Matt Abrahams: How to Conquer Anxiety and Lead Powerful Conversations Under Pressure | E114

Matt Abrahams's passion for communication was shaped by his parents during his childhood. In the corporate world, he noticed that great ideas often went unheard because people were too anxious to speak up, particularly in high-pressure situations. Realizing that fear, not a lack of ideas, was the barrier to success, Matt made it his mission to help individuals overcome anxiety and communicate with confidence. In this episode, Matt joins Ilana to share his top techniques for managing public speaking anxiety and how you can transition from rambling to speaking with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Matt Abrahams is a bestselling author, communication coach, and lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has helped individuals deliver impactful presentations, from IPO roadshows to Nobel Prize speeches, TED Talks, and World Economic Forum sessions.

In this episode, Ilana and Matt will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:50) His Path to Becoming a Communication Expert

(05:50) Corporate Lessons and the Transition to Teaching

(09:36) Mastering Communication as a Teacher

(12:54) Understanding and Managing Anxiety

(18:19) Matt’s Top Anxiety Management Techniques

(23:15) The Keys to His Career Growth and Success

(25:11) Turning Mistakes into Business Opportunities

(28:49) Navigating Social Media and Feedback

(33:29) How to Stop Rambling and Speak with Confidence

(36:30) How to Understand and Connect with Your Audience

Matt Abrahams is a bestselling author, communication coach, and lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is the author of Speaking Up Without Freaking Out and Think Faster, Talk Smarter, and host of the award-winning Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. Matt has helped individuals deliver impactful presentations, from IPO roadshows to Nobel Prize speeches, TED Talks, and World Economic Forum sessions.

Connect with Matt:

Website: fastersmarter.io 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maabrahams 

Resources Mentioned:

Matt’s Book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Faster-Talk-Smarter-Successfully/dp/1668010305 

Matt’s Book, Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting: https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-without-Freaking-Out-Techniques/dp/1465290478 

Matt’s Podcast, Think Fast Talk Smart: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-fast-talk-smart-communication-techniques/id1494989268 

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