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Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

By: 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 Career Success Economics Language Learning
Episodes
  • 239. Tech Tools: How Smarter Scheduling Leads to Stronger Communication

    239. Tech Tools: How Smarter Scheduling Leads to Stronger Communication
    Oct 30 2025

    Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.

    Meetings are where collaboration happens — but too often, scheduling them feels like the biggest barrier to meaningful connection. That’s why Calendly was created: to simplify scheduling and make time for what truly matters — the conversation itself.

    In this episode of the Think Fast, Talk Smart Tech Tools miniseries, host Matt Abrahams talks with Calendly’s Vice President of Growth, Darren Chait, about how intentional scheduling leads to better communication, stronger relationships, and more productive meetings. They explore how data-driven insights can improve collaboration, reduce burnout, and help teams make every meeting count.

    In addition to insight-packed discussions, this miniseries explores innovative tools that enhance the way we communicate and connect. Whether you want to make your presentations more memorable, craft stories that stick, or connect with your audience on a deeper level, these episodes will help you communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and impact.

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Darren Chait
    • E.227 Tech Tools: Move Your Audience By Moving Through Your Presentation
    • Ep.230 Tech Tools: Use Visuals to Your Advantage
    • Ep.233 Tech Tools: Write with Confidence and Impact
    • Ep.236 Tech Tools: Zeroing in on Your Email Communication


    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
    • (01:12) - Calendly Elevator Pitch
    • (02:47) - The Origin of Calendly
    • (04:44) - The Art of Intentional Scheduling
    • (06:33) - Making Meetings More Effective
    • (07:30) - Favorite Communicator
    • (09:31) - Communication Hack or Tool
    • (11:36) - Conclusion

    *******
    Thank you to our sponsors.     These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    Try Prezi today and get 25% off exclusively at prezi.com/thinkfast.
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    13 mins
  • 238. AMA: Why Listening Might Be Your Most Powerful Skill

    238. AMA: Why Listening Might Be Your Most Powerful Skill
    Oct 28 2025

    When we truly listen, every conversation changes — including the one with ourselves.

    Listening isn’t about waiting for your turn to speak — it’s about being present enough to truly hear. In a world full of noise, slowing down to listen can feel like a radical act. Yet it’s in those moments of stillness and attention that real understanding begins.


    In this special Ask Matt Anything episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, we explore what it means to “listen up” — to engage with intention, empathy, and curiosity. Along the way, listener questions spark insights on how to slow down fast conversations, apply communication tools in real life, and navigate the nuances of culture and connection. Because better communication doesn’t start with what we say — it starts with what we hear.

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

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Ep.17 Think Fast: You Asked, We Answered
    • Ep.114 Communication Means Paying Attention: The Four Pillars of Active Listening
    • Ask Matt Anything (AMA) 1: Trust, Paraphrasing, and Nonverbal Cues


    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
    • (02:42) - The Three Ps That Block Good Listening
    • (03:39) - Ace Your Listening: Pace, Space, and Grace
    • (05:59) - Listening Beyond Words: Nonverbal Cues That Matter
    • (06:37) - Listening Through Paraphrasing
    • (08:13) - Practicing Better Listening
    • (09:30) - Choosing the Right Structure for Your Audience
    • (12:55) - Applying Communication Skills Effectively
    • (16:02) - Slowing Down Conversations
    • (20:32) - Practicing and Getting Feedback
    • (23:02) - What’s Next for Think Fast Talk Smart
    • (24:54) - Conclusion

    ********
    Thank you to our sponsors.     These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    Strawberry.me. Get $50 off coaching today at Strawberry.me/smart
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    26 mins
  • 237. Mistake It Till You Make It: Learn Faster and Fail Smarter

    237. Mistake It Till You Make It: Learn Faster and Fail Smarter
    Oct 21 2025
    Why we learn the most when we accept that we might be wrong.Effective communication isn’t about having all the answers. As Astro Teller knows, it’s about finding (and sometimes fumbling) your way through the questions.Teller is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and inventor who serves as Captain of Moonshots at X, Alphabet's Moonshot Factory. In his work leading teams toward audacious solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems, he embraces what he calls “a learning journey,” where being wrong isn’t the end, but the beginning. “As scary as it is to be wrong,” he says, it’s a necessary part of the discovery process. Whether experimenting in the lab or testing our thoughts and opinions in conversation with others, it’s about having the humility and curiosity to face the limits of our understanding. “When do you learn something? You learn something when you have a model about the world, and then you get some data that tells you you're wrong,” he says. “You learn nothing when you're right.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Teller and host Matt Abrahams discuss how embracing uncertainty drives innovation, why leaders should reward learning habits over outcomes, and how we learn the most when we’re not afraid to find that we might be wrong.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Astro TellerAstro’s Book: Sacred Cows Ep.70 Ideas Fuel Innovation: Why Your First Ideas Aren’t Always the Best Ep.20 Question Your Questions: How to Spark Creativity in Your Communication 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 (02:18) - Defining a Moonshot (04:21) - Building a Learning Machine (07:00) - Learning vs. Productivity (08:35) - Capturing and Sharing Learning (10:49) - Rewarding Habits, Not Outcomes (13:17) - Moonshot Success Stories (16:16) - The Power of Storytelling in Innovation (17:46) - Launching The Moonshot Podcast (19:37) - The Final Three Questions (25:27) - Conclusion ********Thank you to our sponsors. These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.Support Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.
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    27 mins
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