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.
Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast (A Sound Bite!)
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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
125. Making Meetings Meaningful, Pt. 2: Key Ingredients for Effective Meetings
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.Connect:Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page & InstagramMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & TwitterChapters:(00:00) IntroductionPart two of the making meetings meaningful series, with guest Elise Keith(01:31) Why & How to Have MeetingsThe power of meetings for focusing attention and how to know when to conduct them virtually or in person. (03:26) Meeting CategoriesElise breaks down the three major categories of meetings: Cadence, Catalyst, and Learn & Influence.(05:19) Purpose and OutcomeThe two things to know before scheduling a meeting: the purpose and outcomes - and how to communicate those practically(09:30) Knowing When Not to MeetWhen a meeting may not be the most effective way to achieve goals; ensuring respect for participants' time.(11:15) The Art of FacilitationPractical tips for engaging participants, and setting expectations for active participation. (15:29) Tools for Creating Equity and & CooperationThink-Pair-Share, or 1-2-All, and harnessing silence to encourage equal participation and leveling of the meeting.(16:49) Maximizing Meeting Productivity Parallel processing for dividing work efficiently while keeping the team united. Plus, emphasizing achieving results in business meetings.(18:30) Meeting Best PracticesA lightning-round of best practices for addressing common meeting challenges.(20:50) Final QuestionsA communicator most admired by Elise, as well as her three ingredients for successful communication(22:34) ConclusionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
124. Making Meetings Meaningful, Pt. 1: How to Structure and Organize More Effective Gatherings
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:Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page & InstagramMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & TwitterChapters:(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.(01:30) Why People Hate Meetings Reasons behind the dislike for meetings, focusing on habits and societal norms and the issues that create ineffective meetings.(04:19) Participation EquityStrategies for validating all forms of participation, especially in virtual and hybrid meetings.(06:23) Meeting Structures and Strategically Ordering TopicsHow to strategically best order tasks for a meeting adapting to the team's readiness.(08:50) 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.(11:27) Virtual Presence Tips Tips to have the best virtual presence from Karin, including eye contact, framing, lighting, and audio(16:05) How to Combat Counterproductive Meeting BehaviorJoe 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. (20:15) 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.(23:22) The ABCs of Communication Karin Reed shares the first three ingredients for a successful communication recipe: Authenticity, Brevity, and Clarity.(24:30) ConclusionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
123. Best Of: Why Curiosity Is Communication’s Secret Weapon
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 QuestioningSchifrin'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:Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page & InstagramMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
122. How To Be More Confident and Calm in Your Communication: Managing the "ABC’s" of Communication Anxiety
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.Connect with TFTS:Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page & InstagramMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
121. Building trust and connection: How to lead with vulnerability
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 & TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
120. A Few of Matt’s Favorite Things: 10 Communication Takeaways from 2023's TFTS Episodes
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 114Connect:Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page & InstagramMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
119. Best Of: How to Embrace the Benefits of Stress
“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:Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page & InstagramMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & TwitterAttend the Think Fast, Talk Smart Live Event December 13, 2023 --> Sign up at FasterSmarter.ioSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
118. Maximizing your Personal Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You Want
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.Attend the Think Fast, Talk Smart Live Event December 13th --> Sign up at FasterSmarter.ioSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
117. Say It, See It: How to Connect Through Conversation
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 resourcesFor a full transcript of this conversation, visit our website. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
116. Quick Thinks: Don't Sweat the Small Talk
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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Best of: How We Set and Achieve Goals
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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Communication Means Paying Attention: The Four Pillars of Active Listening
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 TEDJulian Treasure on LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Missing Something? How to Kick FOMO with Conscious Decision-Making
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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
From Mistakes to "Missed Takes"
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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.