Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick. Staying on top of communication starts with staying in control of your inbox. That’s why Rahul Vohra , founder and CEO of Superhuman, believes that how we manage email directly shapes how we manage our time, focus, and relationships. For years, Superhuman has helped professionals reach Inbox Zero faster — reducing email overloa...

The road to mastery is paved with small improvements every day. Communicating can feel daunting at times. What does it take to find your voice in the moments that matter most? As Chiney Ogwumike says, “There is freedom on the other side of your fear.” As a professional basketball player, NBA and WNBA analyst for ESPN, and advocate for gender equality in sports, Ogwumike faces many situations where...

When it comes to leading a team, there’s no such thing as too much information. Good leadership is about good communication. And for General Stanley McChrystal , that means creating a culture of free-flowing information: “The goal is to have everyone know everything all the time,” he says. McChrystal is a retired four-star general, former commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan, an...

Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick. Clarity is the cornerstone of great communication—but turning your thoughts into words isn’t always simple. That’s why Grammarly exists: to help you express yourself with confidence and precision, no matter the context. For over a decade, Grammarly has helped millions of people improve their writing, from everyday emails to hig...

To connect with others, you have to get out of your own head. Whether presenting to millions on live television or talking to just one person, Dan Harris knows that the quality of every interaction depends on the presence you bring to it. Harris is a former national news anchor for ABC News and is now the host of the 10% Happier podcast and author of 10% Happier and Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics...

Why what isn’t said can communicate more than what is spoken. We often speak in hints and half-truths, not because we can’t be direct, but because subtlety protects our relationships. “An awful lot of the time, we don’t just blurt out what we mean,” says Steven Pinker . “We hint, we wink, we beat around the bush — counting on our listener to read between the lines, connect the dots, catch our drif...

Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick. Clear communication isn’t just about sharing information — it’s about making ideas stick. That’s why Yuhki Yamashita , Chief Product Officer at Figma, believes the key to effective collaboration lies in turning complex concepts into simple, memorable visuals. For years, Figma has been reshaping the way teams brainstorm, design,...

To celebrate its second anniversary, we revisit our favourite tools and tips from Matt’s book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter. Original executive producer Jenny Luna turns the tables and interviews host and strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams about his bestselling book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot . To celebrate the book’s second annive...

Be ready, stay grounded, and communicate clearly — no matter what’s at stake. Communicating under pressure isn’t just a useful skill — it can be the difference between escalation and resolution. For Chris Voss , former FBI hostage negotiator and CEO of The Black Swan Group, it’s a daily discipline built on empathy, self-regulation, and intentional listening. In this expanded conversation from our...

Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick. Great communication isn’t just about what you say — it’s about what your audience remembers. That’s why Jim Szafranski , CEO of Prezi, believes that visuals and storytelling are key to making ideas stick. For more than 15 years, Prezi has been reimagining the way we share information, helping communicators move beyond static sl...

Reinventing your life or career starts with reflection and conversation.  Making the leap — to a new career, to the next stage of a relationship, or to a different version of yourself — requires honest communication. For Ilana Golan , being “leap-ready” requires that we answer three questions: Why me? Why this? And why now? Golan knows all about these leaps, as her career spans corporate executive...

In the digital age, it’s critical to craft communication that fits the context. Like it or not, algorithms now decide whose messages get heard. “If you want to communicate effectively,” says Adam Aleksic , “you need to be exactly aware of what that medium is doing.” Aleksic is a linguist, author, and educational content creator with millions of followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. His...

Why modern communication still relies on ancient words and narratives. All communication and connection depend on one thing: language. That’s why Laura Spinney says understanding language — where it comes from and how it evolves over time — can help us use it more effectively. “Language is incredibly powerful,” says Spinney, an author and journalist published in the Atlantic, National Geographic,...

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 professiona...

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 a...

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 pre...

Master the art of thinking on your feet and turning unpredictability into powerful communication. Being quick on your feet isn’t just a performance skill — it’s a communication necessity. And for Peter Sagal , longtime host of NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me , it’s a craft he’s honed over more than two decades in front of a live audience. In this expanded conversation from our Spontaneous Speaking...

When communicating with their employees, most firms have no idea who they’re talking to. Good communication is about knowing your audience. But if your organization is only focused on knowing your customers, James Root says you're forgetting a whole other cohort: your employees. Root is a senior partner at Bain & Company, Chair of Bain Futures, and author of The Archetype Effect , in which he...

Real connection means understanding your audience, staying true to yourself, and creating space for others. How do you communicate who you are, what you stand for, and leave space for others to do the same? At the Stanford Seed Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, three GSB professors explored why real connection is built through authentic communication. For Jesper Sørensen , authentic organizationa...

How to be a skilled conversationalist in work, love, and life. Whether you’re trying to build a romantic or professional connection, Rachel Greenwald’s advice is exactly the same. “Focus on how you make someone feel more than you focus on the words that you're saying,” she says.  As a professional coach, Greenwald helps people develop better communication skills, from executives in the business wo...

Understanding your audience's psychology is the key to crafting communication that resonates. Persuading others isn't about magic spells or mind-reading tricks. According to Emily Falk , the real secret is simpler: know what your audience finds relevant, and you’ll be able to craft a message that resonates. Falk is a professor of communication, psychology, and marketing at the University of Pennsy...

For your communication to be credible, you can’t just say it — you have to do it. Want people to believe what you say? According to Richard Edelman , the words you choose only get you halfway there. To build real trust, he says, you have to practice what you preach. “Action builds trust,” says Edelman. “If you don't do something, you can't talk about it.” As the president and CEO of Edelman, a lea...

How to communicate clearly in any context, from newsrooms to the world stage. All good communication, whether spoken or written, is built on the same foundation. In everything from police reporting for a newspaper to serving as spokesman for the Pope, Greg Burke has found the key: "Keep it as simple as possible." Burke has worked as a journalist for Time Magazine and Fox News, as Director of Commu...

How to turn doubt and suspicion into hopefulness and trust. There’s a lot in the world to make us cynical about other people and their motives and intentions. But by “trusting loudly,” Professor Jamil Zaki believes we can renew our faith in one another. Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience lab, and author of several books, including his most r...

Career growth starts with stepping outside your comfort zone. Building a successful career isn’t about following a set path—it’s about knowing when to evolve and embracing change. Whitney Johnson believes that success comes from disrupting yourself—challenging routines, stepping into discomfort, and continuously evolving. “People think staying in their comfort zone is the safe choice,” she explain...