Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
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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 challenges. How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I write emails to get my point across? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I manage my reputation? Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life.Think Fast, Talk Smart provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help you communicate more effectively.

255. How Leaders Sound Smart Without Saying Too Much

January 13, 2026 0:23:36 4.0 MB ( 18.67 MB less) Downloads: 0

The keys to communicating clarity, not confusion.

What separates communicators who clarify from those who confuse? The ability to “Simplify complexity,” says Adam Bryant. “I don't think you can be an effective leader if you can't do that.”

Bryant is a senior managing director at the ExCo Group and former New York Times journalist who interviewed over 500 CEOs for his renowned Corner Office column. Through those conversations, he identified a pattern: the best communicators turn complexity into clarity. For Bryant, that means checking your own expertise, considering not whether something makes sense to you, but whether it makes sense to someone else. “Empathy [is] a component of communication,” he says, “to be an effective communicator, you have to be able to get in the head of the audience.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Bryant and host Matt Abrahams explore the keys to clear communication, from simplifying (without oversimplifying) to repeating messages until people can recite them back. Whether you’re leading a whole company or just one conversation, Bryant’s insights reveal how to communicate complex ideas in ways anyone can understand.

To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

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Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (01:10) - Traits of Successful Leaders
  • (03:25) - Communication Mistakes to Avoid
  • (07:22) - Listening as a Leadership Skill
  • (10:42) - Simplifying Complex Ideas
  • (14:18) - How to Capture Attention
  • (16:58) - Leading Life with Curiosity
  • (18:22) - The Final Three Question
  • (22:47) - Conclusion
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