Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

152. Fix Your Communication: Why It’s About Connection Over Perfection

Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

“Anything is fixable,” say Frances Frei and Anne Morriss. As cohosts of the Fixable podcast, they’re typically the ones doing the fixing, but on this special episode, they turn to Matt Abrahams for tips on what to do when communication breaks down. Both Frei and her wife Morriss are public speakers; the former, a professor at Harvard Business School, the latter, a CEO and best-selling author. As they discuss with Matt Abrahams, perfectionism and self-doubt can often creep in, both during preparation before speaking and after the fact. According to Matt, effective communication is about “connection, not perfection.” Instead of putting pressure on ourselves to “get it right,” Matt encourages us to shift our focus from ourselves to those we’re speaking to. “Whenever you're communicating, you're in service of the audience you're communicating to,” he says. “It's not about you, it's about them and what you can do for them.” In this podcast episode, Frei, Morriss, and Matt explore frameworks and strategies for speaking more spontaneously, building confidence, managing anxiety, and course-correcting when communication goes awry. Episode Reference Links: Fixable Podcast: Website  Anne Morriss & Frances Frei: Website  Anne Morriss: LinkedIn  Frances Frei: HBS Profile Connect: Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTube Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Matt Abrahams introduces the episode, a collaboration with the Fixable podcast hosted by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss. (00:04:58) Mission of Spontaneous Speaking  Matt discusses his focus on helping people communicate more effectively in unplanned situations. (00:07:10) Audience Centered Communication  The importance of focusing on the audience to reduce anxiety and improve communication. (00:09:51) Connection Over Perfection  Prioritizing connection over perfection in communication. (00:11:00) Benefits of Effective Communication  The benefits of improving spontaneous speaking skills. (00:12:17) Building a Communication Infrastructure  An outline of helping organizations create supportive communication environments. (00:13:33) Six Steps to Better Communication  A six-step process to improve spontaneous communication, covering mindset and messaging. (00:16:55) Managing Communication Anxiety  Strategies for managing anxiety in high-stakes communication situations. (00:21:00) Handling Blanking Out  How to handle and recover from blanking out during a speech or presentation. (00:25:21) Real-Life Experience  A recent experience of underestimating time during a keynote and how the situation was managed. (00:27:44) The Value of Preparation  The importance of preparation in both spontaneous and planned communication. (00:28:43) AMP and Building Confidence Three immediate strategies for reducing anxiety right before speaking. (00:31:53) Conclusion See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

151. Get Hired: How the Right Communication Can Advance Your Career

Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Whether winning over a hiring manager or winning new business, career success often hinges on how we communicate. That’s why Andrew Seaman is on a mission to help people find the words that work — to get work. Seaman is the senior managing editor for jobs and career development at LinkedIn, and as the creator and host of the Get Hired podcast and newsletter, he helps millions hone communication skills to land the jobs they want. According to him, getting opportunities isn’t just about experience or connections, but how we frame and present our personal and professional narratives. With a standard resume, he says, “You're making them connect the dots. And people are not good at that.” Instead, he recommends crafting a story that explains where you’ve been, where you are, and where you hope to go. “Connect the dots for them,” he says, “so they're not viewing you as a person who has bounced around. They're thinking, this person has had a cohesive career.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Seaman and host Matt Abrahams explore tools for navigating the interview process, networking on and offline, and communication strategies to get hired. Episode Reference Links: Andrew Seaman: Website  Andrew Seaman: LinkedIn  Andrew’s Podcast: Get Hired Ep.118 Maximizing Your Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You Want Website / YouTube  Ep.147 Disrupt Yourself: How to Innovate Who You Are and Become Who You Can Be YouTube  Ep.62 Best Of: Summer Learning Series, How Humor Can Be a Secret Weapon in Communication Website / YouTube Connect: Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTube Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Andrew Seaman, Senior Managing Editor for Jobs and Career Development at LinkedIn. (00:00:57) Importance of Online Presence The significance of maintaining an online presence and tips on optimizing LinkedIn profiles. (00:01:52) Posting on LinkedIn The frequency and type of posts on LinkedIn, balancing professional and personal content. (00:03:41) Commenting vs. Posting Advice on adding value through comments and engaging with posts. (00:05:12) Interview Presence The importance of presence in interviews, sharing examples of making good and bad impressions. (00:06:59) Recovering from Bad Impressions The challenges and possibilities of recovering from a poor first impression in an interview setting. (00:07:48) Interviewing from the Interviewer's Perspective Tips for hiring managers on how to conduct effective interviews and evaluate candidates. (00:10:25) Challenging Interview Questions The appropriateness and benefits of challenging candidates during interviews to assess their fit and preparedness. (00:11:44) Best Practices for Interviewees Strategies for interviewees to prepare and effectively answer questions, using the ADD method. (00:13:58) Handling Spontaneity in Interviews Preparing for interviews when time is limited and the importance of flexibility and adaptability. (00:17:17) Following Up After Interviews Best practices for following up after an interview to leave a positive impression. (00:19:43) Broader Career Advice Leveraging online communities and tools for career growth, emphasizing networking. (00:22:14) The Final Three Questions Andrew shares his favorite response to an interview question, a communicator he admires, and three ingredients for successful communication. (00:25:31) Conclusion See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

150. Communication Tips from the Classroom and Around the World

Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Sometimes, what’s communicated to us can have a big impact on how we communicate to others. This episode explores some of the best communication advice — from experts and Think Fast, Talk Smart listeners around the world. As teachers of Strategic Communication, lecturers Shawon Jackson and Matt Abrahams have plenty of advice on how to be a better communicator. But in this 150th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, the two don’t just discuss the communication strategies they share with students in their class, they also feature communication advice from listeners of the podcast. Covering topics like knowing your audience, using transitions to tie together different ideas, and embracing the power of silence, Jackson and Abrahams unpack good advice for good communication in this celebratory episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart. Episode Reference Links: Stanford Profile: Shawon Jackson  Shawon’s Educational Program: Vocal Justice Connect: Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTube Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction  Host Matt Abrahams joins guest Shawon Jackson, a lecturer at Stanford GSB, for the 150th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart. (00:01:25) The Role of Effective Transitions The importance of transitions in communication, and an outline of four key types. (00:04:11) Techniques for Using Slides Advice on creating effective presentation slides, emphasizing story first and less is more. (00:07:23) Listener Advice: Knowing Your Audience Listeners Kevin Weinstein and Kesinee Angkustsiri Yip share the importance of knowing your audience. (00:08:34) Techniques for Understanding Your Audience Practical techniques for understanding your audience (00:10:49) Listener Advice: The Power of Silence Listener Ashita Tenki shares advice on the power of silence in communication. (00:11:22) Practicing Silence in Communication The benefits of holding silence and techniques for making it more comfortable. (00:12:45) Addressing Communication Pet Peeves Shawon and Matt share communication pet peeves, and discuss best practices. (00:16:07) Listener Advice on the Importance of Listening Listener Digant Dave highlights listening as a critical communication tool. (00:17:07) Strategies for Effective Listening [00:17:54 - 00:18:19] The importance of listening for both content and emotional context in communication. (00:19:39) Conclusion See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

149. Best of: How to Take Risks in Your Communication, Relationships, and Career

Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

“What people regret over time are things they didn’t do. They didn’t take that trip, they didn’t ask that person out on a date. They didn’t start that business,” says former political speechwriter and author Dan Pink. “I think it’s because we are slightly over-indexed on risk. We overstate the risk in many circumstances.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams sits down with Pink to hear how we can take more risks and how leaders can inspire others by focusing on the why instead of the how. “There’s almost incontrovertible evidence that a sense of purpose is the most cost-effective performance enhancer that organizations have,” Pink says. Episode Reference Links: Dan Pink: Website Dan’s Books: Website  Original Episode: Ep.92 No Regrets: How to Take Risks in Your Communication, Relationships, and Career Website / YouTube Ep.103 Simple Is a Superpower: How to Communicate Any Idea to Any Audience Website / YouTube    Ep.80 Magic Words: Change What You Say to Inspire and Influence Others Website / YouTube Connect: Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTube Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Dan Pink, a NYT bestselling author and former political speechwriter. (00:01:17) Lessons from Political Speechwriting Insights from Dan’s experience as a political speechwriter. (00:03:58) Speak Like a Human The necessity of authentic communication and the power of speaking naturally and directly. (00:07:57) The Role of Immediacy in Communication How immediacy can enhance connection and engagement in communication. (00:09:24) Problem Finding vs. Problem-Solving The value of identifying hidden problems in persuasive communication and sales. (00:11:21) Understanding and Harnessing Purpose How purpose enhances motivation and performance in work and life. (00:15:11) Communication, Risk, and Regret The impact of perceived versus actual risk in communication and decision-making. (00:20:16) Timing and Breaks for Enhanced Performance Optimizing performance through strategic timing and the importance of taking breaks. (00:22:41) The Final Three Question Dan shares communication advice, a communicator he admires, and three ingredients for successful communication. (00:25:39) Conclusion See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.