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In today’s episode, we cover thinking fast and talking smarter with Matt Abrahams. Matt is a leading communication expert with decades of experience as an educator, author, and coach. As a Lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes on strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He hosts the award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, and is the author of the book Speaking Up without Freaking Out, as well as his newest book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot.

Being able to think on your feet in every conversation can yield life-changing opportunities and relationships, so how does maximizing mediocrity better prepare you to think on your feet, what is the 3 step framework to listening so you know how to respond, and what is the secret to gracefully exiting any conversation so you avoid awkward goodbyes? 

What to Listen For

• Introduction – 0:00
• What is the anxiety spiral and how does it trip you up in critical moments?
• What 3 ways does anxiety manifest and how do you deal with each one so they don’t trip you up in important conversations?

• This common practice works against you – 9:59
• What is scripting and why should you avoid it if you want to make a great first impression?
• How do you communicate effectively when people’s attention spans are still on the decline? 

• Having this mindset makes communication effortless – 22:41
• Why is storytelling important when it comes to communicating and building relationships, and how do you get better at telling stories?
• What 3 simple questions can you ask yourself to provide the perfect response to any communication?

• The secret to make small talk impactful when it counts – 31:39
• How do you make small talk fun and meaningful for everyone you talk to so it leads to better relationships and more opportunities?
• What is the “white flag” trick to leave any conversation without making it awkward?

• How to fix a mistake when mis-speaking in a crucial moment – 44:16
• What should you do if you make a mistake in an important conversation or presentation? How do you acknowledge it without making the situation worse?

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