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Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

Overview
Episodes

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One of the most essential ingredients to success in business and life is effective communication. Join Matt Abrahams, best-selling author and Strategic Communication lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he interviews experts to provide actionable insights that help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. From handling impromptu questions to crafting compelling messages, Matt explores practical strategies for real-world communication challenges. Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes presentation, perfecting your email tone, or speaking off the cuff, Think Fast, Talk Smart equips you with the tools, techniques, and best practices to express yourself effectively in any situation. Enhance your communication skills to elevate your career and build stronger professional relationships. Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes. Subscribe now to unlock your potential as a thoughtful, impactful communicator. Learn more and sign up for our eNewsletter at fastersmarter.io.

Recent Episodes

194. Live Lessons in Levity and Leadership: Me2We 2025 Part 1
APR 1, 2025
194. Live Lessons in Levity and Leadership: Me2We 2025 Part 1

Effective leadership begins with the way you communicate.

Leading with impact isn’t about speaking louder—it’s about communicating in ways that resonate with what people already value. In Part 1 of this special two-part series from the Stanford LEAD Me2We Conference, Matt Abrahams brings together four expert GSB faculty—Allison Kluger, Nir Halevy, Christian Wheeler, and Naomi Bagdonas—to explore how to lead and communicate with intention. They share how authenticity builds trust, why discomfort is essential for growth, how to design space for serendipity, and the role AI can play in expanding—not replacing—human potential. From managing reputation to staying present in high-pressure moments, this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart offers insights to help leaders connect more effectively, show up with purpose, and inspire meaningful action.

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Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (03:33) - Managing Reputation and Authentic Communication
  • (05:35) - Leadership Pluralism and Team Culture
  • (07:35) - Discomfort, Growth, and Distraction
  • (11:59) - Guiding Principles and the Serendipity Fund
  • (14:34) - Using AI in Teaching and Research
  • (21:55) - Fixing Hierarchies with CPR
  • (23:50) - Authenticity, Humor Styles, and Human Flourishing
  • (26:39) - Executive Presence and Owning the Room
  • (29:28) - Writing Better Titles and Facilitating Interactions
  • (31:21) - Conclusion

*****
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32 MIN
193. Conquer questions: ADDing Value To Your Answers
MAR 25, 2025
193. Conquer questions: ADDing Value To Your Answers

Turn Q&A from nerve-wracking to confidence-boosting with strategies for clear, controlled answers.

A great presentation doesn’t end with the final slide—it continues through the Q&A, where real engagement happens. Yet, for many speakers, this is the most nerve-wracking part. In this episode, Matt Abrahams explores why Q&A can feel intimidating and how shifting your mindset can turn it into an opportunity rather than a challenge. Drawing from his book, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out, he shares expert-backed techniques for structuring responses, managing audience expectations, and maintaining composure under pressure. Whether you're facing a tough crowd or just want to refine your speaking skills, you’ll walk away with the confidence to command the room—no matter the question.

Audio excerpt based on Speaking Up without Freaking Out by Matt Abrahams (printed book by Kendall Hunt Publishing 2016), read by the author. Copyright 2024 by Matthew Abrahams LLC.

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Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:04) - The Challenge of Q&A
  • (03:02) - Preparing for Q&A in Advance
  • (03:42) - When to Take Questions
  • (04:31) - How to Ask for Questions Effectively
  • (05:34) - Audience Anxiety in Q&A
  • (06:49) - Managing Questions Efficiently
  • (07:50) - Answering Questions with Confidence
  • (09:03) - The ADD Method for Answering Questions
  • (10:16) - Closing Your Q&A with Impact
  • (11:10) - Conclusion

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12 MIN
192. Quick Thinks: How to Supersize Your Stories
MAR 20, 2025
192. Quick Thinks: How to Supersize Your Stories

How to craft compelling stories that captivate, inspire, and make an impact.

Great storytelling isn't just about telling tales—it’s about crafting experiences that captivate, inspire, and drive change. In this special Quick Thinks bonus episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams welcomes bestselling author Dan Heath for a masterclass on the power of stories.
Dan breaks down the elements of an impactful story, sharing a case study from his book Reset, outlining how to find compelling stories that connect with audiences, the structure of engaging narratives that keep people hooked, and the power of analogies and unexpected contrasts in storytelling.

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Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:45) - A Story About Change: The Hospital Case Study
  • (03:53) - Breaking Down the Elements of a Great Story
  • (06:25) - Finding the Right Stories
  • (08:11) - Crafting Stories with Purpose
  • (09:44) - Conclusion

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10 MIN
191. Memorable Messages: Choose Words That Capture Attention and Stay Remembered
MAR 18, 2025
191. Memorable Messages: Choose Words That Capture Attention and Stay Remembered

How to craft communication that your audience will remember.


Why do some messages stick, while others go in one ear and out the other? When it comes to crafting memorable communication, Ada Aka says not all verbiage is created equal. 

“Certain words are intrinsically more memorable than others,” says Aka, an assistant professor of marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business. In her research of consumer behavior and decision-making, she’s uncovered how language shapes not just our perception of the world, “but how the world stays with us over time." From concrete terms to emotionally charged ones, certain words have more staying power than others, and to communicators who want to capture audiences (and keep them), she says, “Carefully chosen words, they're going to be taking the attention.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Aka joins Matt Abrahams to explore the science of memorable communication. From creating brand slogans that stick to choosing words that align with your message, she reveals how to create communication that won't be forgotten.

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Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:05) - The Power of Words in Memory
  • (03:45) - What Makes Words Memorable?
  • (06:04) - Informal and Conversational Language
  • (07:38) - AI & Memory
  • (09:34) - Memorable Slogans
  • (11:26) - Predicting Memorability: Why We Get It Wrong
  • (13:15) - Framing in Communication
  • (15:24) - Creating Meaningful Interactions
  • (17:34) - The Final Three Questions
  • (22:21) - Conclusion

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23 MIN
190. Motivation Matters: How to Leverage What People Already Want
MAR 11, 2025
190. Motivation Matters: How to Leverage What People Already Want

How to turn latent motivation into fuel for change.


If you want to be a changemaker, you’ll have to convince others to join your cause. But according to Dan Heath, persuading your audience isn’t about creating new motivation — it’s about leveraging the motivation that’s already there.

“The most important fuel for any change effort is motivation,” says Heath, the number-one New York Times bestselling author of Reset: How to Change What's Not Working. Instead of struggling to persuade people to want what you want, Heath suggests finding where your goals overlap with the things they already desire. "Before you even get to persuasion, if you can just tap and unleash the energy that's already there, you've already catapulted yourself toward success,” he says.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Heath and host Matt Abrahams explore how to create more compelling communication using “leverage points,” or as Heath says, “where a little bit of effort yields a disproportionate return.” Whether getting buy-in from one teammate or achieving change across an entire organization, Heath shares practical tips for turning latent motivation into an engine for change.

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Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:14) - The Power of Storytelling
  • (05:24) - Leverage Points for Change
  • (08:47) - Wasted Resources & Motivation
  • (12:00) - Latent Desire in Systems
  • (14:08) - Communicating Progress
  • (17:45) - The Final Three Questions
  • (24:28) - Conclusion

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This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Download Grammarly for free today
Join our upcoming 200th episode live event April 14 & 15
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25 MIN