How to Be Awesome at Your Job

899: How to Speak Smarter When Put on the Spot with Matt Abrahams

Sep 18, 2023

33:28

Snipd AI

Guest Matt Abrahams, a leading expert in communication, shares six steps to improve spontaneous speaking skills. He discusses strategies to feel more comfortable when speaking on the spot, techniques to enhance communication performance, and the power of paraphrasing. The podcast offers valuable advice, frameworks, and book recommendations for improving public speaking.

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Feeling comfortable speaking on the spot is essential and can be achieved by practicing mindset management, reframing anxiety, and utilizing listening skills.

Managing speaking anxiety is crucial and can be accomplished through deep belly breathing, reframing anxiety as excitement, using physical movements to calm nerves, and focusing on the present moment.

Deep dives

Feeling Comfortable Speaking On the Spot

One of the main ideas discussed in this podcast episode is the importance of feeling comfortable speaking on the spot. The speaker emphasizes that while there is often a focus on preparing speeches or presentations in advance, spontaneous communication is also a crucial part of personal and professional life. The episode offers strategies and techniques to help individuals feel more at ease when speaking impromptu, including practicing mindset management, reframing anxiety as excitement, and using listening skills to better connect with the audience.

Reframing Anxiety as Excitement and the Power of Paraphrasing

01:37

Introduction

2min

Six Steps to Speaking Smarter on the Spot

10min

Strategies for Improving Communication Performance

16min

Favorite Quote, Research, and Book Recommendations for Improving Public Speaking

2min

The Power of Paraphrasing and Improving Communication Skills

2min

Concluding with Gratitude and Recommendations for Listeners

2min

Matt Abrahams outlines six steps to improve your spontaneous speaking skills.

— YOU’LL LEARN —

1) How to feel more comfortable speaking on the spot.

2) Four tactics to keep speaking anxiety in check.

3) The easy formula for great self-introductions.

Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep899 for clickable versions of the links below.

— ABOUT MATT —

Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his teaching students around the world.

When he isn’t teaching, Matt is a sought-after keynote speaker and communication consultant. He has helped countless presenters improve and hone their communication, including some who have delivered IPO roadshows as well as TED, World Economic Forum, and Nobel Prize presentations. His online talks garner millions of views and he hosts the popular, award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast. He is the author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot. His previous book Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting has helped thousands of people manage speaking anxiety and present more confidently and authentically.

• Book: Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot

• LinkedIn: Matt Abrahams

• Podcast: Think Fast, Talk Smart

• Website: MattAbrahams.com

— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW —

• Study: “Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement” by Alison Wood Brooks

• Podcast episode: “Space, Pace, and Grace: How to Handle Challenging Conversations” with Matt Abrahams and Collins Dobbs

• Book: Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up by Patricia Ryan Madson

• Past episode: 253: How to Speak Out…Without a Freak Out with Matthew Abrahams

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.