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Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Auteur(s): Matt Abrahams Think Fast Talk Smart
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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.© Think Fast Talk Smart LLC Apprentissage des langues Gestion et leadership Économie
Épisodes
  • 223. Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection

    223. Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection
    Aug 19 2025
    By lightening up your communication, you can build serious connections.Humor in communication isn’t all fun and games. According to Alison Wood Brooks and Naomi Bagdonas, levity is one of the most serious tools we have in building successful connections.Wood Brooks and Bagdonas, both teachers, authors, and experts in the field of communication, recognize how crucial levity is to our professional and personal interactions. “It’s easy to think of [humor] as this extra bonus thing,” says Wood Brooks. “What we find is it’s incredibly core to how people are relating to each other.” Bagdonas agrees: “When there's the presence of laughter in team meetings, those teams are more successful and more creative. Leaders with a sense of humor—not even a good sense of humor—are seen as more motivating, more admired, [and] their teams report being more engaged.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wood Brooks and Bagdonas join host Matt Abrahams to explore levity as a mindset, or as Bagdonas puts it, “Navigating life on the precipice of a smile.” Together, they share how lightness and humor can break barriers, bridge connections, and unlock the door to better communication.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Alison Wood Brooks Alison’s Book: TalkNaomi Bagdonas Naomi’s Book: Humor, SeriouslyEp.13 Make ’Em Laugh: How to Use Humor as a Secret Weapon in Your CommunicationEp.73 Listen Up: Why It’s Better to Be Interested Than InterestingEp.89 Listen, Listen, Listen: How to Build Deep ConnectionsEp.169 Don't Be a ZQ: Make Your Conversations Count Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (03:13) - Talk Tour Insights (04:33) - Top Advice on Asking Questions (06:43) - Guiding Principles for Leaders (09:17) - Importance of Levity (11:17) - Why Humor Matters (13:06) - Letting Go of Comfort (16:24) - Overthinking Levity (18:30) - Creating Space for Levity (22:02) - Conclusion *****This Episode is sponsored by Stanford. Stay Informed on Stanford's world changing research by signing up for the Stanford ReportSupport Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.
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    24 min
  • 222. Discussing Through Discomfort: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most

    222. Discussing Through Discomfort: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most
    Aug 12 2025

    Some conversations are uncomfortable, but avoiding them comes with a cost.


    You want a more successful career, a more fulfilling relationship, a more meaningful life? What if all that’s standing in your way — are the conversations that you’re avoiding?

    “Most things that we want in life are on the other side of a difficult conversation,” says Jenn Wynn, a professor at NYU Stern School of Business and previously the director of education at the Obama Foundation. For nearly 10 years, she has taught a course on difficult conversations that equips people to communicate through discomfort in pursuit of what they want. “Sometimes it's a difficult conversation with a loved one, a colleague, a boss… sometimes it's a difficult conversation with myself,” she says. “Are you going to give up on your biggest dreams because you weren't willing to step out of your comfort zone?”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wynn and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to build the “hard but worth-it skills” necessary for difficult communication. Whether it's asking for a raise, setting boundaries, or addressing conflict, Wynn’s insights show that the conversations you’re avoiding aren’t just holding you back — they’re keeping you from the life you really want.

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

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Jenn Wynn
    • The H.I. Note: Healing Inspirations from Life
    • Ep.22 Under Pressure: How to Communicate Clearly and Timely During a Crisis

    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (00:52) - Understanding Difficult Conversations
    • (03:09) - Developing Emotional Intelligence
    • (04:09) - Self-Awareness, Pause, Reframe
    • (06:24) - Common Communication Barriers
    • (08:20) - Listening for Understanding
    • (10:57) - Using AI for Communication
    • (12:49) - Creating Psychological Safety
    • (15:25) - The Final Three Questions
    • (20:39) - Conclusion

    ********
    This Episode is brought to you by Strawberry.me. Get $50 off coaching today at Strawberry.me/smart
    Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by     joining TFTS Premium.
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    25 min
  • 221. Don’t Get Lost in Translation: Staying Cool When Every Word Counts

    221. Don’t Get Lost in Translation: Staying Cool When Every Word Counts
    Aug 7 2025

    How do you stay clear, calm, and precise when every word counts and there’s no room for error?


    Staying calm and focused while translating high-stakes conversations in real time isn’t just a language skill — it’s a masterclass in communication under pressure. And for Giampaolo Bianchi, simultaneous interpreter for the United Nations and World Health Organization, it’s a challenge he meets with presence, precision, and a whole lot of preparation. In this expanded conversation from our Spontaneous Speaking series, Bianchi offers a behind-the-scenes look at how he prepares for — and performs in — moments where being calm, in control, and adaptable are essential.
    “We don’t translate words — we translate ideas,” Bianchi explains, highlighting the mindset shift that allows interpreters to go beyond language and convey meaning with clarity and nuance. He shares the role of rigorous preparation, physical grounding, and mental focus in his work, and explains how tools like note systems, pre-session rituals, and active listening help manage cognitive load during live interpretation.
    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Bianchi and host Matt Abrahams explore how the principles of simultaneous interpretation apply far beyond the booth — offering valuable strategies for anyone who needs to communicate effectively under pressure, adapt in the moment, and ensure their smartest communication happens without a script.

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Giampaolo Bianchi
    • Ep.197 Prep or Perish: Mastering In-the-Moment Communication (1 of 3)
    • Ep.198 Pause and Effect: Mastering In-the-Moment Communication (2 of 3)
    • Ep.199 Blunder Pressure: Mastering In-the-Moment Communication (3 of 3)
    • Ep.203 No Script, No Problem: Final Secrets to Speaking Under Pressure (Bonus)

    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (01:09) - Becoming a UN Interpreter
    • (02:17) - Staying Calm Under Pressure
    • (03:30) - Translating Emotion, Not Just Words
    • (04:37) - Memory and Focus Techniques
    • (06:18) - The Power of Preparation
    • (07:44) - Pre-Meeting Rituals and Readiness
    • (09:01) - Handling Mistakes in Real Time
    • (10:11) - Interpreter Habits in Daily Life
    • (11:12) - The Final Three Questions
    • (14:52) - Conclusion

    *****
    This Episode is sponsored by Stanford. Stay Informed on Stanford's world changing research by signing up for the     Stanford Report
    Support Think Fast Talk Smart by     joining TFTS Premium.

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    19 min
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