Matt Abrahams, author and professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, shares tips on how to be a better, less anxious communicator. Topics include recovering after blanking out, focusing on the audience, the impact of perfectionism, engaging the audience, comparing communication and leadership.
Having a structure and clear goals in mind is essential for effective spontaneous speaking, helping to prevent moments of blanking out and providing a safety net.
Managing anxiety by reframing it as excitement, practicing deep breathing, positive affirmations, and maintaining audience focus can greatly enhance communication skills and confidence.
Deep dives
The Importance of Communication and Being Prepared
In this podcast episode, communication is highlighted as a crucial skill, especially when delivering spontaneous speeches. The speakers, Ann and Francis, discuss their different comfort levels with on-the-spot communication. They introduce Matt Abrahams, a professor and expert in effective off-the-cuff communications. Matt emphasizes the value of mindset and preparation when it comes to spontaneous speaking. He suggests managing anxiety, shifting focus from perfection to connection, embracing spontaneous circumstances, and actively listening to improve communication skills. Matt also shares the importance of structure, delivering concise messages, and developing coping mechanisms to recover from moments of blanking out.
Making Peace with Anxiety and Building Confidence
Matt Abrahams and the hosts delve into the topic of anxiety and its impact on communication. They highlight that anxiety is a natural human response and can be reframed as excitement, which can be channeled positively. Matt shares practical strategies for managing anxiety, such as deep breathing, positive affirmations, and present-oriented focus. He also emphasizes the significance of audience focus, reminding speakers that they are in service of the audience and highlighting the importance of connection rather than perfection.
The Role of Preparation in Spontaneous Communication
Matt Abrahams encourages thorough preparation even for spontaneous speaking. He explains that although spontaneity is key, having a structure or roadmap in mind is essential. This structure helps prevent moments of blanking out and provides a safety net. Matt suggests considering the needs of the audience, defining clear goals, and stockpiling key ideas that can be incorporated smoothly into spontaneous speeches. By doing so, speakers can feel more comfortable and confident in the moment.
The Benefits of Effective Communication
The podcast episode concludes by highlighting the benefits of effective communication. Matt Abrahams emphasizes that effective communication enables successful collaboration, connection, and the transference of valuable information and experiences. He discusses his work in helping organizations establish a communication infrastructure that fosters effective and meaningful exchanges. The episode concludes with the notion that communication is a critical skill, and through practice, reflection, and intentional effort, everyone can improve their ability to communicate confidently.
Do you want to feel more confident about speaking up at work? This week, Anne and Frances are joined by a Master Fixer: “Think Faster, Talk Smarter” author Matt Abrahams. Matt is a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an expert in communication. In this episode, Matt gives Anne and Frances a wide-ranging playbook for how to be a better, less anxious communicator, including how to recover after blanking out and the way focusing on an audience can actually make you more confident.