This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot. Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with plenty of time to prepare what we want to say. But for most of our communication, there’s no time to plan, practice, or perfect — we have to…
This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot. Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with plenty of time to prepare what we want to say. But for most of our communication, there’s no time to plan, practice, or perfect — we have to…
This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot. Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with plenty of time to prepare what we want to say. But for most of our communication, there’s no time to plan, practice, or perfect — we have to…
Communication isn’t about perfect word choice, it’s about connecting with others. For native speakers and language learners alike, communicating comes with all kinds of challenges. But no matter how much we stumble over our words, Lindsay McMahon says communication isn’t about perfection — it’s about connection. The CEO and founder…
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…
Stanford experts answer live questions on leadership, authenticity, and communication. What happens when four top Stanford thinkers take live questions from a room full of leaders? In Part 2 of this special Think Fast, Talk Smart series from the Stanford LEAD Me2We Conference, Matt Abrahams and his panel of expert…
Are you a non-native English speaker who just can’t get their head around the language? Do you struggle to build up the confidence to practice a language you’re trying to learn? Do you wonder what people mean when they talk about ‘slam dunks’ and ‘home runs’? Fear no more, because…
Join the Think Fast Talk Smart global community for a live recording to mark our 200th episode, which will occur on both April 14th at 8PM and April 15th at 8AM Pacific to accommodate all time zones. Live on both YouTube and LinkedIn. Matt will deliver a short talk called…
Join the Think Fast Talk Smart global community for a live recording to mark our 200th episode, which will occur on both April 14th at 8PM and April 15th at 8AM Pacific to accommodate all timezones. This event is for April 15th Youtube Live, if you would like to attend…
Join the Think Fast Talk Smart global community for a live recording to mark our 200th episode, which will occur on both April 14th at 8PM and April 15th at 8AM Pacific to accommodate all timezones. This event is for April 14th Youtube Live, if you would like to attend…
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…
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 (https://www.fastersmarter.io/) , Matt Abrahams welcomes bestselling author Dan Heath (https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/dan-heath/)…
Whenever we communicate, we suffer from the affliction of the curse of knowledge and the curse of passion. We know too much about what we speak. Remember, you are not the audience. They don't know what you know.
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,…
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,…
To be a great communicator, you have to get out of your own head. But that’s not all, says Matt Lieberman (https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/matt-lieberman/) . According to him, you also have to get into the head of someone else. “Mind-reading is this remarkable ability that humans have,” explains Lieberman, a professor of…
To be a great communicator, you have to get out of your own head. But that’s not all, says Matt Lieberman (https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/matt-lieberman/) . According to him, you also have to get into the head of someone else. “Mind-reading is this remarkable ability that humans have,” explains Lieberman, a professor of…
To be a great communicator, you have to get out of your own head. But that’s not all, says Matt Lieberman (https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/matt-lieberman/) . According to him, you also have to get into the head of someone else. “Mind-reading is this remarkable ability that humans have,” explains Lieberman, a professor of…
Rethink career success by testing, adapting, and staying open to unexpected opportunities. Career planning isn’t as straightforward as we often assume—but according to Dorie Clark, that’s actually a good thing. Instead of following a rigid path, she believes we should be “treating our careers like a series of experiments”—testing, iterating,…
Investors, clients, any audience is not interested in your product, they are interested in the benefits of your product. If you talk only about features, the audience might not understand the benefits. You need to focus on benefits and the value of your product to the audience.
Chris Lipp studied winning Silicon Valley pitches for over a year. These are the four key ingredients that he observed are in all the pitches that got funding. Every pitch that wins has this exact structure: 1. Problem 2. Solution 3. Market for solution 4. Business - Go to market…
Why good communication starts with tapping into your power. Impactful communication isn’t just about the words you use. According to Chris Lipp, it’s about the power you deliver them with. “When we have a belief in ourselves, what we say changes,” says Lipp, a professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School…
Say Less, Mean More: Craft Compelling Communication Pitches and presentations don’t fall flat because speakers aren’t prepared. For Guy Kawasaki, it’s because speakers miss the point. “If all you're trying to do is inform, you're not going to pull it off. You have to entertain your audience.” A renowned author,…
