit me - how you communicate during an appraisal is as important as what you’ve achieved.
💬 5 Things to Say (or Not Say) in an Appraisal Meeting
1. ❌ Don’t Say: “I think I’ve done well this year.”
👉 Do Say: “Here’s the impact I created across three key areas. Let me walk you through it.”
✅ Why it works: Specifics beat assumptions.
2. ❌ Don’t Say: “What do you think about my performance?”
👉 Do Say: “I’d love to share the top outcomes from my work, and hear your feedback too.”
✅ Why it works: It signals ownership and invites collaboration.
3. ❌ Don’t Say: “I deserve a promotion.”
👉 Do Say: “Here’s how I’ve been operating at the next level and why I believe I’m ready to take that leap.”
✅ Why it works: Shows readiness, not entitlement.
4. ❌ Don’t Say: “Other people in similar roles are getting paid more.”
👉 Do Say: “Based on my research and market benchmarks, I’d like to discuss a revised compensation that reflects my contributions and growth.”
✅ Why it works: Positions you as informed and respectful.
5. ❌ Don’t Say: Nothing. (Yup, staying silent is the biggest mistake.)
👉 Do Say: “I’d like to align on what success looks like in the coming year and how I can grow even further.”
✅ Why it works: Future focus shows initiative.
🧠 Where Speech Meets Stride!
(A Personal Story from Princeton, New Jersey)
Every time I walk around a University campus, breathing clean air, looking at timeless buildings and watching incredibly buzzing minds at work, something shifts within me.
I remember, once while walking long tree-lined paths at Princeton University, I had one of the most productive idea bursts in weeks.
At Princeton University - a great place for idea generation!
It reminded me of something I often tell my clients: Some of your clearest thoughts are waiting on the other side of a walk. Not your desk. Not your spreadsheet. Just your legs moving, and your brain catching up.
Why does this matter?
Because speech clarity is first a function of thought clarity. If your ideas feel jumbled in a meeting or appraisal, try this: Take a walk. No podcast. No call. Just silence. Organise your thoughts aloud, rehearse how you want to sound. Movement, after all, is medicine for muddled minds.
And speech?
It’s nothing but well-organised thoughts, spoken out loud.
Communication Tip of the Week 🗣️
Rehearse like a movie script. Perform like a conversation. Don’t memorise lines. Memorise ideas. That’s the secret to sounding natural yet impactful.
Over the last few months, many professionals have reached out to me saying:
“I know I can do the job. But I freeze in interviews.”
So here it is - Mentorleap's brand-new 2-Day Bootcamp designed to help you nail your next job interview.
Whether you’re gunning for a leadership role or re-entering the job market, this Interview Mastery Bootcamp will teach you how to:
✅ Answer tough questions with clarity ✅ Frame your achievements with impact ✅ Speak with executive presence under pressure ✅ Avoid common body language mistakes ✅ Build your own 90-second elevator pitch
🗓️ Dates: May 16 & 17, 2025 (Friday & Saturday) 🕖 Time: 7:00 to 9:00 PM IST (both days) 🎯 Format: Online + Interactive + Role-play + Real-time Feedback
Remember, the best time to start speaking with impact… was yesterday. The second best? NOW! So, keep showing up. Keep speaking up.
Warmly, Mridu Bhandari 💫🎤 Public Speaking Coach | Leadership Communication Expert | TV Anchor & Journalist Founder & Chief Mentor, Mentorleap Helping you own the room & speak with impact!
PS: If you'd like to learn directly from me - in a like minded group or 1:1, head over to Mentorleap's Speak with Impact page or reach out to me simply by hitting reply to this email!
Stage fright? Fear of public speaking? Too shy to speak up? Intimidated by authority figures? Struggling to connect with your team members? If you're an entrepreneur or working professional and you're facing these or other communication challenges at the workplace, hop on! I'm Mridu Bhandari, TV Anchor & Journalist, Podcast Host, Public Speaking & Workplace Communication Coach & Entrepreneur. Every week I share learnings, experiences and actionable tips to help you SPEAK WITH IMPACT & OWN THE ROOM!
