Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
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174. Fix Meetings: Transform Gatherings Into Meaningful Moments
Turn any meeting or get-together into a chance for deep connection and collaboration.
Whether you?re holding a team meeting or hosting a family get-together, the success of any gathering, says Priya Parker, isn?t about the perfect agenda or venue, but about the intentionality behind how you bring people together.
?90% of the success of any gathering happens before anyone enters the room,? says Parker. As the author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, and a strategic advisor who has helped organizations worldwide reimagine their gatherings, Parker believes that thoughtful preparation can turn any meeting, whether professional or personal, into a meaningful and memorable experience for all involved. ?Intentionality is the first step,? she says, ?to pause and ask: why are we doing this? What is the purpose? What is the need in this community or in this classroom or in this team??
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Parker joins Matt Abrahams to explore the art of meaningful gatherings, sharing practical strategies for everything from crafting invitations that prime engagement to designing powerful closings that leave a lasting impact. By being more thoughtful in bringing people together, we can transform ordinary meetings into extraordinary opportunities for connection and collaboration.
Episode Reference Links:
Priya Parker Priya?s Book: The Art of Gathering Ep.124 Making Meetings Meaningful, Pt. 1: How to Structure and Organize More Effective Gatherings Ep.125 Making Meetings Meaningful, Pt. 2: Key Ingredients for Effective MeetingsConnect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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173. Rethinks: Surviving the Holidays
Master holiday conversations.
The holiday season is a time of joy, connection, and, occasionally, communication challenges and as we gather with family, friends, and colleagues, effective communication becomes crucial. To help make this time more enjoyable, this special Think Fast Talk Smart ?Rethinks? episode revisits favorite ?recipes? from past Stanford guests along with Matt?s advice for tackling three common holiday scenarios: contributing effectively to ongoing conversations, engaging in meaningful small talk, and managing conflict with clarity and empathy. Whether it's making small talk or resolving conflicts, these strategies aim to turn holiday communication hurdles into opportunities for connection and collaboration.
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Ep.169 Don't Be a ZQ: Make Your Conversations CountConnect:
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Between the Lines: In Storytelling, Simplify to Amplify - Premium Sampler
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"Start with the action moment or right before it," advises Hilary Price whose one-panel comic strips offer insights far beyond humor?they?re lessons in concise storytelling that resonate with anyone seeking to communicate effectively. ?Simplify and amplify,? Price advises, emphasizing the art of clarity and impact. Every stroke of her pen strips away the unnecessary, letting the essentials shine through.
Creating her daily comic strip, Rhymes with Orange, Price starts with the game of ?what if,? merging unexpected ideas to surprise and engage her readers. ?You want to start at the action moment?or just before,? she notes, pointing out how the unsaid often speaks louder. Price extends this philosophy beyond cartoons: whether crafting a presentation, a joke, or a story, it?s essential to leave room for the audience to co-create meaning. ?Don?t spoon-feed your readers,? she says. ?The joy comes from not getting it, then getting it.?
In this bonus episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Price joins host Matt Abrahams to explore the power of surprise, stakes, and shared experience in storytelling?reminding us that the punchline, whether in humor or communication, is where the magic happens.
Episode Reference Links:
Hilary PriceRhymes With OrangeEp.170 Advice From Nontraditional Storytellers Part 1Ep.171 Advice From Nontraditional Storytellers Part 2Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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172. Bring Mindfulness to Your Communication
Mindfulness can transform your communication and your career.
When we react, our instincts and impulses are in the driver?s seat. But when we take the time to reflect, that?s when Marshall Goldsmith says we take back control of how we respond.
?????Before speaking at work, breathe,? Goldsmith says. ?Is my comment going to improve this other human being's commitment? At home, breathe. Is my comment going to improve this relationship with someone I love? If the answer is no, why am I saying it??
As a world-renowned executive coach, speaker, and best-selling author, Goldsmith teaches how a mindful approach can change how we relate to others, to ourselves, and even to our career goals and ambitions. Through reflection, we identify our values, which we can use to live what Goldsmith calls an ?earned life ? when the choices, risks, and effort we make in each moment align with an overarching purpose in our lives.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Goldsmith joins host Matt Abrahams to explore practical strategies for bettering our interactions with others and ourselves, from his ?feed forward? method for giving and receiving constructive critique to his "daily questions" practice, which prompts reflective self-inquiry to keep us focused on what truly matters.
Episode Reference Links:
Marshall GoldsmithMarshall?s Books: What Got Here Won't Get You There / Triggers Ep.138 Speak Your Truth: Why Authenticity Leads to Better CommunicationConnect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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171. Advice from Nontraditional Storytellers Part 2
Make your audience a part of the story.
Great storytellers don't just relay information ? they create experiences. As magicians, TikTok influencers, and stand-up comedians, these masters of engagement know that true connection happens when you make your audience a part of the story.
In part two of this special series on storytelling, host Matt Abrahams explores the art of audience connection with an extraordinary lineup. For magician Alex Moffat, it?s about immersive performance. ?How can I get the audience to not [just] sit there watching? They've got to be able to feel it too,? he says. As TikTok's head of creator marketing, Kudzi Chikumbu says authenticity is everything. "Be your authentic self. Show yourself in a way that other people don't." And for standup comedian Orlando Leyba, it?s about leveraging presence and responsiveness to transform a performance into a genuine conversation.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, discover how these engagement experts create stories that don't just inform or entertain ? they forge genuine connections with every audience member.
Episode Reference Links:
Alex MoffatKudzi ChikumbuOrlando Leyba Ep.168 How Story Can Change Everything in Your CareerEp.50 Telling Good Stories: How to Use the Elements of Narrative to Keep Listeners EngagedConnect:
Premium Signup >>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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170. Advice from Nontraditional Storytellers Part 1
Wisdom from the witness stand to the newsstand.
The best storytellers might not call themselves storytellers at all. But from litigating in the courtroom to crafting newspaper cartoons, these experts know how to weave narratives that resonate.
In part one of this special two-part series, host Matt Abrahams explores the foundations of effective storytelling with tech litigator Neel Chatterjee and syndicated cartoonist Hilary Price. Chatterjee, drawing parallels to stand-up comedy, emphasizes the critical importance of those first few lines: "We have to figure out the two to three-line statement on 'this is a case about'..." Meanwhile, Price reveals the power of restraint in storytelling. "You want to simplify and amplify," she says. "I only want to put the elements that are important. Never spoon-feed your reader."
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, nontraditional storytelling masters share their approach to structure, framing, and audience engagement, revealing insights that we can all use to transform our communication ? whether in convincing a jury, crafting the perfect punchline, or sharing stories in everyday life.
Episode Reference Links:
Neel ChatterjeeHilary PriceEp.168 How Story Can Change Everything in Your CareerEp.50 Telling Good Stories: How to Use the Elements of Narrative to Keep Listeners EngagedConnect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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169. Don't Be a ZQ: Make Your Conversations Count
?? What makes a great conversation?
?Many of us dread small talk,? says Harvard Business School professor and author Alison Wood Brooks. Yet she believes these everyday exchanges are the gateway to deeper connection and opportunity. An expert in the science of conversation, Wood Brooks, teaches a popular course titled Talk and has spent years researching what makes a great conversation. "Big things often start with small talk," she notes. "It?s not about avoiding it; it?s about knowing how to use it to uncover something meaningful."
In this LinkedIn Live episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wood Brooks joins host Matt Abrahams to share a practical framework for mastering small talk and making it enjoyable, even for those who loathe it. Drawing from her "topic pyramid" approach, Wood Brooks breaks down how to elevate a conversation from mundane chitchat to something memorable. ?Think of it as a treasure hunt,? she suggests. ?Small talk is where you start looking for golden nuggets that can lead to deeper engagement.?
Episode Reference Links:
Alison Wood Brooks Alison's Book: TalkEp.73 Listen Up: Why It?s Better to Be Interested than Interesting Ep.89 Listen, Listen, Listen: How to Build Deep ConnectionsConnect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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Launching: Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Introducing our new Premium membership, designed to enhance communication and career skills with expanded content and tools. Enjoy early access to live events, AMAs (Ask Matt Anything), eQuips?Essential Quick Insight Playlists?Extended Deep Thinks episodes, and the AI Chat Matt tool.
The focus is on building a global community where members can connect, share insights, and receive feedback. A portion of membership fees will support charities dedicated to developing communication skills worldwide.
Register before November 21st to receive a 25% discount and join the exclusive Founders Club.
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168. How Story Can Change Everything in Your Career
Make your message memorable.
?Immediately forgettable? ? that?s how Matthew Dicks describes most of the business communication that he encounters. If you want to be remembered, he says, it?s time to tell stories.
A veteran elementary school teacher, storytelling coach, and best-selling author, Dicks knows how the right narrative can transform mundane messages into stories that stick. In his book, Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling, he explores how to capture and hold an audience?s attention, which is particularly critical for business leaders. "When we tell a story about a product or service, the people we work with, our company, we become memorable and interesting and entertaining in a way that doesn't happen very often in business," he says.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Dicks and host Matt Abrahams discuss practical techniques for crafting compelling narratives, from setting a scene to creating suspense. ?Don?t build a building. Don?t buy a machine,? he says. Becoming a better storyteller is one of the most effective ways to level up. ?It?s a crazy thing for businesses,? he says.
Episode Reference Links:
Matthew DicksMatthew?s Book: Storyworthy Ep.50 Telling Good Stories: How to Use the Elements of Narrative to Keep Listeners EngagedEp.47 Quick Thinks: How to Use Storytelling to Be a Better FounderConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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167. Hollywood Lessons For Successful Communication
Beyond the Big Screen.
Every business meeting, product launch, or marketing communication has something in common with your favorite movie: they all succeed or fail based on their ability to make you feel something. Just ask Jeff Small, CEO of Amblin Partners.
"Good stories win," says Small, who leads one of the world's most renowned independent film and television companies alongside Steven Spielberg. As both a business leader and storytelling expert, Small knows that successful communication is built on person-to-person connection through the power of story. "Whatever walk of life you're in, you have to be able to tell a story to connect with people, to get across the message that you're trying to get across."
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Small joins host Matt Abrahams to share insights from his experience at the intersection of creativity and commerce, unpacking how effective storytelling can transform your communication, whether leading teams through industry disruption, resolving conflicts at work and at home, or creating films to inspire audiences for generations to come.
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166. Why Relying on Talent Alone Will Fail You
Why practice is the key to success.
If there?s anyone who knows about performing under pressure, it?s former NFL quarterback Andrew Luck. Whether playing in front of thousands or presenting to ten, his key to success is practice.
"There's a romantic notion that you rise to the occasion," says Luck, a Stanford graduate and four-time Pro Bowl selection. "But I think you settle to the level of your training. We practiced those high-pressure situations all the time.? From calling critical game-winning plays to navigating communication off the field, our performance in high-stakes situations, Luck maintains, is determined by our level of preparation.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Luck and host Matt Abrahams explore how deliberate practice can help us hone our performance across all domains of our lives. From managing high-pressure situations to building psychological safety in homes and workplaces, Luck shares insights gained from both sides of the field ? as a player and now as a coach.
Episode Reference Links:
Andrew LuckEp.153 Listen Up, Leaders: A Record-Setting Coach?s Guide to CommunicationConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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165. Building Your Personal Brand Makes a Promise: Are You Keeping It?
Create more meaningful communication by defining your audience.
Before you even think about communicating a message, defining a brand, or developing a strategy, Seth Godin says you have to ask these questions: ?Who?s it for? What?s it for? And what?s the change [you] seek to make??
As a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert, Godin understands that effective communication rests on purpose and intent. ?Branding is not logoing,? he says, but a ?promise? that an individual or company makes about who they are and what others can expect of them. By intentionally defining who we are and who our audience is, Godin argues we can create more meaningful connections and drive real change.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Godin and host Matt Abrahams explore how we can be more deliberate in our communication, using storytelling, clarity of messaging, and defining the impact we want to make on our audience and the world.
Episode Reference Links:
Seth GodinSeth?s Books: This Is Strategy / This Is MarketingEp.64 Best of: Techniques for Managing Your ReputationEp.118 Maximizing your Personal Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You WantConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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164. Rethink: Using "Pre-suasion" to Influence Others
The inner workings of social influence and persuasion.
Want to change someone?s mind? First, explains Robert Cialdini, you have to change their framing.
For Cialdini, the Regent's Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University, persuasion begins before we even deliver our pitch or presentation. Through what he calls ?Pre-suasion,? communicators can prime audiences to receive messages in a specific way, simply by drawing their attention in specific directions.
?It involves focusing people on?putting them in mind of?those motivators before they encounter [them] in the communicator?s message,? Cialdini says, ?bringing people?s focus of attention onto something that is nested in the message?before that message is delivered, so they have been readied for the concept.?
In this episode, Matt Abrahams and Cialdini talk about the motivating power of FOMO, getting better advice from others, and how your next wine purchase could be influenced by what music is playing in the shop.
Episode Reference Links:
Robert CialdiniRobert's books: Influence / Pre-SuasionEp.11 The Science of Influence: How to Persuade Others And Hold Their AttentionEp.142 Power and Persuasion: Live Insights from Stanford Experts Original Episode: Ep.76 Change My Mind: Using ?Pre-suasion? to Influence OthersConnect:
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163. Is Your Audience Ignoring You? How Authenticity Creates Connection
How acceptance and authenticity can transform all of our interactions.
What?s the key to experiencing deeper connection in our communication? According to Alan Alda, it starts with acceptance ? of others and ourselves.
"Connecting, communicating, and clarity," Alda explains, "they're all based on hearing what the other person is really saying; letting the person be real; accepting them.? As an acclaimed actor, writer, director, and author of If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?, Alda has spent much of his career exploring how acceptance enables us to be our authentic selves, leading to better communication and truer connection. ?There?s nothing more engaging than the real you,? he says.
Also the founder of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, Alda strives to help scientists and health professionals communicate more effectively with the public. ?Science can't do its work unless it gets funded. And it can't get funded if people don't understand what the scientists are trying to do,? he says.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Alda and host Matt Abrahams discuss how acceptance and authenticity can transform all of our interactions, from complicated science conversations to everyday communication.
Episode Reference Links:
Alan AldaAlan?s Book: If I Understood You, Would I have This Look on My Face? Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science Ep.82 It?s Not About You: Why Effective Communicators Put Others First Ep.114 Communication Means Paying Attention: The Four Pillars of Active ListeningConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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162. Unlock Career Opportunities: How to Make the Right Moves
Being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds.
We all want to lead lives and careers full of joy and fulfillment. Maggie Baird certainly has, and the key, she says, is to stay open to new possibilities and ?let your passion lead.?
Baird is an accomplished actress, improv teacher at the Groundlings Theater, mother to music sensations Billie Eilish and Phineas, and founder of Support and Feed, a nonprofit addressing food equity and the climate crisis. Through it all, she has embodied the improv principle of "Yes, and..." ? being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds. ?I have done many things,? she says, ?but I never approached any of them as a career change. They all came out of new interests and new experiences.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Baird joins host Matt Abrahams to explore the critical role of communication in developing a career, and how improv principles can help us engage, as Baird says, ?From a place of open-heartedness, appreciation, [and] collaboration.?
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Bonus: How to Manage Speaking Anxiety the Think Faster, Talk Smarter Way
Gain control over your speaking and excel in your communication.
For the first anniversary of his book Think Faster, Talk Smarter, Matt Abrahams shares strategies from the first chapter, focusing on managing speaking anxiety and improving spontaneous communication. Through personal anecdotes and practical techniques, he explains how to handle unexpected questions, reframe anxiety as excitement, and use mindfulness and breathing exercises to stay calm under pressure. The episode also offers tips for managing physical symptoms of anxiety and staying mentally focused during high-stakes situations
Reference Links:
Link to buy book in your country: Think Faster, Talk Smarter Ep.48 Speaking Up Without Freaking Out: How to Tackle Communication AnxietyConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
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161. Do Your Homework: Know What to Say by Knowing Who You?re Talking To
Know your audience and tailor the message for them.
In high-stakes communication, every word counts. For Jen Psaki, that means knowing who she?s talking to ? so she knows just what to say.
As the former White House Press Secretary and current host of Inside with Jen Psaki on MSNBC, Psaki has discovered that communication isn?t about ?saying the most words or saying them the loudest,? but about knowing your audience well enough to tailor the message just for them. ?You need to think about how you're going to get your audience to listen to you,? she says. ?The goal of communicating is to crack the door open so somebody wants to hear more.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Psaki and host Matt Abrahams explore her approach to strategic communication: identifying your audience and using what you know to engage with them and get them to engage with you.
Episode Reference Links:
Jen Psaki Jen?s Book: Say MoreEp.22 Under Pressure How to Communicate Clearly and Timely During Crisis Website / YouTube Ep.155 Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly Website / YouTube
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160. Rethink: How to Communicate Your Gameplan
Why organizational strategy can be both top-down and bottom-up.
As Professor Jesper Sørensen sees it, a winning strategy is the result of conversations, not commands, and that strategy can be directed from the C-suite, but it doesn?t have to be. ?Lots of great strategies are discovered,? he says, ?they?re discovered because the leaders were able to listen to their frontline workers or their frontline managers.? A more iterative approach, says Sørensen, helps companies adapt their strategy to an ever-changing landscape.
In the latest episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Sørensen joins host and lecturer Matt Abrahams to discuss how organizations can use better communication to craft better strategies.
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford GSB Profile: Jesper B. SørensenSørensen?s Book: Making Great StrategyOriginal Episode: Ep.71 Strategy Success: How to Communicate Your GameplanEp.103 Simple is a Superpower: How to Communicate Any Idea to Any AudienceEp.41 Speak Like a Founder: How Successful Entrepreneurs Communicate to Their Teams
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159. Earn Your Audience: You Can?t Lead If No One?s Listening
What it takes to develop as a leader.
Great leaders and great communicators aren't born, they're made. That's why John Hennessy and Tina Seelig, directors of Stanford University?s Knight-Hennessy Scholars, are working to create the great storytellers of tomorrow, today.
"We decided that there was a leadership void, and that was a driving motivation to do this," says Hennessy, former Stanford president and current Alphabet chairman. The program, which he co-founded in 2016 with Stanford alum and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, equips scholars with essential leadership skills through hands-on experience and collaborative problem-solving.
Seelig, executive director of the program, emphasizes that great leadership centers on effective storytelling. "No matter how compelling your invention, your idea, the thing you want to do in the world, if you can't communicate it in [an] effective way, nobody's going to listen," she says.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Hennessy, Seelig, and host Matt Abrahams explore what it takes to develop as a leader, discussing the role of communication, the power of empathy, and the centrality of storytelling.
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford Biography: John L Hennessy Tina Seelig: WebsiteStanford Profile: Tina Seelig Knight-Hennessy ScholarsLeading Matters PodcastEp.155 Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly Website / YouTube Ep.35 Leading From the Hot Seat: Hot to Communicate Under Pressure Website / YouTube
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158. Hope for Cynics: Building Trusting Relationships through Communication
?Acts of trust are the bedrock on which relationships are formed.?
There?s a lot in the world to make us cynical about other people and their motives and intentions. But by ?trusting loudly,? Professor Jamil Zaki believes we can renew our faith in one another.
Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience lab, and author of several books, including his most recent, Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness. While many people feel suspicious of others and are reluctant to trust them, Zaki finds that relying on other people is a necessary part of forming relationships.
?Acts of trust are the bedrock on which relationships are formed,? Zaki says. ?The only way that strangers become friends and friends become best friends, the only way that we can build partnerships is through a willingness to count on one another.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Zaki joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss practical strategies for fostering trust and challenging our cynical assumptions, offering a hopeful perspective on human nature, backed by surprising scientific insights.
Episode Reference Links:
Jamil Zaki: WebsiteStanford Profile: Jamil Zaki Jamil?s Lab: Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab Jamil?s Book: Hope for CynicsEp.84 Quick Thinks: How Others Define UsEp. 129 Connect Deeply: How to Communicate So People Feel Seen and Heard
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157. Communicating the Future: Defining Where We Want AI to Take Us
Artificial intelligence can now do a lot of things. But if you?re worried about it taking your place as a communicator, Russ Altman says you need to question why you?re communicating in the first place.
Altman is a professor of bioengineering, a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, and host of Stanford Engineering?s podcast, The Future of Everything. According to him, advancing technology isn?t a threat to human creativity and connection, but a tool we can use to raise our own standards for communication.
?If you're worried that a ChatGPT-type tool can replace you, you need to [ask]: Why am I communicating? What am I trying to say? Do I have a message?? he says. ?If those things are true, it shouldn't be a problem. It should actually amplify and improve your message.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Altman and host Matt Abrahams explore how effective communication can help us envision, articulate, and navigate towards our desired future, in our relationships, in our work, and in society.
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford Profile: Russ B. AltmanThe Future of Everything Podcast | Stanford University School of Engineering Ep.109 Simplify! How to Communicate Complex Ideas Simply and Effectively Website / YouTube Ep. 3 When Knowing Too Much Can Hurt Your Communication: How to Make Complex Ideas Accessible Website / YouTubeConnect:
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156. Creative Communication: How Our Design Choices Illustrate Our Values
As a designer, Scott Doorley is interested in how humans create the world around them. It?s a conversation, he says, that starts with the question: What kind of world do we want?
Doorley is the creative director of the Stanford d.school and co-author of the book, Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future. In designing everything from a device to an app to a building, ?People get excited about what it can do,? he says, ?but what should it do? What do we want? What's the desirable outcome that we want in the world??
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Doorley and host Matt Abrahams discuss how applying design thinking to communication can help us connect more with each other, better understand the world, and create meaningful change.
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford d.school Profile: Scott Doorley Stanford d.school Scott?s Book: Assembling TomorrowEp.61 Courage, Belonging, Ambiguity and Data: How to Design Your Communication for SuccessEp.70 Ideas Fuel Innovation: Why Your First Ideas Aren?t Always the BestConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Scott Doorley, creative director of Stanford?s d.school.
(00:01:07) What is Design?
The broad scope of design at Stanford's d.school and the role of intention in bringing ideas to life.
(00:02:16) The Design Process
The design process, emphasizing desirability and externalizing ideas to understand them better.
(00:03:32) Communication in Design
The vital role of communication in all aspects of design.
(00:05:09) Mistakes in Spatial Design
The biggest mistake people make when arranging spaces for communication and interaction.
(00:06:47) Runaway Design
The concept of runaway design and its implications in the modern world.
(00:09:29) Intangibles and Actionables
The distinction between actionables and intangibles, and how these concepts can be applied beyond design.
(00:12:47) Using Stories in Design
How storytelling helps envision and communicate future impacts of design.
(00:16:20) Emotion in Innovation
The role of emotions in driving innovation, communication, and design.
(00:19:03) The Final Three Questions
Scott shares what he is currently designing, a communicator he admires, and his ingredients for successful communication.
(00:23:17) Conclusion
********
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155. Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly
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:
Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute Profile: Susan E. RiceSusan?s Book: Tough LoveEp.35 Leading from the Hot Seat: How to Communicate Under PressureConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Dr. Susan Rice, former White House official and representative to the United Nations.
(00:00:56) Leadership Principles
Susan discusses vision, direction, and the importance of people in leadership.
(00:03:10) Giving and Receiving Feedback
Importance of direct communication and the value of constructive feedback.
(00:05:01) Negotiation Insights
Strategies for understanding and leveraging positions in negotiations
(00:06:50) Enjoyment of Negotiation
The skills and satisfaction involved in successful negotiations.
(00:07:59) Standing Out
Advice for those who find themselves different from others in their professional environments.
(00:10:33) The Final Three Questions
Susan shares how she balances family political differences, communicators she admires, and ingredients for successful communication.
(00:16:17) Conclusion
********
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154. Rethink: Communicating Better as a Leader
"In a leadership role, so much more of communication is about connecting with people, establishing shared humanity, motivating them, inspiring them, sometimes challenging them."
On August 1, 2024, Jonathan D. Levin, the tenth dean of Stanford Graduate School of Business, was appointed the President of Stanford University. In this Think Fast, Talk Smart episode from 2022, Levin reflects on the importance of communication as a leader. There is a balance, he says, in being direct with your dialogue, while also "leaving space for people to form their own opinions, to discuss ideas, to debate."
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford Profile: Jonathan LevinOriginal Episode: Ep.68 Directive vs. Dialogue: Communicating Better as a Leader Website / YouTubeConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Jon Levin, Dean of Stanford Graduate School of Business.
(00:01:33) Evolution of Communication in Leadership
How Jon?s communication has evolved over his career.
(00:03:30) Best Practices in Leadership Communication
Communicating with clarity during times of ambiguity and challenge.
(00:06:16) The Future of Communication in Business
The role of communication in business leadership and education.
(00:07:00) Teaching Capitalism Amid Societal Issues
How Stanford GSB educates students on capitalism while addressing modern challenges.
(00:10:35) Expanding Business Education
The Stanford GSB?s initiatives to reach and educate a broader audience.
(00:13:02) The Final Three Questions
John shares his best communication advice, a communicator he admires and ingredients for successful communication.
(00:15:17) Conclusion
********
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153. Listen Up, Leaders: A Record-Setting Coach?s Guide to Communication
Tara VanDerveer has more wins than any other coach in NCAA basketball history. But as she says, motivating and leading teams isn?t about barking orders. Communication, she says, ?It starts, number one, with listening.?
For VanDerveer, leadership isn?t about a power dynamic, but a collaboration between her and her team. ?I can't do it by myself and they can't do it by themselves. But as a team, we can,? she says. From seeking opinions from her assistant coaches to connecting with players about life outside the gym, VanDerveer recognizes that championships are won through communication. ?The relationships that you have with your players, the communication that you have with them, will determine your success as a coach,? she says.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, VanDerveer and host Matt Abrahams explore more communication insights from on and off the court ? being clear and concise, giving praise and positive feedback, and letting go of perfectionism.
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford Cardinal Profile: Website Ep.102 Create Presence: How to Communicate in a Way Others Can Feel Website / YouTube Ep.35 Leading From The Hot Seat: How To Communicate Under Pressure Website / YouTubeConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Tara VanDerveer, former Stanford University basketball coach.
(00:00:59) Building Trust and Openness
Fostering an environment where players feel comfortable being challenged and pushing themselves.
(00:01:52) Communicating Under Pressure
Strategies for speaking clearly and concisely during crucial moments in games.
(00:05:24) Motivation and Focus
Motivating a team during challenging times and keeping them focused after successes.
(00:07:26) The Value of Routine
The value and impact of routines in practice and performance.
(00:09:01) Positive Feedback and Praise
Balancing constructive criticism with positive feedback to foster player growth.
(00:10:46) Taking Risks
Insights on taking risks in career and coaching strategies.
(00:12:56) Dual Role of Coaching
The dual role of a coach in ensuring both athletic and personal growth for players.
(00:14:11) Handling Turnover and Onboarding
Managing player turnover and integrating new team members.
(00:16:39) Managing Emotions
Techniques for staying calm and focused during high-emotion situations.
(00:17:55) Handling Mistakes and Staying Positive
Methods for helping players move past mistakes and stay focused.
(00:19:35) Equity in Sports
Addressing and advocating for equity between women's and men's sports.
(00:21:21) Final Three Questions
Tara shares how to accept praise, two communicators she admires, and her recipe for successful communication.
(00:26:30) Conclusion
********
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152. Fix Your Communication: Why It?s About Connection Over Perfection
?Anything is fixable,? say Frances Frei and Anne Morriss. As cohosts of the Fixable podcast, they?re typically the ones doing the fixing, but on this special episode, they turn to Matt Abrahams for tips on what to do when communication breaks down.
Both Frei and her wife Morriss are public speakers; the former, a professor at Harvard Business School, the latter, a CEO and best-selling author. As they discuss with Matt Abrahams, perfectionism and self-doubt can often creep in, both during preparation before speaking and after the fact. According to Matt, effective communication is about ?connection, not perfection.? Instead of putting pressure on ourselves to ?get it right,? Matt encourages us to shift our focus from ourselves to those we?re speaking to. ?Whenever you're communicating, you're in service of the audience you're communicating to,? he says. ?It's not about you, it's about them and what you can do for them.?
In this podcast episode, Frei, Morriss, and Matt explore frameworks and strategies for speaking more spontaneously, building confidence, managing anxiety, and course-correcting when communication goes awry.
Episode Reference Links:
Fixable Podcast: Website Anne Morriss & Frances Frei: Website Anne Morriss: LinkedIn Frances Frei: HBS ProfileConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces the episode, a collaboration with the Fixable podcast hosted by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss.
(00:04:58) Mission of Spontaneous Speaking
Matt discusses his focus on helping people communicate more effectively in unplanned situations.
(00:07:10) Audience Centered Communication
The importance of focusing on the audience to reduce anxiety and improve communication.
(00:09:51) Connection Over Perfection
Prioritizing connection over perfection in communication.
(00:11:00) Benefits of Effective Communication
The benefits of improving spontaneous speaking skills.
(00:12:17) Building a Communication Infrastructure
An outline of helping organizations create supportive communication environments.
(00:13:33) Six Steps to Better Communication
A six-step process to improve spontaneous communication, covering mindset and messaging.
(00:16:55) Managing Communication Anxiety
Strategies for managing anxiety in high-stakes communication situations.
(00:21:00) Handling Blanking Out
How to handle and recover from blanking out during a speech or presentation.
(00:25:21) Real-Life Experience
A recent experience of underestimating time during a keynote and how the situation was managed.
(00:27:44) The Value of Preparation
The importance of preparation in both spontaneous and planned communication.
(00:28:43) AMP and Building Confidence
Three immediate strategies for reducing anxiety right before speaking.
(00:31:53) Conclusion
********
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151. Get Hired: How the Right Communication Can Advance Your Career
Whether winning over a hiring manager or winning new business, career success often hinges on how we communicate. That?s why Andrew Seaman is on a mission to help people find the words that work ? to get work.
Seaman is the senior managing editor for jobs and career development at LinkedIn, and as the creator and host of the Get Hired podcast and newsletter, he helps millions hone communication skills to land the jobs they want. According to him, getting opportunities isn?t just about experience or connections, but how we frame and present our personal and professional narratives. With a standard resume, he says, ?You're making them connect the dots. And people are not good at that.? Instead, he recommends crafting a story that explains where you?ve been, where you are, and where you hope to go. ?Connect the dots for them,? he says, ?so they're not viewing you as a person who has bounced around. They're thinking, this person has had a cohesive career.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Seaman and host Matt Abrahams explore tools for navigating the interview process, networking on and offline, and communication strategies to get hired.
Episode Reference Links:
Andrew SeamanAndrew?s Podcast: Get HiredEp.118 Maximizing Your Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You Want Ep.147 Disrupt Yourself: How to Innovate Who You Are and Become Who You Can BeEp.62 Best Of: Summer Learning Series, How Humor Can Be a Secret Weapon in CommunicationConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Andrew Seaman, Senior Managing Editor for Jobs and Career Development at LinkedIn.
(00:00:57) Importance of Online Presence
The significance of maintaining an online presence and tips on optimizing LinkedIn profiles.
(00:01:52) Posting on LinkedIn
The frequency and type of posts on LinkedIn, balancing professional and personal content.
(00:03:41) Commenting vs. Posting
Advice on adding value through comments and engaging with posts.
(00:05:12) Interview Presence
The importance of presence in interviews, sharing examples of making good and bad impressions.
(00:06:59) Recovering from Bad Impressions
The challenges and possibilities of recovering from a poor first impression in an interview setting.
(00:07:48) Interviewing from the Interviewer's Perspective
Tips for hiring managers on how to conduct effective interviews and evaluate candidates.
(00:10:25) Challenging Interview Questions
The appropriateness and benefits of challenging candidates during interviews to assess their fit and preparedness.
(00:11:44) Best Practices for Interviewees
Strategies for interviewees to prepare and effectively answer questions, using the ADD method.
(00:13:58) Handling Spontaneity in Interviews
Preparing for interviews when time is limited and the importance of flexibility and adaptability.
(00:17:17) Following Up After Interviews
Best practices for following up after an interview to leave a positive impression.
(00:19:43) Broader Career Advice
Leveraging online communities and tools for career growth, emphasizing networking.
(00:22:14) The Final Three Questions
Andrew shares his favorite response to an interview question, a communicator he admires, and three ingredients for successful communication.
(00:25:31) Conclusion
(00:00) - Introduction (01:32) - Importance of Online Presence (02:27) - Posting on LinkedIn (04:16) - Commenting vs. Posting (05:47) - Interview Presence (07:34) - Recovering from Bad Impressions (08:23) - Interviewing from the Interviewer's Perspective (11:00) - Challenging Interview Questions (12:19) - Best Practices for Interviewees (14:33) - Handling Spontaneity in Interviews (17:52) - Following Up After Interviews (20:18) - Broader Career Advice (22:49) - The Final Three Questions (26:06) - Conclusion********
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150. Communication Tips from the Classroom and Around the World
Sometimes, what?s communicated to us can have a big impact on how we communicate to others. This episode explores some of the best communication advice ? from experts and Think Fast, Talk Smart listeners around the world.
As teachers of Strategic Communication, lecturers Shawon Jackson and Matt Abrahams have plenty of advice on how to be a better communicator. But in this 150th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, the two don?t just discuss the communication strategies they share with students in their class, they also feature communication advice from listeners of the podcast.
Covering topics like knowing your audience, using transitions to tie together different ideas, and embracing the power of silence, Jackson and Abrahams unpack good advice for good communication in this celebratory episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart.
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford Profile: Shawon Jackson Shawon?s Educational Program: Vocal JusticeConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams joins guest Shawon Jackson, a lecturer at Stanford GSB, for the 150th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart.
(00:01:25) The Role of Effective Transitions
The importance of transitions in communication, and an outline of four key types.
(00:04:11) Techniques for Using Slides
Advice on creating effective presentation slides, emphasizing story first and less is more.
(00:07:23) Listener Advice: Knowing Your Audience
Listeners Kevin Weinstein and Kesinee Angkustsiri Yip share the importance of knowing your audience.
(00:08:34) Techniques for Understanding Your Audience
Practical techniques for understanding your audience
(00:10:49) Listener Advice: The Power of Silence
Listener Ashita Tenki shares advice on the power of silence in communication.
(00:11:22) Practicing Silence in Communication
The benefits of holding silence and techniques for making it more comfortable.
(00:12:45) Addressing Communication Pet Peeves
Shawon and Matt share communication pet peeves, and discuss best practices.
(00:16:07) Listener Advice on the Importance of Listening
Listener Digant Dave highlights listening as a critical communication tool.
(00:17:07) Strategies for Effective Listening [00:17:54 - 00:18:19]
The importance of listening for both content and emotional context in communication.
(00:19:39) Conclusion
********
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149. Rethink: How to Take Risks in Your Communication, Relationships, and Career
?What people regret over time are things they didn?t do. They didn?t take that trip, they didn?t ask that person out on a date. They didn?t start that business,? says former political speechwriter and author Dan Pink. ?I think it?s because we are slightly over-indexed on risk. We overstate the risk in many circumstances.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams sits down with Pink to hear how we can take more risks and how leaders can inspire others by focusing on the why instead of the how. ?There?s almost incontrovertible evidence that a sense of purpose is the most cost-effective performance enhancer that organizations have,? Pink says.
Episode Reference Links:
Dan Pink: WebsiteBooks: The Power of Regret, DriveOriginal Episode: Ep.92 No Regrets: How to Take Risks in Your Communication, Relationships, and CareerEp.103 Simple Is a Superpower: How to Communicate Any Idea to Any AudienceEp.80 Magic Words: Change What You Say to Inspire and Influence OthersConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Dan Pink, a NYT bestselling author and former political speechwriter.
(00:01:17) Lessons from Political Speechwriting
Insights from Dan?s experience as a political speechwriter.
(00:03:58) Speak Like a Human
The necessity of authentic communication and the power of speaking naturally and directly.
(00:07:57) The Role of Immediacy in Communication
How immediacy can enhance connection and engagement in communication.
(00:09:24) Problem Finding vs. Problem-Solving
The value of identifying hidden problems in persuasive communication and sales.
(00:11:21) Understanding and Harnessing Purpose
How purpose enhances motivation and performance in work and life.
(00:15:11) Communication, Risk, and Regret
The impact of perceived versus actual risk in communication and decision-making.
(00:20:16) Timing and Breaks for Enhanced Performance
Optimizing performance through strategic timing and the importance of taking breaks.
(00:22:41) The Final Three Question
Dan shares communication advice, a communicator he admires, and three ingredients for successful communication.
(00:25:39) Conclusion
********
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148. Conviction and Compassion: How to Have Hard Conversations
In our personal and professional lives, some conversations are harder than others. To navigate the difficulties of discussing what matters most, Professor Irv Grousbeck says we need the right balance of conviction and compassion.
At both Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford School of Medicine, Grousbeck teaches courses on managing difficult conversations. He equips students with skills to be direct while being respectful, to be strong while being warm, and to resist any urge to beat around the bush. "Directness, with respect, is essential,? he says. "So many of our students feel that if you're direct with someone, somehow that's harsh. The art of good conversation management, I think, does involve directness and respect at the same time."
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Grousbeck and host Matt Abrahams explore practical tips and strategies for navigating difficult conversations, from the importance of listening and pausing, to the value of rehearsing your words in advance.
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford Profile: H. Irving GrousbeckIrv?s Book: New Business Ventures and the Entrepreneur Center for Entrepreneurial Studies | Stanford Graduate School of BusinessConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Irv Grousbeck, lecturer at Stanford GSB, and co-founder and co-director of the GSB Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.
(00:01:04) Ingredients for Entrepreneurial Success
The importance of being an opportunity finder and getting comfortable with the domain you are in.
(00:02:38) Myths About Entrepreneurship
Dispelling common myths about entrepreneurs.
(00:03:30) Can Entrepreneurs Be Made?
The potential for anyone to become an entrepreneur through hard work and exposure.
(00:04:07) Challenges in Communication
The most difficult communication challenges students face and tips to handle these situations.
(00:06:19) Imposter Syndrome
Dealing with imposter syndrome and advice on how to handle and overcome it.
(00:07:38) Managing Difficult Conversations
Manage challenging communication by starting conversations effectively and using collaborative language.
(00:10:15) Role-Playing Scenario
A role-playing exercise to demonstrate how to handle a challenging conversation.
(00:17:37) The Value of Listening
The importance of listening in crucial conversations and advice on how to listen more effectively.
(00:18:58) Career Advice
Advice on career planning, emphasizing the importance of context and strategic thinking.
(00:21:57) The Final Three Questions
Irv shares what he has learned from his students, a communicator he admires, and the key ingredients for successful communication.
(00:26:02) Conclusion
********
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147. Disrupt Yourself: How to Innovate Who You Are and Become Who You Can Be
Innovation and disruption aren?t just for organizations. According to Whitney Johnson, we can find new possibilities for personal and professional growth ? by disrupting ourselves.
As an executive coach, author, and podcaster, Johnson teaches people how to level up their lives and careers through the power of personal disruption. Her book, Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work, reveals how shaking things up enables us to break free of the constraints we might not even know we?re imposing on ourselves. ?Personal disruption [is] a process of deliberate self-innovation; a decision to step back from who you are to slingshot into who you can be,? she explains.
In this Think Fast, Talk Smart episode with host Matt Abrahams, Johnson offers strategies for tailoring messages to different audiences, reveals the key ingredients for successful communication, and explains how disrupting yourself can open new doors and help you reach your full potential.
Episode Reference Links:
Whitney Johnson: Website Whitney?s Books: Website Whitney?s Podcast: Disrupt Yourself Podcast Lindsay McMahon?s Podcast: All Ears English Podcast Clayton Christensen?s Book: The Innovator's DilemmaEp.118 Maximizing Your Personal Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You WantEp.138 Speak Your Truth: Why Authenticity Leads to Better CommunicationConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces Whitney Johnson, keynote speaker and executive coach.
(00:01:25) The Concept of Disruption
The definition of disruption, and the benefits of personal disruption and self-innovation.
(00:02:48) Identifying and Leveraging Distinctive Strengths
How to identify distinctive strengths through observing frustrations, listening to compliments, and valuing inherent skills.
(00:06:11) The S Curve of Learning
The S curve model, its stages, and how it relates to personal and organizational growth.
(00:11:56) Tenacity and Tolerance in Personal Disruption
The importance of tenacity, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity and failure during the disruptive process.
(00:13:35) Encouraging Disruptive Ideas in Organizations
Strategies for leaders to foster a culture that encourages disruptive ideas and constructive dialogue within teams.
(00:17:00) The Final Three Questions
Whitney shares how she tailors her communication for varying audiences, a communicator she admires, and her recipe for successful communication.
(00:22:30) Conclusion
********
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146. Stress Resets: How to Change Your Internal Dialogue to Communicate Better
Stress can get in the way of our communication with others. To manage our stress, psychologist Jenny Taitz says, we first need to adjust the conversations that we have with ourselves.
Taitz is an assistant clinical professor in psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the author of several books, including Stress Resets: How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes. According to her, much of the stress we experience is self-created through negative thought patterns and harsh self-criticism. ?We're doing this to ourselves all the time,? she says. But as we become aware of these unhelpful mental loops, Taitz? ?resets? can help us disrupt them and reframe self-talk in more productive ways
In addition to changing our self-talk, Taitz offers tools for refreshing our communication with others. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, she and host Matt Abrahams explore her G.I.V.E. framework ? how being gentle, interested, validating, and easy-mannered equips us for more positive conversations with ourselves and others
Episode Reference Links:
Jenny Taitz: Website Jenny?s Book: Stress Resets Communicator Jenny admires: Sharon Salzberg Ep.69 Feeling Nervous? How Anxiety Can Fuel Better CommunicationEp.122 How To Be More Confident and Calm in Your Communication: Managing the "ABC?s" of Communication AnxietyConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Jenny Taitz, a clinical psychologist and an assistant clinical professor in psychiatry at UCLA.
(00:00:51) Understanding the Stress Cycle
Explanation of the stress cycle, highlighting common mistakes in stress management.
(00:02:38) Practical Tips for Managing Stress
Advice on resetting the mind, body, and behavior to manage stress more effectively.
(00:05:50) Addressing Overthinking and Rumination
Techniques for reducing overthinking and rumination, and recognizing and redirecting unproductive thought patterns.
(00:08:45) Swapping "Why" for "How"
Benefits of changing one's internal dialogue from "why" to "how" questions, facilitating a more proactive and less stressful mindset.
(00:10:56) Communicating Empathy
Introduction to the GIVE acronym, a method to help improve empathetic communication.
(00:12:58) The Final Three Questions
Jenny shares her personal methods for managing stress, a communicator she admires, and three ingredients for successful communication.
(00:17:33) Conclusion
********
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145. Rethink: The Art of Negotiation, How to Get More of What You Want
Whether we realize it or not, we negotiate everyday. But when we approach these situations as a win-or-lose battle, we?re already showing resistance, and setting ourselves up for difficulty. But what if you reframed the whole idea, to think of a negotiation not as a fight, but as a problem-solving exercise involving emotions?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams speaks with Stanford GSB Professor Emeritus Margaret Neale about what she has learned in her decades of researching negotiation and the steps that lead to more collaborative problem-solving.
Listen as Neale shares tips on how to approach negotiations with intention, and what strategies can help us more easily communicate our wants and needs. She is the coauthor of Getting (More of) What You Want: How the Secrets of Economics and Psychology Can Help You Negotiate Anything, in Business and in Life.
Episode Reference Links:
Stanford Profile: Margaret Ann Neale Maggie?s Book: Getting (More of) What You WantOriginal Episode: Ep.15 The Art of Negotiation: How to Get More of What You WantConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Maggie Neale, the Adams Distinguished Professor of Management Emerita at Stanford GSB
(00:01:22) Definition of Negotiation
Negotiation as collaborative problem-solving, emphasizing mutual benefit over adversarial tactics
(00:04:28) Planning and Preparation
Strategies for preparing for negotiations, including understanding alternatives and setting a reservation price.
(00:08:41) Structuring Negotiation Messages
Structuring negotiation messages, including the concept of chunking multiple issues together.
(00:10:17) Role of Emotion in Negotiation
How different emotions influence thinking and the importance of managing emotions in negotiation.
(00:11:31) Best Communication Advice
Maggie shares her best communication advice, a communicator she admires, and ingredients for successful communication.
(00:14:34) Conclusion
********
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144. Communicating Through Conflict: How to Get Along with Anyone
Many of us would rank getting along with colleagues as an important aspect of work, but, as Amy Gallo explains, relationships devoid of disagreement can actually be less productive.
?While our natural human instinct is to avoid conflict, I believe that conflicts are not only an inevitable part of interacting with other humans, but they're a necessary part.?
Gallo is a workplace expert, host of HBR?s Women at Work podcast, and the author of Getting Along: How to Work With Anyone. Across her work, Gallo touts that the key to transforming conflicts into something productive is to understand its root cause and learn how to reframe them.
?Even at the base of those unhealthy conflicts or those unproductive conflicts is something that needs to be resolved,? she says.
In her conversation with host and strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams, Gallo provides useful frameworks and new concepts on how we can approach conflicts at work.
Episode Reference Links:
Amy Gallo: Website Amy Gallo?s Books: Website Amy Gallo?s Podcast: Women at WorkEp.132 Lean Into Failure: How to Make Mistakes That WorkConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces guest Amy Gallo, a workplace expert on communication and conflict.
(00:01:00) The Role of Conflict in the Workplace
The benefits of conflict in professional settings and why not having enough conflict can be detrimental.
(00:02:26) Facilitating Effective Conflict
Strategies for creating productive conflict and the importance of normalizing conflict.
(00:04:45) Frameworks for Navigating Unhealthy Conflict
Detailed framework for addressing and transforming unhealthy conflicts into productive discussions.
(00:11:56) The Power of Workplace Friendships
How workplace friendships can enhance job performance and personal satisfaction.
(00:14:01) Balancing Friendships and Professional Boundaries
Advice on maintaining effective relationships without compromising professional integrity or favoritism.
(00:16:53) The Final Three Questions
Amy shares a conflict she handled effectively, a communicator she admires, and her recipe for successful communication.
(00:20:01) Conclusion
********
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143. Adopting a VC Mindset: How to Achieve More by Thinking, and Communicating, Like a Venture Capitalist
In choosing who to date, what job to pursue, or how to invest our money, most people are just looking for a reason to move forward. But according to Professor Ilya Strebulaev, we should be looking for something else: a reason to bail.
"The smartest venture capitalists ask a very different question from what most of us ask," says Strebulaev. Instead of asking ??Why should we invest??, venture capitalists approach every new opportunity with [the] question: Why should we not proceed?? This contrarian mindset is at the heart of Strebulaev's new book The Venture Mindset, which reveals how the strategies of top VCs can help anyone make sharper decisions.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Strebulaev joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss how the venture mindset can help anyone ? investor or not ? weigh alternatives, make decisions, and move forward without looking back.
Episode Reference Links:
Ilya Strebulaev: Website Stanford Profile: WebsiteIlya?s Book: The Venture Mindset Venture Capital InitiativeArticle Ilya & Alex Dang wrote: 3 Things VCs Do That Can Help You Land Your Dream Job After Getting Laid Off Ilya?s co-teacher for his Venture Capital class: Brian Jacobs Ep.41 Speak Like a Founder: How Successful Entrepreneurs Communicate to Their TeamsEp.56 Lean Messaging: How Simple Messages Really StickConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Ilya Strebulaev, founder of the GSB's Venture Capital Initiative and professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
(00:00:53) The Venture Mindset
Insights into the venture mindset as a new mental model for making smarter, quicker decisions.
(00:02:22) Embracing Failure
How venture capitalists embrace and learn from failure to achieve success.
(00:05:21) Decision-Making in Venture Capital
A unique approach to decision making based on what successful venture capitalists do.
(00:07:34) Applying Venture Principles in Personal and Professional Life
Venture mindset principles that can help individuals in job transitions and personal growth.
(00:10:05) Lessons from Teaching Venture Capital
Ilya outlines key takeaways he hopes his students learn from his class, including thinking differently and networking effectively.
(00:13:25) Passionate Communication
Using descriptive language to engage others, including mixing familiar terms with unique ones to enhance communication about passions
(00:15:29) The Final Three Questions
Ilya shares how he has grown from writing his book, a communicator he admires, and three ingredients for successful communication.
(00:18:59) Conclusion
********
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142. Power and Persuasion: Live Insights from Stanford Experts
A special live edition from the Me2We event at Stanford, where strategic communications expert and podcast host Matt Abrahams joins four distinguished faculty members from Stanford Graduate School of Business:
Michelle Gelfand explores the dynamics of cross-cultural organizational behavior.Brian Lowery discusses the societal implications of racial perceptions.Deborah Gruenfeld reveals insights into power dynamics and personal presence.Zakary Tormala delves into the nuances of persuasive language.Episode Reference Links:
Michelle Gelfand: WebsiteMichelle Gelfand Stanford Profile: Website Michelle Gelfand?s Book: Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World Michelle Gelfand's Tight-Loose QuizBrian Lowery: Website Brian Lowery?s Stanford Profile: Website Brian Lowery?s Book: Selfless: The Social Creation of "You" Brian Lowery?s Podcast: Know What You See Deborah Gruenfeld?s Stanford Profile: Website Deborah Gruenfeld?s Book: Acting With Power: Why We Are More Powerful Than We Believe Zak Tormala?s Stanford Profile: Website Ep.67 What is Normal? How Culture Affects Communication Styles YouTube / Website Ep.84 Quick Thinks: How Others Define Us YouTube / Website Ep.11 The Science of Influence: How to Persuade Others and Hold Their Attention YouTube / Website Ep.12 It?s Not What You Say It?s How You Say It: How to Communicate Power Youtube / WebsiteConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Producer Jenny Luna and host Matt Abrahams introduce a live episode featuring four Stanford GSB faculty members.
(00:01:40) Navigating Conflicts and Negotiations in Diverse Settings
Michelle Gelfand discusses managing conflicts and negotiations in broader societal and cultural contexts.
(00:04:51) Understanding and Managing Diversity
Brian Lowery introduces the Stanford Institute on Race and outlines strategies for leaders to foster inclusivity and manage diverse workforces.
(00:07:57) Dynamics of Power and Influence
Deborah Gruenfeld shares the implications of power dynamics and how they shift from virtual to in-person interactions.
(00:14:04) Persuasion and Effective Communication
Zakary Tormala gives insight into the use of pronouns in persuasive communication and the impact of language in shaping audience engagement.
(00:18:44) Acting with Power in Interactions
Deborah Gruenfeld discusses her ongoing research on how power dynamics influence investor decisions in startup teams.
(00:20:47) The Pursuit of Meaningfulness
Brian Lowery talks about his current focus on what makes life meaningful.
(00:24:14) Cultural Tightness and Looseness
Michelle Gelfand explains her research on how cultures manage norms and rules, and the concept of "tight" and "loose" cultures.
(00:28:52) Persuasive Communication
Zakary Tormala shares insights from his latest research on framing effects in communication.
(00:32:13) Participant Reflections
A Stanford LEAD participant shares experiences from Brian Lowery's class, emphasizing the importance of perspective-taking and trust in leadership.
(00:33:15) Conclusion
********
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141. An Invitation for Innovation: Why Creativity Is Found, Not Forced
So you want to lead your team toward innovation. Does that require that you know where you?re going? Not according to Linda Hill.
Hill is a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School whose research focuses on leadership and how organizations achieve innovation. When it comes to generating breakthrough ideas, Hill says it?s less about a creative vision and more about stepping into the unknown. ?Innovation [is] not about an individual coming up with a new idea,? she says. ?Instead, innovation is the result of the collaboration of people with diverse expertise and diverse perspectives coming together, being able to collaborate, being able to experiment together and learn.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Hill and host Matt Abrahams discuss how leaders can foster cultures and environments where innovation thrives ? where teams use communication and collaboration to ?co-create the future.?
Episode Reference Links:
Harvard Business School Profile: Website Linda's books: Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation Being the Boss, with a New Preface: The 3 Imperatives for Becoming a Great Leader Becoming a Manager: How New Managers Master the Challenges of Leadership Linda?s article on the value of collaboration & conflict: Collective Genius Communicator Linda admires: Vineet Nayar + Employees First, Customers SecondConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Linda Hill, an expert in leadership development and innovation from Harvard Business School.
(00:01:10) Leading for Innovation vs. Leading for Change
Fundamental differences between leading for innovation and for change, and the unique challenges required for innovation.
(00:02:53) Creating a Culture of Innovation
The essential components of a culture that promotes innovation, with focus on communication and collaboration.
(00:06:21) The Role of Shared Values and Purpose in Innovation
Shared values, and the distinction between vision and purpose within innovative organizations.
(00:09:43) Communication's Impact on Innovation
How effective communication facilitates innovation, including strategies for engaging diverse teams and the significance of storytelling.
(00:14:30) Conflict and Creativity in Collaborative Environments
The value of conflict in innovation, and how managing disagreements and diverse viewpoints can lead to more creative solutions.
(00:16:06) The Final Three Questions
Linda Hill shares practices to foster collaboration with others, a communicator she admires, and her ingredients for successful communication.
(00:19:54) Conclusion
********
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140. Rethink: How to Handle a Skeptical Audience
Preparing to speak in front of a skeptical audience is more than thinking about objections beforehand ? there are specific techniques you can use to respond to these challenging situations without sounding defensive, evasive, or dismissive. Here, we offer a few key tips for how to handle skepticism with aplomb.
In this podcast, host Matt Abrahams and Stanford GSB lecturer Burt Alper share how to prepare for these challenges from your audience and discuss the importance of tactics like acknowledging audience input, reframing responses, and how to remain cool, collected, and credible.
Episode Reference Links:
Burt Alper: WebsiteStanford Profile: Website Ep.102 Create a Presence: How to Communicate in a Way Others Can Feel: Website / YouTube Ep.70 Keep ?Em Coming: Why Your First Ideas Aren?t Always the Best: Website / YouTube Original Episode - Ep.5 From Monologue to Dialogue: How to Handle a Skeptical Audience: Website / YouTubeConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces the episode and guest Burt Alper, a fellow strategic communication lecturer at Stanford GSB
(00:00:55) Handling Direct Objections
Confronting direct objections during presentations, particularly in professional settings like executive meetings or at the GSB.
(00:02:37) Preparation for Objections
The importance of preparation when anticipating objections and strategies for foreseeing potential pushbacks.
(00:03:50) Emotional vs. Logical Objections
Distinctions between emotional and logical objections and how these types of objections manifest in conversations.
(00:06:09) The Power of Reframing
The technique of reframing in objection handling and altering the context of a conversation to address concerns without conceding.
(00:08:17) The Role of Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing as a critical skill for clarifying and addressing objections, with the benefits of accurately restating concerns to ensure mutual understanding.
(00:12:11) The Final Three Questions
Burt Alper shares the best communication advice he?s received, a communicator he admires, and his ingredients for successful communication.
(00:14:55) Conclusion
********
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139. Lose Yourself: The Secret to Finding Flow and Being Fully Present
Whether you're looking to boost your productivity, find more joy in your work, or simply be more present in the moment, you need flow ? and research by Assistant Professor David Melnikoff could help you find it.
Melnikoff investigates how we pursue our goals, and how flow ? the state of being totally immersed and engaged in what we?re doing ? can help us achieve them. According to him, flow isn?t necessarily about enjoying a task or activity for its own sake, but more about the process of discovery that unfolds as we take action in the face of uncertainty. ?The source of flow is engaging in an activity that allows you to reduce uncertainty about your future, engaging in actions that reduce possible future outcomes, or ideally, eliminate all possible future outcomes except for one,? he says. With each action that we take, the path before us narrows, leading us more directly to the goal that we?ve set.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Melnikoff shares why uncertainty presents us with the opportunity to step into the flow state, to experience more focus and engagement, and to supercharge our goal pursuit and performance
Episode Reference Links:
Connect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abraham welcomes guest David Melnikoff, an assistant professor of organizational behavior at Stanford GSB and an expert on flow and goal achievement.
(00:00:40) Understanding Flow and Its Benefits
The definition of flow and the reversal of the usual dynamic of goal pursuit.
(00:02:20) Achieving and Maintaining Flow
Misconceptions about achieving flow and the role of reducing uncertainty in engaging activities.
(00:06:22) Flow in Business and Leadership
Applying flow principles to business, emphasizing the structuring of tasks and goals to induce flow through uncertainty reduction.
(00:08:39) Personal Applications of Flow for Goal Pursuit
How to utilize flow principles to set and achieve goals with advice on framing tasks to maximize uncertainty and flow.
(00:11:03) Collaborative Flow and Communication
The potential for shared flow experiences in collaborative settings and the role of communication in facilitating flow.
(00:13:05) Goal Setting and Achievement Advice
Advice on goal setting, advocating for goals with a degree of uncertainty to enhance engagement and likelihood of entering a flow state.
(00:14:43) The Final Three Questions
David Melnikoff shares how he invites flow into his life, a communicator he admires, and his recipe for communication.
(00:16:17) Conclusion
********
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138. Speak Your Truth: Why Authenticity Leads to Better Communication
From the way you communicate, to the way build your life and career, Graham Weaver, MBA ?99, says it?s about ?giving yourself permission to fully be yourself. You can never go wrong when you?re saying your truth.?
Weaver is a lecturer in management, a GSB alum, and the founder and a partner of Alpine Investors. He stresses the importance of direct communication, highlighting how avoiding it can lead to wasted time, energy, and even financial losses. Reflecting on his own experiences in private equity, Weaver admits to struggling with being conflict-averse and not speaking his truth directly, which resulted in getting into bad deals and big losses for his company. ?People think that by being indirect, they?re being kind, but all they're doing is creating confusion,? he says. ?Clarity is compassionate. Even if it's not what they want to hear, the more direct and clear you can be, the more compassionate that is for the other person.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Weaver and host Matt Abrahams explore how being true to oneself not only fosters personal fulfillment but also enables us to show up better for others. Authenticity and self-belief lay the foundation for effective communication, leadership, and ultimately, success.
Episode Reference Links:
Connect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces guest Graham Weaver, a Stanford alum and lecturer in management at GSB.
(00:0:43) Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills in Business
How skills like understanding personal dreams and overcoming limiting beliefs play a critical role in business success.
(00:04:58) Living an Asymmetrical Life
Living an asymmetrical life, including the importance of doing hard things, pursuing your passions, committing long-term, and writing your own story.
(00:10:10) Lessons from Taylor Swift
Business and personal inspiration from Taylor Swift's response to professional setbacks, highlighting her work ethic and resilience.
(00:13:04) Personal Growth and Enlightenment
Graham?s journey towards enlightenment and the practices he adopts to improve his personal and professional life.
(00:16:08) The Final Three Questions
Graham shares what differentiates an exceptional from average leader, a communicator he admires and his ingredients for successful communication.
(00:21:05) Conclusion
********
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137. When Words Aren?t Enough: How to Excel at Nonverbal Communication
If communication is like painting, words are the primary colors. But to convey deeper meaning, we need a broader color palette, which Dana Carney says requires the mastery of nonverbal communication.
We often focus on the words that we say when honing our communication, but according to Carney, there are many instances ?where nonverbals start to be more meaningful than verbals.? A professor at Berkeley?s Haas School of Business and the George Quist Chair in Business Ethics, Carney researches the nonverbal ways in which we communicate our biases, our preferences, our power, and our status.
As Carney explores in her forthcoming book, The Five Nonverbal Rules of Power, there are several key areas of nonverbal behavior that we need to grasp in order to fully tap our potential as communicators. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, she and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to read the nonverbal communication of others ? and how to gain control of the nonverbals we express to the world.
Episode Reference Links:
Connect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces guest Dana Carney, an expert in nonverbal communication.
(00:01:12) Understanding Nonverbal Communication
Foundational aspects of nonverbal communication, dividing it into perception and expression, and emphasizing the importance of facial expressions and body language.
(00:02:11) The Nonverbal Rules of Power
How nonverbal communication influences perceptions of power and status and the concept of the "five nonverbal rules of power".
(00:04:37) Cultural and Contextual Variations
The impact of culture and context on nonverbal cues, discussing how cultural differences can alter the interpretation of behaviors such as eye contact and proximity.
(00:08:10) The Balance Between Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Verbal versus nonverbal communication and its significance especially in contexts where honesty or bias might be in question.
(00:09:15) Achieving Communication Goals Through Nonverbals
How understanding nonverbal cues can help individuals achieve specific social interaction goals.
(0012:51) Enhancing Nonverbal Communication Skills
Practical advice for becoming more aware of one's nonverbal communication, including self-observation and seeking feedback from others.
(00:16:13) The Final Three Questions
Dana shares a nonverbal behavior that demonstrates confidence, a communicator she admires, and her recipe for successful communication.
(00:21:09) Conclusion
********
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136. The Art of Disagreeing Without Conflict: Navigating the Nuance
Disagreement and conflict may look the same on the surface, but the two concepts are, in fact, very different. According to Julia Minson, knowing how these notions differ is crucial to how you approach them.
In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Minson and strategic communication lecturer Matt Abrahams delve into the intricacies of conflict and disagreement. Minson, an associate professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford University alumna, also shares her expertise on decision-making and conflict negotiation. Minson emphasizes the need for genuine curiosity and receptiveness in communication to foster productive dialogue.
Episode Reference Links:
Julia Minson: WebsiteUnderestimating Counterparts? Learning Goals Impairs Conflictual Conversations (Julia?s study about people?s goals when talking to those they disagree with)To have better disagreements, change your words (Article by Julia about HEAR)Ep.30 - Dissolve Disagreements: How Communication Impacts Conflict: Website / YouTube Ep.72 - Quick Thinks: Talk it Out - How to Successfully Negotiate and Resolve Conflict: Website / YouTubeConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt introduces guest Julia Minson, who is an expert in decision-making, conflict negotiation, and the psychology of disagreement.
(00:00:54) Journey into Conflict and Disagreement Research
Julia gives insight into her background and what led her to research disagreement and conflict.
(00:01:55) Distinguishing Between Disagreement and Conflict
The difference between disagreement and conflict, and why understanding this distinction is crucial for effective communication.
(00:04:12) Strategies for Disagreeing Better
Practical advice on how to disagree constructively without escalating to conflict, focusing on expressing and acting with curiosity.
(00:07:05) Demonstrating Curiosity and Conversational Receptiveness
Tactics for showing curiosity and conversational receptiveness, including using the HEAR acronym to maintain constructive dialogues.
(00:14:38) Managing Conflict
Managing and navigating conflict, emphasizing emotional readiness and the importance of choosing battles wisely.
(00:18:25) The Final Three Questions
Julia shares personal experiences with conflict and disagreement, a communicator she admires, and her recipe for successful communication.
(00:22:48) Conclusion
********
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135. Rethink: The Personal and Professional Power of Emotional Awareness
Why deep connection with others starts by connecting more deeply with ourselves.
How are you feeling right now? According to Celine Teoh, we all need to ask ourselves that question more often ? and be more precise in how we answer it.
Teoh is a facilitator of the course Interpersonal Dynamics, one of Stanford Graduate School of Business?s most iconic classes. In her work with students and as a CEO coach, Teoh encourages people to get better acquainted with their feelings. ?Feelings are data,? she says. ?In the rest of our logical lives, we would never make decisions on bad or highly abstract data. But we?ll do that with feelings.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast, Teoh and host Matt Abrahams discuss how developing greater emotional awareness can help us achieve more agency and empathy in our personal and professional lives.
Episode Reference Links:
Celine Teoh: WebsiteInterpersonal Dynamics (Program at GSB Celine facilitates)Connect - Building Exceptional Relationships (Book by Carol Robin that Celine recommends)The Gottman Institute (Website for John Gottman, whose research Celine mentions and is referenced in the Interpersonal Dynamics course)Ep.77 - All the Feels: The Personal and Professional Power of Emotional Awareness: YouTube / WebsiteConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Celine Teoh and the episodes' focus on the value of emotions in communication.
(00:01:09) Discovering Self Through Interpersonal Dynamics
Overview of the Interpersonal Dynamics course at Stanford GSB, also known as "touchy feely"
(00:03:48) Integrating ?Touchy Feely? in Logical and Action-Oriented Environments
Incorporating empathy and emotional connection in organizations that prioritize logic and action.
(00:05:47) Enhancing Connection and Empathy
Advice on building connections with others, including the importance of being clear and embracing vulnerability.
(00:08:36) Managing Conflict with Empathy
Approaching challenges and conflict at work in a way that maintains and strengthens relationships.
(00:11:29) Enhancing Empathy, Feedback, and Communication Skills
Guidance for improving empathy, seeking feedback, and honing communication skills.
(00:13:52) The Final Three Questions
Celine Teoh shares the best communication advice she has received, a communicator she admires, and outlines her first three ingredients for successful communication.
(00:17:07) Conclusion
********
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134. How to Chat with Bots: The Secrets to Getting the Information You Need from AI
Leveraging AI to unlock new levels of creativity and communication innovation
Join Matt Abrahams with creativity and innovation experts Jeremy Utley and Kian Gohar to explore the transformative potential of AI in the realms of creativity and problem-solving.
If you treat artificial intelligence like an oracle, you?ll likely be disappointed. But if you treat it like a teammate, Utley and Gohar say you?ll be surprised just how helpful a collaborator it can be.
Utley, an adjunct professor at the Stanford d.school, and Gohar, a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and futurist, have researched how teams can integrate AI into existing workflows to generate more creative ideas and streamline problem-solving. As they?ve found, large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can be powerful tools for innovation. But without knowing how to implement them, ?Most teams leave the vast majority of their innovation potential on the table,? Utley says. In a new white paper, he and Gohar illuminate the path teams can take to use generative AI as a ?conversation partner? and transform their brainstorming efforts as a result.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Utley and Gohar discuss how innovators can stop viewing AI as a magic 8-ball, and start treating it as a companion ? one ready to roll up its sleeves and dig deep for new ideas.
Episode Reference Links:
Jeremy Utley: WebsiteJeremy's book: IdeaflowKian Gohar: Website + GeolabKian's book: Competing In The New World Of WorkFIXITHBR article by Jeremy and Kian: Don?t Let Gen AI Limit Your Team?s CreativityEp.70 - Ideas Fuel Innovation: Why Your First Ideas Aren?t Always the BestEp.77 - Quick Thinks: AI Has Entered the ChatCommunicators Kian admires:Peggy Noonan + Declarations at The Wall Street Journal Sam Horn + Tongue Fu!: How to Deflect, Disarm, and Defuse Any Verbal ConflictConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces guests Jeremy Utley and Kian Gohar, and their respective books.
(00:01:02) Motivation Behind the Study on AI's Impact
AI's impact on creativity and problem-solving, including an experiment involving human ideation with and without AI assistance.
(00:03:32) Research Findings on AI and Innovation
Specific practices to effectively use AI in teams for idea generation and the counterintuitive feelings associated with AI-assisted work.
(00:04:37) The Counterintuitive Nature of AI Assistance
Why teams that used AI effectively felt worse about their work, and the importance of adjusting work processes to incorporate AI as a collaborative tool.
(00:07:59) The FIXIT Methodology for AI Collaboration
The FIXIT methodology, a five-step process to enhance collaboration with AI.
(00:12:29) Enhancing Conversations with AI
Improving conversations with AI, including using audio messages for interaction and exploring different large language models for varied inputs.
(00:17:45) The Final Three Questions
Jeremy Utley offers a starting point for individuals new to ChatGPT, and Kian Gohar shares two communicators he admires and his three ingredients for successful communication.
(00:22:57) Conclusion
********
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133. From Good to Super: How Supercommunicators Unlock the Language of Connection
The ways supercommunicators operate and how to emulate their techniques.
Across more than 130 episodes, Think Fast, Talk Smart has touched a lot on what it takes to be a good communicator. But what about reaching that next level? What about being a ?supercommunicator?? Supercommunicator is a term used by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Charles Duhigg in his latest book, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.
In this podcast episode, Abrahams and Duhigg explore the precise techniques that distinguish a good communicator from a ?supercommunicator:? traits such as active listening; looping for understanding to demonstrate genuine engagement; and identifying what someone is truly feeling, underneath what they actually say.
Episode Reference Links:
Connect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Charles Duhigg and his new book Super Communicators.
(00:01:26) Transition from Habits to Communication
Duhigg shares how personal experiences and a desire to understand human interactions motivated him to explore communication.
(00:02:51) The Neuroscience of Connection
The neuroscience behind successful communication and the role of neural entrainment in establishing connection and understanding.
(00:04:21) Storytelling as a Powerful Communication Tool
The importance of storytelling in communication and how stories foster empathy and engagement.
(00:06:16) Identifying and Aligning Conversation Types
Three types of conversations (practical, emotional, social) and the necessity of aligning conversation types for effective communication.
(00:08:07) Practices of Super Communicators
Insights into the habits of super communicators, including their approach to recognizing conversation types and the importance of deep listening.
(00:15:02) Navigating Conflict Through Effective Communication
Managing conflictual conversations with a focus on listening, understanding, and managing control dynamics.
(00:20:50) Challenges of Online Communication
Challenges and strategies for communicating in online and virtual settings.
(00:25:04) The Craft and Impact of Storytelling
Approaches to storytelling and its significance in making complex ideas memorable and engaging.
(00:29:06) Developing New Communication Habits
New communication habits developed from Duhigg's research and their impact on personal and professional interactions.
(00:31:02) The Final Three Questions
Charles Duhigg discusses the importance of deep questions, the communicator he most admires, and his recipe for successful communication.
********
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132. Lean Into Failure: How to Make Mistakes That Work
Effective and productive teams and relationships are based on the ability to communicate safely and to fail successfully. In this episode, Amy Edmondson, a professor at Harvard Business School and author of The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, shares profound insights on the different types of failure?basic, complex, and intelligent?and their implications for learning and innovation.
In her conversation with host and Strategic Communications lecturer Matt Abrahams, Edmonson opens up about her struggles with failure, highlighting the importance of moving from rumination to reflection. This episode offers listeners a comprehensive guide to fostering an environment where failure is not feared but embraced as a crucial step toward growth and success.
Episode Reference Links:
Connect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces guest Amy Edmondson and her new book the Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.
(00:01:38) Psychological Safety Communication Strategies
The concept of psychological safety and its role in fostering open communication and risk-taking within teams.
(00:05:36) Leader's Role in Creating a Safe Environment
A leader's role in acknowledging vulnerability and creating a culture of appreciation for candid feedback.
(00:08:27) Empowering Every Team Member
Benefits of empowering every team member to contribute to psychological safety.
(00:10:46) Understanding Failure
The importance of psychological safety in admitting mistakes and exploring the concept of failure.
(00:14:07) Communicating About Failure
How leaders can effectively communicate about failures to encourage team learning and resilience.
(00:18:34) Unequal Opportunity to Fail
The unequal opportunity to fail, particularly for underrepresented groups.
(00:20:39) The Final Three Questions
Amy Edmondson shares her challenges with failure, a communicator she most admires, and three ingredients to a successful communication recipe.
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131. Friction Fixing: How to Use Obstacles to Your Advantage
Why resistance isn?t always a bad thing.
Friction ? that?s Professor Huggy Rao?s metaphor for the forces that hamper workplace efficiency. But as he says, some friction can be helpful ? if you know how to use it.
In his book, The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder, Rao and coauthor Robert I. Sutton explore how operational obstacles show up in the workplace and, more importantly, what we can do about them. Through what Rao calls ?friction fixing,? leaders can ?take out the bad friction to make the right things easy to do [and] put in good friction to make the wrong things harder [to do].?
As Rao discusses with host Matt Abrahams on this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, leaders can eliminate bad friction through good communication. ?Communication matters a lot,? he says. ?The simple rule is, make sure a 10-year-old can understand it on the first try.?
Episode Reference Links:
Connect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest, Huggy Rao, and his latest book on the importance of focusing on friction to become our best selves.
(00:01:24) Scaling Mindsets and Communication
Insights on scaling excellence and the critical role of simple communication in fostering the right mindset.
(00:04:28) AstraZeneca: Scaling Simplification
A case study on simplification efforts at AstraZeneca & the gift of time that they gave their employees.
(00:08:49) Understanding Friction: Terrible and Wonderful
The dual nature of friction, highlighting its role as both a hindrance and a catalyst for decision-making.
(00:11:05) Jargon Monoxide
Complicated jargon?s impact on organizations, and the need for simplicity in communication.
(00:13:03) The Art of Storytelling
The benefits & goals of storytelling, creating moral elevation & emotional connection.
(00:15:12) Job Titles and Accountability
An experiment on the impact of personalized job titles on team performance and accountability in tech startups and the introduction of ?good friction?.
(00:17:57) The Final Three Questions
Huggy shares his strategy for reducing friction in his life, a story about the communicator he most admires, Saul Alinsky, and his three ingredients for a successful communication recipe, Aah! Aha! Ha-Ha!
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130. Best Of: How to Maintain a Powerful Presence in Your Communication
?Simple language, forceful language, vivid language, and keeping it simple and direct,? says Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, are all powerful tools to strengthen your communication.
Host and Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer Matt Abrahams interviews Pfeffer, the author many books, including Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't, about the verbal and nonverbal ways we can harness, or give away, our authority when we?re speaking to others. Pfeffer is also the host of the podcast Pfeffer on Power and teaches the Stanford GSB online course Discover the Paths to Power.
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(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces the episode, highlighting the importance of power and presence in communication.
(00:01:31) Defining Power and Status
Jeffrey Pfeffer shares his definition of power and status, emphasizing their significance in achieving goals despite opposition.
(00:02:45) Nonverbal & Verbal Behaviors to Communicate Power
Specific behaviors that convey power, and those to avoid.
(00:05:46) Emotion and Power
Pfeffer explores the role of emotion in conveying power, highlighting the effectiveness of displaying strong emotions like anger and passion.
(00:09:11) Virtual Communication
Strategies for projecting competence and higher status in virtual communication are discussed, emphasizing the importance of appearance and framing on video calls.
(00:10:55) Communicating Across Power Levels
Jeffrey Pfeffer advises on crafting concise, powerful messages for communication with higher-status individuals, emphasizing the importance of directness and presentation in person.
(00:12:06) Tailoring Messages with Flattery
Pfeffer suggests beginning communications with flattery, highlighting its effectiveness in making the recipient more receptive to your message.
(00:13:33) The Importance of ?Warming Up?
Why we should warm up physically and vocally before important communications.
(00:16:33) The Final Three Questions
Pfeffer shares his best communication advice in a concise slide title, the communicators he ?admires?, and his three ingredients for a successful communication recipe.
(00:19:20) Conclusion
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129. Connect Deeply: How to Communicate So People Feel Seen and Heard
New York Times Opinion columnist David Brooks shares how to communicate so that others feel seen, heard, and understood.
All too often, we communicate without really connecting. The key to building deep connections with others, says David Brooks, is to make them feel seen and heard.
Brooks is a writer for the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the best-selling author of several books. In his latest, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, he explores how vulnerability ? both being vulnerable ourselves and creating space for others to be as well ? is the key to fostering deeper connections at home, at work, and throughout our lives. ?[People] need to be seen, heard, and understood,? he says. ?If you hide yourself from the emotional intimacies of life, you're hiding yourself from life itself.?
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Brooks and host Matt Abrahams discuss the fundamentals of communicating with vulnerability and empathy, outlining the skills that anyone can learn and use to connect more deeply in their relationships.
Episode Reference Links:
Connect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:01:26) Personal Motivation
David Brooks shares insights into his journey and the motivation behind his latest book.
(00:04:01) Barriers to Connection
Common barriers to connection including egotism, anxiety, worldview, and lack of questioning.
(00:04:43) The Stages of Empathy
David Brooks breaks down empathy into components such as mirroring, mentalizing, and caring, and recognizing your own emotion
(00:07:40) Keys to Meaningful Conversation
Attention as an on-off switch, loud listening, avoiding topping responses, embracing pauses, and making people authors
(00:11:22) Understanding Illuminators and Diminishers
Illuminators are those who make you feel seen and valued through curiosity and active listening and suggestions and suggestions on how to be a better illuminator and conversationalist.
(00:14:01) How to Be a Better Public Speaker
The importance of vulnerability, humor, and storytelling.
(00:16:25) Paradigmatic vs. Narrative Modes of Thinking
Jerome Bruner's concept of paradigmatic for writing and convincing, Narrative mode for understanding a fellow human being.
(00:18:02) David Brooks' Journey
Becoming a journalist, inspired by childhood reading and early experiences as a police reporter & admiration for Oprah Winfrey as an admirable listener.
(00:19:52) Ingredients for Successful Communication
David Brooks outlines his three essential ingredients for effective communication: depth of passion, vulnerability, and clarity.
(00:22:27) Conclusion
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128. Four Powerful Principles, Pt 2: Your Questions Answered
Matt takes live questions from his worldwide audience.
Join Matt Abrahams engaging with his international audience and answering questions that touch upon some of today's most pressing communication challenges. Matt offers advice on everything from the nuances of crafting clear, impactful questions and navigating emotional dynamics in group settings to maintaining control during presentations and delivering difficult news.
Additionally, listeners are treated to innovative strategies for creating memorable introductions and managing disruptive behaviors in group discussions. This episode, taken from a Think Fast Talk Smart live event, offers practical tips and strategies; its a value add for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills in personal and professional contexts.
Episode Reference Links:
Ep 67, What Is Normal? How Culture Affects Communication Styles - Website / YouTubeEp 105, Radical Candor: The Communication Shift That Can Transform Your Career - Website / YouTubeEp 78, Three Guiding Principles for Successful Communication - Website / YouTubeConnect:
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction and Overview of Part Two
(00:01:11) Formulating Relevant Questions
Crafting relevant questions in high-pressure situations. Matt outlines a three-step process for developing concise questions that address the key issues, and provide the person answering with a hook.
(00:03:14) Managing Emotional Discussions
How to handle a group discussion that gets emotional reactions by acknowledging emotions and using paraphrasing to refocus the conversation.
(00:05:32) Navigating An Audience Hijacking Your Presentation
Set clear boundaries and expectations at the beginning of the presentation, along with effective paraphrasing.
(00:08:25) Communication Structures for Delivering Difficult Messages
How to employ the "What, So What, Now What" or the ?Comparison, Contrast, Conclusion? structures when giving difficult news, or feedback.
(00:10:25) Effective Cross-Cultural Communication
When communicating effectively in a multinational company, Matt emphasizes empathy, repetition, and deep listening.
(00:12:51) How to Get Creative With Our Introductions
Matt suggests starting with a provocative statement and then your name, in order to set an expectation for who we are and what's important to us.
(00:14:51) Handling a Difficult or Challenging Person in Groups
Matt recommends constructive feedback and the strategic use of paraphrasing to manage disruptions.
(00:17:13) Conclusion
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