Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart
One of the most essential ingredients to success in business and life is effective communication.
Join Matt Abrahams, best-selling author and Strategic Communication lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he interviews experts to provide actionable insights that help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. From handling impromptu questions to crafting compelling messages, Matt explores practical strategies for real-world communication challenges.
Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes presentation, perfecting your email tone, or speaking off the cuff, Think Fast, Talk Smart equips you with the tools, techniques, and best practices to express yourself effectively in any situation. Enhance your communication skills to elevate your career and build stronger professional relationships.
Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes. Subscribe now to unlock your potential as a thoughtful, impactful communicator. Learn more and sign up for our eNewsletter at fastersmarter.io.
Join Matt Abrahams, best-selling author and Strategic Communication lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he interviews experts to provide actionable insights that help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. From handling impromptu questions to crafting compelling messages, Matt explores practical strategies for real-world communication challenges.
Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes presentation, perfecting your email tone, or speaking off the cuff, Think Fast, Talk Smart equips you with the tools, techniques, and best practices to express yourself effectively in any situation. Enhance your communication skills to elevate your career and build stronger professional relationships.
Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes. Subscribe now to unlock your potential as a thoughtful, impactful communicator. Learn more and sign up for our eNewsletter at fastersmarter.io.
Episodes
Mentioned books
279 snips
Apr 2, 2024 • 25min
136. The Art of Disagreeing Without Conflict: Navigating the Nuance
In this engaging discussion, Julia Minson, an associate professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and expert in decision-making, shares her insights on navigating disagreements. She distinguishes between conflict and disagreement, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and receptiveness in communication. Listeners learn actionable strategies for constructive disagreement, including the HEAR framework, which focuses on empathy and self-reflection. Minson highlights how fostering understanding can enhance creativity and collaboration in both personal and professional interactions.
60 snips
Mar 26, 2024 • 20min
135. Rethinks: The Personal and Professional Power of Emotional Awareness
Celine Teoh, a facilitator at Stanford Graduate School of Business and CEO coach, emphasizes the importance of emotional awareness in personal and professional interactions. She argues that feelings serve as vital data for decision-making. Teoh discusses techniques for improving communication by fostering empathy and connection, particularly in the workplace. The conversation also highlights conflict resolution strategies, including the value of supportive communication and emotional clarity, showing how emotional engagement can transform relationships.
215 snips
Mar 19, 2024 • 26min
134. How to Chat with Bots: The Secrets to Getting the Information You Need from AI
Jeremy Utley, an adjunct professor at Stanford specializing in creativity, and Kian Gohar, founder of Geolab and bestselling author, dive deep into the world of AI as a creative collaborator. They emphasize treating AI as a teammate rather than a tool for rote answers. Discover their five-step methodology, Fix-It, which enhances idea generation through iterative dialogue. The discussion reveals how rethinking AI's role can unlock untapped innovation potential, making it an essential partner in brainstorming and problem-solving.
377 snips
Mar 12, 2024 • 39min
133. From Good to Super: How Supercommunicators Unlock the Language of Connection
Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of "The Power of Habit," discusses his latest work, "Supercommunicators." He dives into what sets supercommunicators apart, emphasizing active listening and looping for understanding. The conversation explores the neuroscience of communication, the power of storytelling, and the three types of conversations: practical, emotional, and social. Duhigg shares insights on how to cultivate deeper connections through meaningful questions, observation, and adapting communication styles.
101 snips
Mar 5, 2024 • 26min
132. Lean Into Failure: How to Make Mistakes That Work
Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor and author of The Fearless Organization, discusses the nuances of failure and its role in team dynamics. She categorizes failures into basic, complex, and intelligent, emphasizing their importance for learning. Edmondson shares her own experiences with failure, urging a shift from rumination to reflection. The conversation highlights how fostering psychological safety can transform mistakes into growth opportunities, making failure a valuable part of effective communication and innovative teamwork.
134 snips
Feb 27, 2024 • 25min
131. Friction Fixing: How to Use Obstacles to Your Advantage
Professor Huggy Rao, a leading expert on collective action, discusses his insightful concepts from The Friction Project. He emphasizes how some workplace friction can be beneficial, urging leaders to eliminate 'bad friction' through clear communication. Rao highlights the dangers of jargon and advocates for simplicity to enhance understanding. Through examples like AstraZeneca, he showcases how effective communication can foster a culture of curiosity. Additionally, he shares the art of storytelling as a powerful tool for connection and empathy in professional settings.
66 snips
Feb 20, 2024 • 22min
130. Rethinks: How to Maintain a Powerful Presence in Your Communication
Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, an authority on organizational behavior at Stanford, shares his insights on commanding presence in communication. He highlights the power of simple, vivid language to enhance authority. Pfeffer also emphasizes the importance of body language and vocal delivery in establishing influence, especially in virtual settings. He draws an interesting parallel between athletes' warm-up routines and effective communication preparation, underscoring how mental readiness can drastically improve performance. Transform your speaking with these powerful techniques!
248 snips
Feb 13, 2024 • 25min
129. Connect Deeply: How to Communicate So People Feel Seen and Heard
David Brooks, a renowned New York Times and Atlantic writer, shares insights from his best-selling book, "How to Know a Person.[0m He emphasizes the importance of making others feel seen and heard through vulnerability and empathy. Topics include mastering public speaking with storytelling and humor, breaking barriers to genuine communication, and enhancing listening skills. Brooks outlines how thoughtful questions can illuminate conversations, fostering deeper connections that enrich relationships at home and work.
95 snips
Feb 8, 2024 • 20min
128. Four Powerful Principles Pt. 2: Your Questions Answered
Discover expert advice on effective communication techniques, including crafting impactful questions and managing emotional dynamics. Learn how to navigate cross-cultural differences in multinational settings while emphasizing empathy and deep listening. Uncover how creative introductions can leave lasting impressions, and gain strategies for tackling challenging audience members during presentations. This insightful session equips you with practical tips to boost your communication skills, whether professionally or personally.
887 snips
Feb 6, 2024 • 24min
127. Four Principles of Powerful, Focused Communication Pt. 1
Discover how to elevate your communication skills with key principles like concision, relevance, accessibility, and precision. Learn to simplify complex ideas, making them relatable for diverse audiences. The discussion includes the powerful technique of structuring messages with 'What? So What? Now What?' for clarity and impact. Gain insights on using analogies effectively and tailoring your approach based on cultural backgrounds. This masterclass is a treasure trove of strategies for anyone aiming to communicate more effectively in any setting.
