Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

155. Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly

Aug 13, 2024

Susan Rice, a notable figure in American diplomacy and former National Security Advisor, shares her no-nonsense approach to communication. She emphasizes the importance of directness, stating, "I shoot straight" and advocates for candid relationships, even with differing opinions. Rice reflects on receiving tough feedback that helped her grow and discusses strategies for navigating political divides within families. She also highlights the essentials of effective communication, focusing on clarity and finding common ground to enhance interactions.

18:58

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Susan Rice

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Quick takeaways

Candid communication fosters trust and accountability among colleagues, promoting mutual feedback for personal and team development.

Effective leadership intertwines empathy with clear guidance, creating a supportive environment where team members feel valued and motivated.

Deep dives

Importance of Leadership Principles

Effective leadership relies on setting a clear vision and providing guidance, while also prioritizing the well-being of team members. Good leaders inspire and energize their teams, ensuring that everyone feels valued and committed to shared goals. An essential aspect of this leadership style is creating an environment where team members feel supported in both their professional and personal lives. Personal anecdotes, such as those shared by a former National Security Advisor about her experience during her mother's illness, illustrate how leadership is deeply tied to empathy and understanding individual team members' needs.

Admired Communicators

01:30

Leadership Principles and Values

02:29

Intro

2min

Leadership and the Art of Negotiation

10min

Navigating Political Differences in Family Relationships

3min

Finding Common Ground: Admiring Effective Communicators

2min

Essentials of Effective Communication

3min

Navigators know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. In charting a course through communication, Susan Rice says the best route is often the most direct.

Throughout her career at the forefront of American diplomacy and foreign policy, Rice has been no stranger to high-stakes situations that hinge on clear and candid communication. As she says, “I'm very direct. I don't believe in playing games, going around people, and being passive-aggressive. I shoot straight.”

Rice graduated from Stanford University in 1986 and served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013 and the National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2017. She is currently the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow. Rice is the author of Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For.

But beyond being direct herself, Rice knows the value of allowing others to be direct with her. “If you give it, you got to be able to take it,” she says. “I've benefited at various stages of my career from colleagues who've been kind enough to give me the hard truths or the tough love to enable me to be better and help me to recognize where I'm falling short.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Rice and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to foster personal and professional relationships where candidness can thrive — even when communicating with those we don’t agree with.

Episode Reference Links:

Susan E. Rice
Susan’s Book: Tough Love
Ep.35 Leading from the Hot Seat: How to Communicate Under Pressure

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Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

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