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.

We are nominated for a prized Webby award. We'd really appreciate you voting for us at: fastersmarter.io/webby Voting ends on April 18th.

Episode Reference Links:

Graham Weaver: WebsiteLast Lecture Series: How to Live an Asymmetric Life (Link to Graham?s Last Lecture)H. Irving Grousbeck (Stanford profile of Graham?s mentor and communicator he most admires)Ep.82 - It?s Not About You: Why Effective Communicators Put Others First YouTube / Website Ep.118 - Maximizing Your Personal Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You Want YouTube / Website

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

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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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.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.

Episode Reference Links:

Dana Carney: WebsiteEp.12 - It?s Not What You Say, It?s How You Say It: How to Communicate Power Website / YouTube Ep.16 - How to Craft Your Body Language When Confronting Objections Website / YouTube 

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(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

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

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.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.

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 / YouTube

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(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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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.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.

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 / Website

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(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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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.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.

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 - Keep ?Em Coming: Why Your First Ideas Aren?t Always the Best: YouTube / Website Ep.77 - Quick Thinks: AI Has Entered the Chat: YouTube / Website Communicators Kian admires:Peggy Noonan + Declarations at The Wall Street Journal Sam Horn + Tongue Fu!: How to Deflect, Disarm, and Defuse Any Verbal Conflict

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction to Utley & Gohar

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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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:

Charles Duhigg: WebsiteCharles Duhigg: BooksDuhigg?s New Yorker articleThalia Wheatley?s research study: The Repurposed Social Brain Nicholas Epley?s research paper: Overly Shallow?: Miscalibrated Expectations Create a Barrier to Deeper ConversationAlison Wood Brooks? research paper: The Conversational Circumplex: Identifying, Prioritizing, and Pursuing Informational and Relational Motives in ConversationMichael Yeomans? research paper: It Helps to Ask: The Cumulative Benefits of Asking Follow-Up QuestionsSheila Heen?s research project: Harvard Negotiation ProjectEp.92 - No Regrets: How to Take Risks: YouTube / Website Ep.82 - It?s Not About You: Why Effective Communicators Put Others First: YouTube / Website Ep.103 - Simple is a Superpower: How to Communicate Any Idea to an Audience: YouTube / Website

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(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.

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

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:

Amy Edmondson: WebsiteAmy?s Books: The Fearless Organization & Right Kind of Wrong Amy?s paper with Ingrid Nembhard: Making it Safe: The Effects of Leader Inclusiveness Amy?s admired communicator Nicolai Tangen?s podcast: In Good CompanyEp.26 - Words Matter: How to Make Your Communication Inclusive: Website / YouTubeEp.112 - From Mistakes to ?Missed Takes? : Youtube 

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(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.

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

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:

Huggy Rao: Website Huggy?s Books: The Friction Project, Scaling Up Excellence, & Market Rebels Huggy?s Successful Communication Recipe - ?Ah! Aha! Haha!? by Ramji Raghavan Ep.14: Be Better at Work: How to Communicate Better with Coworkers and Employees: Website / YouTube

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(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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?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.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.

Episode Reference Links:

Jeffrey Pfeffer's podcast: Pfeffer on PowerJeffrey Pfeffer's books: Dying for a Paycheck & Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don'tStanford GSB Online Course: Discover the Paths to PowerEp 12, Deb Grunfeld: YouTube / WebsiteEp 44, Melissa Jones Briggs: YouTube / Website

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(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 and Appreciation

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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:

Full list of David Brooks booksBryan StevensonGeorge OrwellC.S. Lewis Oprah Winfrey VideoEp 64, Carissa Carter: YouTube / WebsiteEp 101, Geoffrey Cohen: YouTube / Website

Connect:

Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(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) Closing

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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.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Episode Links:

Cross Cultural Communication with Michele J Gelfand - Ep 67, What Is Normal? How Culture Affects Communication Styles - Website / YouTubeConstructive Feedback with with Kim Scott - Ep 105, Radical Candor: The Communication Shift That Can Transform Your Career - Website / YouTubePrevious Ask Me Anything Live Episode - Ep 78, Three Guiding Principles for Successful Communication - Website / YouTube

Connect:

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Chapters:

(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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Matt takes live questions from his worldwide audience and shares a lesson around concision, relevance, accessibly, and precision in messaging. In this "masterclass," he emphasizes the communicator's role as a translator who simplifies complex information for diverse audiences.

Key takeaways include the careful use of analogies, considering cultural backgrounds and audience understanding, and providing techniques for chunking information into understandable segments. Additionally, the episode delves into the significance of structuring communication to achieve specific goals, highlighting Matt?s structure 'What? So What? Now What?. This episode is packed with practical advice and strategies for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills, whether in professional or personal contexts.

Be sure to tune in to Part 2, the ?Ask Me Anything? portion of this recorded event.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction and Global Participation 

Jenny & Matt introduce the live episode.

(00:01:09) Challenges of Communication 

Matt emphasizes the challenges in maintaining focus and clarity in a world filled with distractions and uses the iPod messaging as an example of focused communication.

(00:02:46) Concision 

Matt shares insights, examples, and practical techniques on using minimal words for maximum impact.

(00:06:47) Relevance

The importance of thinking about who our audience is, their needs, and how to use emotion, engagement, time-travelling phrases, and curiosity.

(00:10:36) Accessibility 

How do we make our content understandable to our audience? Matt explains that communicators are translators, and suggests techniques such as language, analogies, chunking, and providing diagrams

(00:15:50) Precision

Making sure we have a clear goal for our communication and the three components of a clear goal: information, emotion, and action.

(00:17:20) The importance of Structure for Precision

Exploring various structures for targeted communication, including insights from the Dummies book series, Matt?s favorite communication structure: 'What? So What? Now What?', and thinking about how we start and finish. 

(00:21:38) Closing 

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If we want to generate better ideas, then we need to get people back to the office.

In this bonus meetings mini-series episode, we feature an episode from the newest podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business ? If/Then: Business, Leadership, Society. In this conversation with senior editor Kevin Cool, Professor of Marketing and former TFTS guest Jonathan Levav details his study of remote work and creativity. ?Pairs that worked face-to-face generated 15 to 20% more ideas than pairs that worked on Zoom,? Levav notes. What?s more, in-person brainstorming helped people consider a wider and more diverse range of possibilities. ?Working on Zoom was a double penalty. Fewer ideas ? and a narrower set of ideas.?

Remote work may be the new normal in our post-pandemic world, but Levav cautions us from accepting the status quo ? especially if we want to keep our creative edge. As this episode of If/Then explores, our best ideas could still lie ahead of us ? if we can all get in the same room.

If/Then is a podcast from the Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.   

Key Takeaways: 

For hybrid work environments, managers should select ?in-office? days based on tasks we perform better in person, such as collaboration and brainstorming.

More flexible schedules for remote and office work allow employees to bring their best selves and perform better at their jobs.  

More Resources: 

Listen to Jonathan Levav?s Webby-Award winning TFTS episode: "88. Best of: Leading From Home ? How to Create the Right Environment for Communication."

Be sure to also listen to Part 1 and 2 of our Making Meeting Matter mini-series.

Connect:

Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website

Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io

Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page & Instagram

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction 

Matt introduces the If/Then podcast, and the episode featuring Jonathan Levav, previous Think Fast Talk Smart guest.

(00:01:15) The Importance of In-Person Collaboration

If/Then host Kevin Cool and Will Tracy, former executive producer of Succession, on his experiences with writers rooms and why virtual meetings don?t work in that context.

(00:04:34) Introduction to Research on Virtual Collaboration

Kevin introduces guest Jonathan Levav, his research on the effects of communicating on video on creative idea generation. Jonathan shares the conversation that was the genesis of the research.

(00:05:32) Research findings

The study methods used and results: face-to-face collaboration leads to 15-20% more creative ideas than collaboration over Zoom.

(00:08:26) Understanding the Difference 

People?s responses to the study and the impact of a physical experience

(00:11:54) Evaluating Task Types for Meeting Type

Determining different modalities for tasks in order to determine the best environment for that work, and why some work best in certain contexts.

(00:16:42) Return to the Office

As companies are encouraging employees to return to the office for a third day, the tension between employers and employees desires and how to add appeal as well as the lack of systemic study for data-base decision making.

(00:20:30) Advice for Managers of Remote Workers

The need for conscious change to adapt to the remote work experience, and Jonathan?s personal experience doing this teaching. 

(00:24:31) Choice Architecture

The importance of incentivizing workers to return to the office by making workplace culture recognize and meet employee needs.

(00:29:43) Jonathan Levav's Career and Next Research Steps

How Jonathan came to be in his field and his interest in studying networking and the way that virtual interactions shape relationship dynamics.

(00:32:59) Conclusion

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Whether you?re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life. Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he sits down with experts in the field to discuss real-world communication challenges.

How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I give better feedback? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I manage my reputation? How do I manage my anxiety in any speaking situation?  

Think Fast, Talk Smart provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help you communicate more effectively.

Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast is a production of Stanford Graduate School of Business. To find more podcasts from Stanford GSB, visit our website.

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How can we make meetings more effective? How can we keep people engaged and interested? Whether it?s in person or on Zoom, here are a few techniques you can use to make your gatherings more meaningful, productive, and memorable.

Get practical tools and actionable insights to actually make meetings matter, as well as knowing when NOT to have a meeting. Join Matt Abrahams in a dynamic conversation with Elise Keith, an expert on effective meetings and communication. Elise explains the three main categories of meetings, and shares practical strategies for engaging participants, handling common meeting issues and maximizing productivity through techniques like parallel processing as well as other tools.

Be sure to also listen to Part 1 of our meeting mini-series, as well as the following bonus Meeting's episode from the Stanford GSB's If/Then podcast.

Connect:

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Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

Part two of the making meetings meaningful series, with guest Elise Keith

(02:01) Why & How to Have Meetings

The power of meetings for focusing attention and how to know when to conduct them virtually or in person. 

(03:56) Meeting Categories

Elise breaks down the three major categories of meetings: Cadence, Catalyst, and Learn & Influence.

(05:49) Purpose and Outcome

The two things to know before scheduling a meeting: the purpose and outcomes - and how to communicate those practically

(10:00) Knowing When Not to Meet

When a meeting may not be the most effective way to achieve goals; ensuring respect for participants' time.

(11:45) The Art of Facilitation

Practical tips for engaging participants, and setting expectations for active participation. 

(15:59) Tools for Creating Equity and & Cooperation

Think-Pair-Share, or 1-2-All, and harnessing silence to encourage equal participation and leveling of the meeting.

(17:19) Maximizing Meeting Productivity 

Parallel processing for dividing work efficiently while keeping the team united. Plus, emphasizing achieving results in business meetings.

(19:01) Meeting Best Practices

A lightning-round of best practices for addressing common meeting challenges.

(21:20) Final Questions

A communicator most admired by Elise, as well as her three ingredients for successful communication

(23:04) Conclusion

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Delve into why people hate meetings, explore what hinders their effectiveness, and how to change that. Karin Reed (Emmy Award winner) and Joe Allen (?The Meeting Doctor?) join Matt Abrahams in the first of a two-part series that aims to reshape your approach to meetings and help you make them effective and meaningful, whether in person, virtual or hybrid. 

They shed light on the constraints hindering effective meetings, and explore strategies for optimizing meetings, emphasizing the importance of right-sizing meetings and focusing on realistic agendas. Karin provides valuable tips for enhancing on-air presence, focusing on aspects like eye contact, lighting, and framing, while Joe tackles the challenges of managing disruptive behaviors in virtual meetings. Don't miss this insightful exploration into the world of how to make meetings better.

Connect:

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Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction 

Host Matt Abrahams sets the stage for the two-episode series on meaningful meetings and introduces guests Karin Reed and Joe Allen.

(02:02) Why People Hate Meetings 

Reasons behind the dislike for meetings, focusing on habits and societal norms and the issues that create ineffective meetings.

(04:49) Participation Equity

Strategies for validating all forms of participation, especially in virtual and hybrid meetings.

(06:53) Meeting Structures and Strategically Ordering Topics

How to strategically best order tasks for a meeting adapting to the team's readiness.

(09:21) Best Practices for Virtual and Hybrid Meetings

The importance of being & feeling seen and heard in virtual and hybrid meetings, strategies to work against proximity bias.

(11:57) Virtual Presence Tips 

Tips to have the best virtual presence from Karin, including eye contact, framing, lighting, and audio

(16:35) How to Combat Counterproductive Meeting Behavior

Joe explains different types of behaviours that derail meetings and how procedural communication can be used as a strategy to address them, and the possible outcomes of implementing this. 

(20:45) Final Thoughts on Effective Meetings 

Karin & Joe each give their one big tip for effective meetings, Karin shares the importances of injecting humanity and friendship, and Joe shares his communication mentor.

(23:52) The ABCs of Communication 

Karin Reed shares the first three ingredients for a successful communication recipe: Authenticity, Brevity, and Clarity.

(25:01) Conclusion

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The information you receive is only as strong as the questions you ask.

This week we revisit Matt's discussion with Debra Schifrin about how to craft inquiries that can lead to better communication outcomes. Questions are also instrumental in building relationships, Schifrin points out. ?If you?re asking questions, you?re signaling to the other person that you value them. You?re taking time to listen to their answers.?

For a full transcript of this conversation, visit our website.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to the Episode and Guest

(01:47) The Role and Importance of Questions

Debra Schifrin discusses the various goals and purposes of asking questions, such as getting information and building relationships.

(02:36) Questions in Building Relationships and Coaching

Focus on how questions help in building relationships and their use in coaching and mentoring.

(04:41) Negative Aspects of Question Asking

Discussion about the darker goals of asking questions, like intimidation or avoiding responsibility.

(06:57) The Impact of Tone in Question Asking

Examination of how tone can significantly alter the perception and effectiveness of questions.

(08:19) Creating Effective Questions

Strategies for formulating good questions, emphasizing the use of value-related words.

(10:10) Advice for Business Leaders on Question Asking

Guidance for leaders on the importance of bravery in asking questions and being open to unexpected answers.

(11:53) Context and Best Practices in Question Asking

The relevance of context in questioning and best practices rooted in a mindset of curiosity.

(15:25) Debra Schifrin's Secret Weapon in Questioning

Schifrin's "killer last question" technique and its effectiveness in eliciting insightful responses.

(17:19) Experiment with Different Questioning Styles

An experiment demonstrating the impact of different ways of asking questions on the responses received.

(19:00) Wrap-up and Final Questions

Concluding part where Matt asks Debra Schifrin his three standard questions for all podcast guests, focusing on communication advice, admired communicators, and successful communication ingredients.

Connect:

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Research-backed techniques on how to beat nervousness in the moment.

In this episode, Matt uses clips from experts from previous TFTS episodes to provide you with several communication anxiety management techniques to help you feel more comfortable and confident when you communicate. And as a guide to help us learn these techniques, he introduces the ABCs of anxiety management.

(00:00) Intro: the ABC's of anxiety management

(02:23) Christian Wheeler: Get comfortable being uncomfortable 

(03:38) Kelly McGonigal: Anxiety is a sign you care

(04:50) Andrew Huberman: Using breath to help quell anxiety 

(06:51) Jeffrey Pfeffer: Warming up right before a communication challenge 

(08:22) Alia Crum: Understanding that stress can be good for us

(10:12) Alison Wood Brooks: Reframing our mindset

(12:01) Anxiety Management Plan: Matt shares instructions on how to make your own ?AMP? so you can communicate at your best.

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We have to be vulnerable in order to build trust in our relationships. But as Jacob Morgan says, ?Vulnerability for leaders is not the same as it is for everybody else.?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Morgan shares with host Matt Abrahams his ?vulnerable leadership equation? and how leaders can use it to transform the way they interact with others ? creating more trust, unlocking people?s potential, and building successful teams and organizations.

As Morgan explains, owning up to your mistakes and struggles might make you vulnerable, but it doesn?t necessarily make you a leader. In his latest book, Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization, Morgan lays out why leading with vulnerability goes a step further, saying, ?Here's what I learned from the mistake that I made [and] steps that I'm going to put into place to make sure this doesn't happen again.?

Connect:

Jacob Morgan Book >>> Leading with VulnerabilityEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page & InstagramMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

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Matt reflects on all the advice we've heard this season and shares the top 10 takeaways that he?s applying to his own communication:

(00:00) Matt's Introduction

(00:42) Jonah Berger: episode 80

(02:09) Rachel Greenwald: episode 89

(03:44) Dan Pink: episode 92

(04:53) Vanessa Patrick: episode 95

(06:55) Carmine Gallo: episode 103

(07:43) Katie Milkman: episode 104

(09:12) Kim Scott: episode 105

(10:32) Francis Frei: episode 109

(11:40) Patrick McGinnis: episode 113

(13:14) Julian Treasure: episode 114

Connect:

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?Stress is natural,? says Alia Crum, an assistant professor of psychology at Stanford. ?Stress is inevitable when you?re living a life that?s connected with things you care about. And learning how to embrace it, learning how to work with it is really what helps us thrive and grow and perform at our highest level.?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, lecturer and podcast host Matt Abrahams talks with Crum about her work as the principal investigator at the Stanford Mind & Body Lab, where she is studying how people can benefit from stress. ?There?s a whole side of stress that shows that it can have enhancing qualities on our cognitive functioning, our physical health, and on how we behave and interact with others,? she says.

For a full transcript of this conversation, visit our website.

Connect:

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Attend the Think Fast, Talk Smart Live Event December 13, 2023 --> Sign up at FasterSmarter.io

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What comes to people?s minds when they think about you, and can you control it? Dorie Clark says you can ? with the power of your personal brand.

According to Clark, ?You have brand equity in your own life.? Your personal brand or reputation, she says, ?makes things either easier or harder for you? as you pursue your personal and professional goals. The key question, she says, is ?What kind of reputation have you built up?? By taking stock of the personal brand you have, you can redefine it to align with who you are and where you want to go.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Clark and host Matt Abrahams discuss the power of personal branding, being more strategic in how we communicate about ourselves, and how we can shape the narrative of our lives, personally and professionally.

For a full transcript of this conversation, visit our website.

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Communication is about so much more than sharing words. As neuroscientist Shane O?Mara explains, communication is about sharing reality.

According to O?Mara, ?A conversation is where we create a shared reality together.? As a professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College Dublin, his research has focused on how human brains sync up through communication. ?The essence is that we are creating a shared reality where we come to share the same states of emotion, the same states of memory, and we come to think about the future together in a new way.?

On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, O?Mara joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss how language, memory, and imagination play into communication, and how we can use active listening, turn-taking, and mentalizing to create a shared reality together.

More resources

For a full transcript of this conversation, visit our website.

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Even if you don?t think you?re a natural, anyone can become proficient at the art of small talk by utilizing the right tactics and behaviors. In this collaboration with Harvard Business Review, strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams shares his tips and techniques for cocktail party chit chat, networking small talk, and holiday dinner-table conversation.

Watch the full video on HBR's YouTube channel.

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Why do we do what we do? What factors drive us? And how do things like competition with others help us achieve our goals?

These are the questions most interesting to Szu-chi Huang, an associate professor of marketing with a specific interest in motivation. ?Competition definitely increases motivation,? says Huang. ?It makes attaining the goal more valuable.?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Huang and host Matt Abrahams explore the intersection of human psychology, behavior, and goal attainment ? and how communication connects them all.

For a full transcript, visit this episode's webpage.

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We should all be audience-centric in communication. But, as Julian Treasure contests, we need to take it one step further. What is the listening I am speaking into?, he says, is the question every speaker should ask themselves over and over.

"Every human being?s listening is unique ... we listen through a set of filters and those filters develop as we grow and mature in life and we have experiences. Knowing where the person is coming from, you'll be able to sense their listening."

Treasure, an expert on speaking and sound, also offers advice on the breathing techniques that can transform one's speech. "If you want to speak powerfully, develop a breathing practice. And that can be as simple as conscious breathing, which is breathing in through the nose, out through the mouth."

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Treasure and host Matt Abrahams explore the power of breath; the four steps to show someone we're engaged and listening; and how by framing speech as a gift, we can better serve our audience. 

Treasure is the author of Sound Business. His most recent book, How to be Heard: Secrets for Powerful Speaking and Listening, is based on his TED Talk. For a full transcript of this episode, visit our podcast webpage.

More resources:

Julian Treasure on TED

Julian Treasure on LinkedIn

Julian on Substack

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What if you had that job? What if you were with that person? What if there?s a better option out there? If you find yourself asking these questions, Patrick McGinnis invented the term for what you?re experiencing: FOMO.

First coined by McGinnis in a piece published by the Harvard Business School newspaper, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) describes the anxiety we feel when thinking that other people are having more fun and living more fulfilling lives than we are. As McGinnis says, ?We are constantly comparing ourselves to other people. We are seeing the options that are out there. And then we're saying, what I'm doing right now isn't good enough. I am missing out on something.?

Both in his book, Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice, and in this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McGinnis explains how conscious decision-making can help us feel more sure of our choices and experience less anxiety about the options we pass up.

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This episode we're sharing an excerpt from Matt Abrahams's audiobook, Think Faster, Talk Smarter. Listen in as Matt explains how to think like a movie director, where a mistake isn't a grave error, but rather a "missed takes" and an opportunity to try again with a new approach.

*This audio excerpt is courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from THINK FASTER, TALK SMARTER by Matt Abrahams, read by the author. Copyright 

 2023 by Matthew Abrahams LLC. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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?Sparking communication starts with asking why or what or how.?

On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Tina Seelig, the Professor of the Practice at Stanford?s department of management science and engineering and the executive director of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, chats with host and lecturer Matt Abrahams about the importance of asking questions about everything we do.

?Having a mindset of curiosity opens the door to great communication,? Seelig says. ?The more questions you ask, the more you learn, the more engaged you will be with others.?

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website.

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Whatever you?re writing, Todd Rogers says most people are too busy to read it. That?s why, he says, ?you want to make it as easy as possible for them."

Rogers is a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the author of the book Writing for Busy Readers: Communicate More Effectively in the Real World. From text messages to fundraising letters to political speeches, Rogers says effective writing makes it ?easy for busy readers to navigate what we send them, pull out the key information, and do what they are planning to do anyway, which is move on to the next thing.? This kind of writing, Rogers says, is ?more effective for us, and kinder to readers.?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Rogers and host Matt Abrahams explore how to use structure, simplicity, and everyday vocabulary to write in a way that saves readers time and transmits ideas more effectively.

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You said it. But did they hear it? For Frances Frei, communication is about saying things simply enough for an audience to truly understand.

As a professor of technology and operations management at Harvard Business School, Frei knows that shaping culture within organizations requires communicating in ways that influence how people think and act. The problem for many leaders, she says, is that when we ?understand something deeply, we describe it in a complicated way. If you want broad influence and persuasion, we have to understand it really deeply. And then describe it in a simple and compelling enough way that others can take action.?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Frei and host Matt Abrahams explore strategies for simpler communication, building and maintaining trust, and celebrating diverse perspectives within our teams. They also discuss takeaways from Frei's latest book, Move Fast and Fix Things: The Trusted Leaders' Guide to Solving Hard Problems.

More resources:

For a transcript of this episode, visit our website.

Move Fast and Fix Things: The Trusted Leaders' Guide to Solving Hard Problems

Fixable, a podcast with Anne Francis and Frances Frei

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If you?re reading from your notes, you?re going to miss the magic of the moment. That?s why Adam Tobin, Dan Klein, and Patricia Ryan Madsen bring improv techniques to all their communication.

Communication experts in their respective fields of media, performance, and drama, Tobin, Klein, and Madsen all see the immense power of improv in helping us communicate more freely. As Tobin says, ?You do the preparation so that you are expert in the material. And then you let go of the specific delivery of the information in favor of being aware of what's going on now.? Madsen agrees, explaining that we don?t need all the answers, we just need to show up. ?Step first,? she says, ?then see where you are.?

In this celebration of the 100th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, the three guests join host Matt Abrahams to discuss how improv can transform our communication in everything from small talk to work presentations, and help us create space where we feel safe enough to show up as our most authentic selves.

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In this episode, executive producer Jenny Luna interviews host and strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams about the tips and tools in his new book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot

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In January of 2020 we launched Think Fast Talk Smart with the goal of helping people improve their communication skills. Now, with more than 100 episodes and an engaged audience tuning in from more than 200 countries, we're proud to take you back to the very first episode, where the magic began.

As we've discussed multiple times on the show, most professional communication is spontaneous in nature. It?s providing feedback in the moment, answering questions, introducing people. On this inaugural episode, Strategic Communication lecturer Matt Abrahams speaks with Stanford lecturers Adam Tobin and Dan Klein on how to become more comfortable and confident in in-the-moment speaking situations. 

For a full transcript of this episode, visit the podcast webpage. You can also find this podcast on YouTube.

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Moving forward in our careers often means giving and receiving feedback. But how candid can we be in communicating with others? For Kim Scott, anything less than radical just isn?t enough.

An executive, speaker, author, and executive coach, Scott is known for her concept of radical candor, which she defines as ?caring personally and challenging directly at the same time." By mapping communication onto the axes of caring and challenging, she derives four quadrants of feedback behavior: radical candor, obnoxious aggression, manipulative insincerity, and ruinous empathy.

In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Scott shares how we can all move our communication into the radical candor quadrant, ?to learn what we don't know and to help other people learn what they don't know.?

More Resources

Kim Scott, personal website and on LinkedIn

The Radical Candor podcast

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"We're wired to look for the path of least resistance and efficiency, and that's normally a good thing, but it can get in the way when we want to make a change," says Wharton professor Katy Milkman. Through her research on decision making and in her recent book How to Change the Science of Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want To Be, Milkman examines the many barriers we create for ourselves when it comes to achieving goals.

"Who you surround yourself [is important] with because we have a tendency to conform to the people around us," she says. "And if we are surrounded by people who show us our limitations, that can be a barrier."

On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast, host Matt Abrahams sits down with Milkman to further explore her research into human behavior and decision making, motivation, and tools we can use to make real change. 

More resources

For a full transcript, visit this episode's webpage.

Bob Cialdini, "Change My Mind: Using ?Pre-suasion? to Influence Others"

Szu-Chi Huang, "From Dreaming to Doing: How We Set and Achieve Goals"

Jonah Berger, "Magic Words: Change What You Say to Inspire and Influence Others"

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The best communicators express ideas simply. And to do that, says Carmine Gallo, ?you have to connect with people in a language they understand.?

Gallo is an author, communication coach, and lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. For him, the cornerstone of good communication is empathizing with an audience enough to truly speak their language. ?Think about the audience first,? he says. ?If you cannot speak the same language to different stakeholders and adapt the language for those different stakeholders, you?ll never get anything done.?

On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Gallo and host Matt Abrahams discuss how we can simplify our language and weave relevant stories to translate and tailor our communication for our audience.

For a full transcript of this episode visit the podcast's website.

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What does it take to have a presence that?s felt by those around us? According to Muriel Wilkins, the answer is simple: Be present.

?Having presence, at the root of it, [is] your ability to be present,? says Wilkins, a C-suite advisor, executive coach, and host of the HBR podcast, Coaching Real Leaders. Working with some of the business world?s top brass, Wilkins helps leaders discover how they can use presence to communicate more effectively, lead more authentically, and create more impact in their organizations.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wilkins and host Matt Abrahams explore communication strategies that leaders and individuals can use to improve their presence and show up more authentically to work and life.

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When it comes to emotional and physical wellbeing, Psychology professor Geoffrey Cohen says there is one healthy behavior that outweighs the others: authentic connection. ?It is really, really important,? he says. 

Deep connections with other people are foundational to a happy and healthy life. As Cohen explores in his new book, Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides, achieving a sense of belonging isn?t just a nice-to-have ? it?s essential. ?That sense of connection is so woven into our DNA that if we don't have it, we suffer,? he says. ?Not having that sense of connection with other people does great biological damage and seems to be one of the major contributors to disease and mortality."

As Cohen and host Matt Abrahams explore in this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, effective communication is the tool we need to build strong connections with others and enjoy a deep sense of belonging.

More resources

For a full transcript of this interview, visit the episode web page.

@15min, Matt mentions an episode with Robert Cialdini.

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What does it take to be a more effective communicator? According to Dan Lyons, it starts with knowing when to shut your mouth.

As a journalist, author, and screenwriter, Lyons knows a thing or two about wielding words. But as he reveals in his book, STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World, most of us talk too much and listen too little. ?A great conversation is about listening. And it probably involves you talking less,? he says.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Lyons and host Matt Abrahams explore how to stop over-talking, emphasizing the value of active listening, asking good questions, and giving others space to speak.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit our website.

More Resources

https://www.linkedin.com/in/realdanlyons/

https://www.amazon.com/STFU-Power-Keeping-Mouth-Talking-ebook/dp/B09X427GK8

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Being a better listener has a lot to do with silence, says Collins Dobbs, a lecturer in management at Stanford Graduate School of Business. ?A lot of people are uncomfortable with the smallest modicum of silence, but learning often happens when we create distance for useful reflection.?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Dobbs talks with host Matt Abrahams about the importance of ?space, pace, and grace? when you?re receiving others? feedback and handling the emotions that come out during tough discussions.

?There?s often a lot more focus on the skill set on delivering emotion than receiving emotion, but if the receiver of emotion can put themselves in a place of curiosity, agency, and openness ? it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.?

Dobbs is an executive coach and teaches several courses, including Interpersonal Dynamics and Leadership Labs. For a full transcript of the interview, visit this episode's web page.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.

More Resources

Building Successful Relationships: How to Effectively Communicate in Your Professional and Personal Life

How to Build Better Relationships

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 How do we deal with professional blind spots? According to David Dodson, MBA ?87, we need the panoramic perspective of those who work around us.

?360 reviews, done properly, are a massive competitive weapon,? says Dodson, also a lecturer in management at Stanford GSB and author of the new book, The Manager?s Handbook. Such comprehensive and constructive feedback, he says, can be transformational for employees and managers alike. ?The first time I did a 360 review and got feedback was a massive turning point in my development as a manager,? he says. ?Had I not had 360 feedback, I probably would have gone a decade or more with ineffective technique.?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Dodson shares valuable insights and actionable advice for individuals in leadership and management roles, highlighting the importance of effective communication and feedback in achieving success.

For a full transcript of this interview, visit the episode web page.

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Communication is like a game. For it to work, each person has to trust that their partner will play by the rules. As Professor Anat Admati says, the same is true for corporations and their stakeholders.

?To have good governance, you need trust and accountability,? says Admati, a professor of finance and economics and the director of the Corporations and Society Initiative. How does a society ensure that markets, businesses, and governments are all on the same page? As Admati says, ?We need rules. I can commit to you that I won?t harm you because something bad will happen to me if I [do].?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Admati joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss how communication forms a bedrock of trust that can align markets, businesses, and governments ? for more accountable capitalism and a healthier society.

More resources

For a full transcript of this episode, visit our the podcast's website.

Anat Admati Anat Admati: The Economist Who Said ?The Bankers Have No Clothes?

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Why is a boat a ?she?? Why give names like Alexa or Siri to inanimate pieces of software? According to assistant professor of organizational behavior Ashley Martin, ascribing gender to everyday objects helps us to connect with them more deeply.

?Gender is this humanizing force that allows people to interact with non-human things as if they?re human,? says Martin, whose research focuses on gender equality, gender inclusion, and gender?s role within team and organizational dynamics. And while Martin is interested in how anthropomorphizing technology can benefit the humans who use it, she also notes how ?problematic stereotypes? could be perpetuated as a result.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Martin joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss how our ideas about gender inform the way we relate to the world and how we can leverage the latest research to promote greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

For a full transcript of this episode, visit the podcast episode's webpage.

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Saying no can seem risky. We worry about offending others, damaging relationships, or hurting our own reputation. But as Vanessa Patrick says, no is an empowering word that gives us greater agency in our lives.

Saying no ?is not a rejection of the other person,? says Patrick, a professor of Marketing at the University of Houston. Instead, it allows you to set boundaries and ?[give] voice to what you believe and what you care about.? In her book, The Power of Saying No, Patrick introduces what she calls ?empowered refusal,? a way of saying no that?s rooted in one?s identity, values, priorities, and preferences. ?An empowered no,? she says, ?is about us, not a rejection of the other person.?

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Patrick and host Matt Abrahams explore how to use the power of no, how to move from strategy forming to strategy implementation, and how to resist momentary pleasures that distract us from our larger goals.

More Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessapatrick23/

https://uh.edu/news-events/stories/2023/june-2023/05012023-patrick-empowered-no.php

For a full transcript of this episode visit: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/think-fast-talk-smart-podcast

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Breaking new ground, Think Fast, Talk Smart steps into the world of live events, bringing together an eager audience of LEAD students from Stanford University and a top-notch panel of former podcast guests: Jesper B. Sørensen, Sarah Soule, Jonathan Levav,and Szu-chi Huang. Topics include crafting strategy for successful leadership and tips on how to effectively lead a hybrid team.

This episode also features an interactive audience segment, where various participants of the Stanford LEAD program answer the three questions traditionally posed to guests.

To learn more about Stanford LEAD, the Graduate School of Business's online program for executive education, visit their grow.stanford.edu or take the self assessment.

To hear more from each of these Stanford GSB professors, find their episodes on the podcast.

Strategic Success: How to Communicate Your Gameplan

In this episode, Jesper Sørensen explores why organizational strategy can be both top-down and bottom-up.

From Dreaming to Doing: How We Set and Achieve Goals

In this episode, we speak with Szu-chi Huang about an essential ingredient of human behavior: motivation.

 Leading From Home: How to Create the Right Environment for Communication

In this podcast episode, Jonathan Levav discusses the importance of not just knowing what your audience needs to hear, but how they need to hear it.

Words Matter: How to Make Your Communication Inclusive

In this episode, Sarah Soule shares research that shows how subtle word choice can invite inclusion, or can reinforce harmful stereotypes.

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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, or ?Touchy Feely,? as it?s affectionately known on campus. In her work with students and as a CEO coach, she 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, 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.

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?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 speech writer and best-selling author Dan Pink. ?I think it's because we are slightly over-indexed on risk. We overstate the risk in many circumstances.? 

On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams sits down with Pink to hear how we should all take more risks and how leaders can inspire others by focusing on the why instead of the how. 

?There's almost incontrovertible evidence that sense of purpose is the most cost effective performance enhancer that organizations have,? Pink says.  

They also discuss the power in taking breaks, which Pink considers part of performance, not a deviation from it. ?What we know from many domains is that professionals take breaks. It's not that amateurs take breaks and the professionals don't, it's the exact opposite.? 

Pink?s latest book is The Power of Regret, How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward.

Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.

Show Notes

Dan Pink

https://hbr.org/2014/11/cooks-make-tastier-food-when-they-can-see-their-customers

Feelings First: How Emotion Shapes Our Communication, Decisions, and Experiences (episode with Baba Shiv)

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We?re often advised not to use ?um? or ?uh?, or ?so? and ?you know? in our communication. But linguist Valerie Fridland might argue otherwise. ?Language is about how we encode both the linguistic message and a social message,? she says. ?Crutch words ? are really valuable and they have arisen to serve a need.? 

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart: the podcast, Fridland sits down with host and strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams to discuss how and when we use "you know","so", and other filler words. For example, Fridland says, the way we use ?um? varies greatly from how and we might use ?uh.? And the use of ?like,? while deplored by many, actually serves a linguistic function and can provide context and background for a listener.

She and Matt also discuss the social linguistic function of vocal fry and whether emojis have a place in business communication. 

Fridland is a professor of sociolinguistics at the University of Nevada. She's an expert on the relationship between language and society and recently released a new book, Like Literally Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English.

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In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, lecturer and podcast host Matt Abrahams sits down with David Eagleman, a neuroscientist and the host of the PBS series The Brain, to discuss why our brains are wired for storytelling and how new senses might impact our connection and communication with others.

?I?ve always been really interested in this idea of how we can pass information to the brain via unusual channels,? Eagleman says. ?We?ve got our eyes or ears or fingertips and our nose, we?re very used to this and we sort of think these are fundamental, but of course, this is just what we?ve inherited from a long road of evolution ? It turns out you can push information in the brain in other ways.?

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