Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
oleh Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart
Episode terbaru
340. Rethinks: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most
340. Rethinks: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most
Tentang podcast ini
One of the most essential ingredients to success in business and life is effective communication.
Join Matt Abrahams, best-selling author and Strategic Communication lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he interviews experts to provide actionable insights that help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. From handling impromptu questions to crafting compelling messages, Matt explores practical strategies for real-world communication challenges.
Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes presentation, perfecting your email tone, or speaking off the cuff, Think Fast, Talk Smart equips you with the tools, techniques, and best practices to express yourself effectively in any situation. Enhance your communication skills to elevate your career and build stronger professional relationships.
Tune in every Monday and Thursday for new episodes. Subscribe now to unlock your potential as a thoughtful, impactful communicator. Learn more and sign up for our Newsletter at fastersmarter.io.
Episode
50 episode terbaru dari 346
- 340. Rethinks: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most · 34 mnt“Most things that we want in life are on the other side of a difficult conversation.” You want a more successful career, a more fulfilling relationship, a more meaningful life?…
- 339. The Write Stuff: Finding the Words for Life’s Hardest Conversations · 23 mnt“Being present is really at the center of listening. Nothing really happens unless we're present.” Some of the most important things we need to say are often the hardest to put…
- 338. Quick Thinks: 5 Techniques for a Better Sleep & Better Communication · 7 mnt“Sleep is essential to good performance and good communication.” A good night's sleep can make all the difference in how we think, feel, and communicate. But for anyone who…
- 337. Success Is Situational: How Feedback & Practice Transform Your Communication · 25 mnt"It's been a paradigm shift for me to ask whether I can make my situation my ally rather than just try harder." Trying harder isn't always the answer. Sometimes, the key to…
- 336. Rethinks: The “ABC’s” of Fright-Free Communication · 16 mnt“Rather than trying to eliminate your nerves entirely, build your own anxiety management plan so you're prepared when they inevitably creep in.” Around Halloween, few things feel…
- 335. Power Play: Successfully Navigate Power, Status, and Influence at Work · 25 mnt“As you're navigating your workplace hierarchy, you're also simultaneously shaping it.” Power shapes the way we work, communicate, and connect with others. But when workplace…
- 334. Quick Thinks: How to Make the Most Out of Meetings · 12 mnt“Meetings are often used as band-aids, as ways of covering up for other larger communication challenges.” Few things feel better than seeing a meeting canceled. But what if…
- 333. Find the Vibe: Build Stronger Connections Through Communication Part 1 · 31 mnt“Be as curious about the other person as you are excited to share about yourself.” What makes you click with someone? For organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam…
- 332. Rethinks: Learn Faster and Fail Smarter · 35 mnt“You learn nothing when you’re right.” Effective communication isn’t about having all the answers. As Astro Teller knows, it’s about finding, and sometimes fumbling, your way…
- 331. Matchmaker Mindset: How to Make Yourself Memorable in Any Conversation · 24 mnt“Boredom is just the enemy of conversation.” Small talk doesn’t have to be boring. For matchmaker and dating coach Rachel Greenwald, better conversations start with a little…
- 330. Quick Thinks: A CLEAR Way Through Conflict · 15 mnt“Conflicts in relationships might be unpleasant, but they aren’t inherently bad. In fact, they’re essential.” Conflict rarely gives us time to prepare. A sharp comment…
- 329. Your Brand is Your Promise: The 4 C’s for Better Communication · 24 mnt“A brand is a promise, and a great brand is a promise well kept.” What does it take to build something people believe in? For Daniel Lubetzky, social entrepreneur and KIND Snacks…
- 328. Ask Matt Anything: Don’t Let Your Communication Fizzle at the Finish · 19 mnt“How you end something often can be as important, if not more important, than how you start.” What’s the best way to wrap up a presentation? How do you stop yourself from…
- 327. The Human Reset: Reclaiming Authenticity in the Age of AI · 26 mnt“Our imperfections reveal that we’re human.” As AI makes it easier to polish our words, how do we prove that our communication is actually our own? For Matt Abrahams, the answer…
- 326. Rethinks: The Secrets to Getting the Information You Need from AI · 25 mnt“Most teams leave the vast majority of their innovation potential on the table.” If you treat artificial intelligence like an oracle, you’ll likely be disappointed. But treat it…
- 325. Message Market Fit: Turning Great Ideas Into Communication That Lands · 20 mnt“No one cares about us, our company, our products. We have to make them care, and for that, we need the right words.” Great work doesn’t always speak for itself. For…
- 324. Rethinks: Defining Where We Want AI To Take Us · 23 mnt“If you're worried that a ChatGPT type tool can replace you, you need to [ask]: Why am I communicating? What am I trying to say? Am I being authentic?” Artificial intelligence…
- 323. Turn Up the Heat: Make Conflict More Constructive · 25 mnt“I’m not saying necessarily fight more, I’m saying fight better.” Conflict doesn’t have to mean avoidance or escalation. Priya Parker, expert facilitator, strategic advisor and…
- 322. Talk Back: Why Arguing With Yourself Can Help You Flourish · 21 mnt“What you think is not gospel.” Can arguing with yourself make you happier? Martin Seligman, positive psychology pioneer and author of Agency: The Psychological History of Human…
- 321. The Respect Effect: What Stereotype Threat Teaches Us About Communication · 20 mnt“Everybody you interact with needs that signal of respect.” Feeling seen and respected can shape how we communicate and connect with others. For Stanford social psychologist and…
- 320. Quick Thinks: How to Prepare, Stand Out, and Ace Your Interview · 17 mnt“The ability to handle yourself in interviews and other high-pressure situations can make the difference in getting the job and achieving your goals.” A successful interview is…
- 319. Open the Portal: The Simple Science Behind Impactful Storytelling · 25 mnt“Causality is this foundation that really allows us to anchor what we’re trying to do when we’re telling stories.” Storytelling doesn’t require a dramatic narrative. For…
- 318. Quick Thinks: Network Smarter and Make Better Connections · 14 mnt“We are now competing in conversation with someone’s feed.” Connecting with others requires more than knowing what to say. The signals we send through our body language, the…
- 317. Plot Twist: The Second Story Hiding Inside Every Great Pitch · 24 mnt“We’re all salespeople at the end of the day.” Whether you’re pitching a movie, an idea, or yourself, persuasion is about more than the story you’re telling—it’s also about the…
- 316. The Persuasion Equation: Grab Attention & Make Your Message Meaningful · 21 mnt“The tools of communication have changed, the human brain has not.” In a world of endless content and shrinking attention spans, getting your message heard means giving people a…
- 315. Quietly Powerful: How Introverts Can Communicate With Confidence & Impact · 23 mnt“Over time, what works is truly showing up in a way where you actually care, you're actually trying to give value.” In a culture that rewards boldness and visibility, quieter…
- 314. Rethinks: Turn Tension Into Trust · 32 mnt"The first negotiation is actually a negotiation I have with myself about my own story." Before you can have hard conversations with others, you need to have an honest…
- 313. Hold the Headline: How Curiosity Cuts Through Complexity · 27 mnt"The dumbest thing you can be is a know-it-all." Curiosity isn't about having all the answers—it's about asking better questions. Journalist and podcast host Nayeema Raza…
- 312. Quick Thinks: Speak with Confidence, Clarity, and Power · 10 mnt"You want to make sure you have the energy at the end of your communication as well as at the beginning." Why do some people command a room without raising their voice? Being…
- 311. Don't Lose the Room: How to Make Ideas Stick · 23 mnt"Know your stuff, practice, and then just do it and be there." How do you explain complex ideas without losing your audience? The challenge isn't knowing more—it's helping others…
- 310. A Matter of Meaning: What Other People Teach You About Your Communication · 20 mnt"Meaning is about being mindful of the effect you have on other people." What makes a life meaningful? We often think purpose and meaning are the same thing, but according to…
- 309. Stretch, Don't Stress: How Great Communication Makes Better Leaders · 26 mnt"When there's a gap between our intention and our impact, we diminish others and our communication." The best leaders don't succeed because they have all the answers—they succeed…
- 308. Ask Matt Anything: From Nerves to Know-How in High-Stakes Moments · 17 mnt“Managing emotions—yours and your audience's—is hard enough, but it's even harder when you're under pressure to respond." High-pressure communication doesn't have to derail your…
- 307. Accent-uate, Don't Compensate: Why Clarity Matters More Than Perfection · 23 mnt"It's not an accent, it's an identity." The way we speak shapes more than how we're understood—it shapes how we're perceived. Peter Novak believes the goal of communication isn't…
- 306. Trust the Process: How to Design Teams That Actually Work · 18 mnt"The assumption of swift trust is really useful." Teams don't always need years to build trust—they need the right conditions to build it quickly. As a Stanford professor and…
- 305. The Humor Habit: Why Great Communicators Think Like Comedians · 28 mnt"People aren't inside of our heads, so you have to give them that emotional information as well as the factual information." Humor is more than entertainment—it's a powerful way…
- 304. Rethinks: Craft Compelling Communication · 23 mnt"If all you're trying to do is inform, you're not going to pull it off. You have to entertain your audience." Great presentations don't just share information—they create…
- 303. On Point, On Brand: Why Honest Communication Always Lands · 23 mnt"You want to own the message and your narrative." Strong communication is about more than delivering a message—it’s about building trust over time. As Zoom’s Chief Marketing…
- 302. Master This: How to Learn Like the Experts Do · 19 mnt"If these masters are still continually trying to improve their own craft, I don't have any excuses." The world's best don't reach the top and stop learning—they keep refining…
- 301. Trust at First Sight: Create More Meaningful Connections · 25 mnt“Communication is the number one way to remove friction.” If communication is the key to connection, then removing friction is what makes every interaction work. According to…
- 300. Matt’s Answers for Better Speaking and Leadership · 31 mntCelebrating 300 episodes with listener questions from around the world. In this special 300th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams celebrates a major milestone…
- 299. Choose The Right Channel: How Stanford Finds Its Voice · 22 mntHow to communicate with impact when the stakes are high. Communication isn't about getting information out. It's about making sure it gets through. In an era of fragmented…
- 298. Quick Thinks: How to Look Confident, Composed, and Credible · 10 mntThe nonverbal habits that make you look confident, composed, and authentic before you even speak. How you carry yourself can shape how others perceive your confidence…
- 297. Agency Over Anxiety: Communicating in Uncertain Times · 26 mntWhy the most effective communicators help people see not just what's changing, but why it matters to them. For Sinéad Bovell, effective communication isn’t just about explaining…
- 296. AMA: Speaking Out, Staying Grounded, and Managing Up · 11 mntPractical communication strategies you can use immediately at work and beyond. How do you speak up when a conversation is moving faster than you can think? What should you do…
- 295. Culture Club: Communicating Values That Scale · 20 mntWhy the best leaders treat uncertainty as a chance to learn, not a failure to avoid. Most companies are built to grow. Far fewer are built to stay true to their purpose as they…
- 294. Ask & You Shall Receive: Questions For Better Negotiations · 24 mntDo you really win the negotiation if it means losing the relationship? You might think that successful negotiation means getting what you want here and now. But Stan Christensen…
- 293. 5 Leadership Lessons From Stanford: Me2We 2026 · 35 mntWhat it takes to lead as a communicator and communicate as a leader. Leadership isn’t just about making decisions — it’s about how you communicate them. As Matt Abrahams puts it…
- 292. Headspace Habits: Lessons for Calm, Confident Communication · 26 mntThe hidden habits behind calm, confident communicators. What does it really take to become a more confident communicator? In this special collaboration between Think Fast, Talk…
- 291. Hello, Stranger: Why Curiosity Beats Charisma Every Time · 30 mntWhat keeps us from being more social? Nick Epley calls it a “mind-reading mistake.” We all think about what others think, particularly what they think about us. The problem, says…
