The Olympics may be over, but we’re all still competing - in meetings, in interviews, in life. A rule from Andrew Luck: Own what you can own. Don’t throw teammates under the bus. Move forward with honesty. That’s how you build trust. #Trust #Communication #ThinkFastTalkSmart
Directness and being your true self are extremely vital in making business decisions - whether you’re a leader in a small team within a larger organization, or the leader of the larger organization yourself. So many companies lose so much money because they just do not communicate directly! On this…
There’s a major psychological difference between posting online and speaking to someone in person. In real life, another person’s face and body give us rich emotional data. Online, that feedback loop is missing. Ethan Kross explores how that absence changes how we communicate — and sometimes escalates how we express…
“Happiness all the time” is an impossible goal. And chasing it might be making things worse. Ethan Kross explains why negative emotions, in the right proportions, are not just normal… they’re necessary. Listen to the full episode on fastersmarter.io. #ToxicPositivity #EmotionalIntelligence #MindsetShift #SelfDevelopment #thinkfasttalksmart
If you want to have better conversations with others, Ethan Kross says you first have to quiet down the chatter in your own head. A professor, researcher, and author, Kross defines chatter as a “negative thought loop” that hijacks our attention and undermines our ability to perform. “We have a…
It’s easy to feel like the star of the show when giving a presentation. But according to communication guru Nancy Duarte, you’re not the hero of this story.For Duarte, founder and CEO of world-renowned communication consulting firm Duarte Inc, effective communication is built on the foundation of empathy, which means…
Want to connect, influence, and be respected? Start with empathy. Add listening. Follow through with preparation. Jonathan Berek explains why this formula works. #ThinkFastTalkSmart #CommunicationSkills #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #EmpathyInLeadership
The most powerful leaders aren’t the loudest in the room. They’re the most intentional. Jonathan Berek & Phil Polakoff explain why empathy, focus, and purpose matter. #ThinkFastTalkSmart #LeadershipDevelopment #EffectiveCommunication #PurposeDrivenLeadership #ProfessionalGrowth
Communication in high-stakes moments isn’t about saying more — it’s about connecting better. For Jonathan Berek and Phil Polakoff, the most effective communicators don’t rely on jargon or performance. They rely on empathy, listening, and stories that resonate. Both longtime Stanford Medicine leaders, Berek and Polakoff have spent their careers…
Fareed Zakaria reminds us that real learning doesn’t happen when you’re talking — it happens when you’re listening. Curiosity is the skill that changes every conversation. Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning: FasterSmarter.io #LeadershipCommunication #CuriousLeadership #ThinkFastTalkSmart #LifelongLearning #ExecutiveInsights
Persuasion isn’t about being the loudest in the room. It’s about showing the facts, avoiding attacks, and building a real connection. Fareed Zakaria breaks down what actually changes minds. Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning: FasterSmarter.io #ThinkFastTalkSmart #CommunicationSkills #LeadershipCommunication #PersuasiveSpeaking #CriticalThinking
No matter how wide political, cultural, and generational divides seem to grow, Fareed Zakaria is convinced: communication has the power to connect. Zakaria is the host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, a Washington Post columnist, and author of Age of Revolutions, a book about the seismic societal shifts that define…
Research-backed techniques on how to beat nervousness in the moment. In this episode, Matt uses clips from experts from previous Think Fast Talk Smart episodes to provide you with several communication anxiety management techniques to help you feel more comfortable and confident when you communicate. And as a guide to…
Clarity over cleverness. Honesty over performance. That’s what real communication sounds like. Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning: FasterSmarter.io #PersonalBranding #CommunicationSkills #ThoughtLeadership #ThinkFastTalkSmart
If your story doesn’t make people lean in, rewrite it. Clarity + imagery + emotion = real influence. Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning: FasterSmarter.io #CommunicationSkills #PublicSpeakingTips #ConfidenceBuilding #ThinkFastTalkSmart
Clear communication in the age of likes, LLMs, and constant noise isn’t about talking more. For Nick Thompson, it’s about being unmistakably clear and unmistakably yourself. Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and former editor-in-chief of Wired, has spent his career shaping stories that hold attention. “Clear beats clever,” he says,…
What if better communication started with better breathing? Try this warm-up before your next meeting and notice the difference. What’s your go-to prep ritual? Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning: FasterSmarter.io #CommunicationSkills #PublicSpeakingTips #ConfidenceBuilding #ThinkFastTalkSmart
Your voice doesn’t lose power by accident. It follows your body, your breath, and your mindset. When you show up fully, your voice does too. What helps you stay present? Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning: FasterSmarter.io #CommunicationSkills #PublicSpeakingTips #ConfidenceBuilding #ThinkFastTalkSmart
Being present in communication isn’t just mental. It’s about the physical energy you bring into a space — particularly, says Patsy Rodenburg, the presence of your voice. “The physical presence of the human being is the most important thing we have,” says Rodenburg. As a world-renowned expert in voice, speech,…
Content that is relevant and meaningful to an audience is more likely to be heard, retained and acted upon. The word communication comes from the Latin for to “make common,” yet many of us start our message from the wrong place. As lecturer and podcast host Matt Abrahams shares in…
Imagine rebuilding your calendar with only the meetings that actually matter. Would yours look the same? Save this before your next reset. Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning: FasterSmarter.io #ProductivityTips #WorkplaceCulture #TimeManagement #CareerGrowth
Not every conversation deserves a calendar invite. Rebecca Hinds shares a simple test to decide which meetings matter, and which ones are wasting your time. Decide. Debate. Discuss. Develop. If it doesn’t fit, rethink it. Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning: FasterSmarter.io #ProductivityTips #WorkplaceCulture #TimeManagement…
Meetings are a necessary part of work. But for many people, they’re also a major source of frustration. According to Rebecca Hinds, meetings don’t have to feel like a drain—better meetings start when we stop treating them as a default and start designing them with intention. Hinds is the author…
Not everything needs to be optimized. Not every moment needs to be “productive.” Bill Burnett reminds us that turning life into a transaction is one of the fastest ways to lose meaning. Sometimes, a sunset is just a sunset - and that’s enough. Email Questions & Feedback: hello@fastersmarter.io Newsletter Signup…