Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
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 yo...
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326. Rethinks: The Secrets to Getting the Information You Need from AI
<p>“Most teams leave the vast majority of their innovation potential on the table.”</p><p>If you treat artificial intelligence like an oracle, you’ll likely be disappointed. But treat it like a teammate, and Jeremy Utley and Kian Gohar say you may be surprised by how useful a collaborator it can be. Utley, an adjunct professor at the Stanford d.school, and Gohar, a bestselling author and futurist, have studied how teams can use AI to generate more creative ideas and solve problems. Their research shows that tools like ChatGPT can unlock new possibilities, but only when teams know h...
325. Message Market Fit: Turning Great Ideas Into Communication That Lands
<p>“No one cares about us, our company, our products. We have to make them care, and for that, we need the right words.”</p><p>Great work doesn’t always speak for itself. For communication strategist and author of Message Machine: How Communications Will Make You An Unstoppable Founder, Oliver Aust, getting your ideas noticed requires “message-market fit,” finding the right words and stories to make people understand why what you offer matters. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Aust joins Matt Abrahams to discuss how to craft messages that resonate and stand out. From focusing on outcomes i...
324. Rethinks: Defining Where We Want AI To Take Us
<p>“If you're worried that a ChatGPT type tool can replace you, you need to [ask]: Why am I communicating? What am I trying to say? Am I being authentic?”</p><p>Artificial intelligence can now do a lot of things. But if you’re worried about it taking your place as a communicator, Russ Altman says you need to question why you’re communicating in the first place. A Stanford professor of bioengineering and host of Stanford Engineering’s podcast, The Future of Everything, Altman sees advancing technology not as a threat to human creativity and connection, but as a tool for...
323. Turn Up the Heat: Make Conflict More Constructive
<p>“I’m not saying necessarily fight more, I’m saying fight better.”</p><p>Conflict doesn’t have to mean avoidance or escalation. Priya Parker, expert facilitator, strategic advisor and author of The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict, argues there’s a third option: “healthy heat,” where disagreement is handled with enough care, curiosity, and even humor to become productive rather than destructive. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Parker joins Matt Abrahams to rethink how we approach disagreement. She explains why practicing low-stakes conflict can prepare us for harder conversations, how teams can build better sys...
322. Talk Back: Why Arguing With Yourself Can Help You Flourish
<p>“What you think is not gospel.”</p><p>Can arguing with yourself make you happier? Martin Seligman, positive psychology pioneer and author of Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress, says our negative thoughts don’t have to dictate how we feel. By recognizing our internal narratives and challenging them with evidence, we can change our outlook and build a greater sense of agency. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Seligman and Matt Abrahams discuss flourishing, optimism, and the power of self-talk. They also examine why celebrating other people’s successes takes more than saying “congratulations,” and how active...
321. The Respect Effect: What Stereotype Threat Teaches Us About Communication
<p>“Everybody you interact with needs that signal of respect.”</p><p>Feeling seen and respected can shape how we communicate and connect with others. For Stanford social psychologist and author of Churn: The Tension That Divides Us and How to Overcome, Claude Steele, understanding stereotype threat and “churn,” the tension that arises when we worry about being judged based on our identity, can help us build greater trust across differences. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Steele joins Matt Abrahams to discuss how stereotypes influence our interactions and how to reduce their impact. From giving feedback that communic...
320. Quick Thinks: How to Prepare, Stand Out, and Ace Your Interview
<p>“The ability to handle yourself in interviews and other high-pressure situations can make the difference in getting the job and achieving your goals.”</p><p>A successful interview is more than answering questions well. It’s an opportunity to communicate what sets you apart and demonstrate the value you can bring. Preparation, structure, and storytelling can help you do that with confidence. In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams and communication teacher Laura Joyce Davis share strategies for preparing for job interviews. From identifying what differentiates you to structuring answers and telling memorable stories, they e...
319. Open the Portal: The Simple Science Behind Impactful Storytelling
<p>“Causality is this foundation that really allows us to anchor what we’re trying to do when we’re telling stories.”</p><p>Storytelling doesn’t require a dramatic narrative. For behavioral scientist and former Disney Imagineer Troy Campbell, even everyday information can become a story when we explain the “because” behind it, connecting what happened to why it matters. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Campbell joins Matt Abrahams to unpack the psychology behind storytelling and persuasion. From structuring ideas around goals, insights, and actions to creating “portals” that prepare audiences for what comes next, he shares practical w...
318. Quick Thinks: Network Smarter and Make Better Connections
<p>“We are now competing in conversation with someone’s feed.”</p><p>Connecting with others requires more than knowing what to say. The signals we send through our body language, the questions we ask, and even where we position ourselves can shape how others experience a conversation. In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, behavioral researcher and author of Cues and Captivate, Vanessa Van Edwards joins Matt Abrahams to explore the subtle cues that make communication more engaging. She shares strategies for navigating networking events, sparking more meaningful conversations, and signaling the warmth and competence that shape...
317. Plot Twist: The Second Story Hiding Inside Every Great Pitch
<p>“We’re all salespeople at the end of the day.”</p><p>Whether you’re pitching a movie, an idea, or yourself, persuasion is about more than the story you’re telling—it’s also about the story your audience sees for themselves. For Deadpool and Zombieland screenwriter Rhett Reese, that means keeping communication concise, compelling, and centered on what your audience needs. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Reese joins Matt Abrahams to share lessons from screenwriting that apply far beyond Hollywood. From cutting unnecessary words to crafting pitches that make your audience the protagonist, he explores how s...
