Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

“There’s no difference between the physiological response to something that you’re excited about and something that you’re nervous about or dreading,” says Andrew Huberman , associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University. In this podcast episode, Huberman talks with host and lecturer Matt Abrahams about his research on the autonomic continuum, a spectrum between state...

“Communication is such a delicate dance and kids need to emerge from childhood having practiced,” says Julie Lythcott-Haims , former associate vice provost of undergraduate education Stanford University.  In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , lecturer and podcast host Matt Abrahams sits down with Lythcott-Haims to discuss her new book, Your Turn: How to be an Adult , and ideas on how to comm...

It has been over a year since millions of people have switched from office work to working from home. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , lecturer and host Matt Abrahams highlights guests’ top takeaways on how to best communicate, share information, and cultivate a professional presence though the screen.  “I think we have to find ways to reduce cognitive overload,” says Professor and Seni...

“Communication, conflict, and cooperation are intertwined in a multitude of ways,” says Nir Halevy , associate professor of organizational behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Halevy sits down with host and lecturer Matt Abrahams, to discuss how we can often solve conflicts and disagreements by employing the correct strategy in our communica...

The information you receive is only as strong as the questions you ask. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturers Matt Abrahams and Debra Schifrin discuss how to craft inquiries that can lead to better communication outcomes. Questions are also instrumental in building relationships, Schifrin points out. “If you’re asking questions, you’re signaling...

Recognizing the importance of forging connections with others — and learning how to build those bonds in real time — is the focus of a course that’s been the most popular elective at Stanford GSB for decades: Interpersonal Dynamics. The iconic course has taught thousands of students and professionals what it means to have exceptional relationships and how to interact with others in a way that cont...

“Psychology trumps technology,” says Jeff Hancock , founding director of the Stanford Social Media Lab and professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford. “If you want to understand what's going on in social media, the first place to start is with what's going on psychologically.” On the latest episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , lecturer and podcast host Matt Abrahams sits down with Pro...

“The reader is impatient,” says Glenn Kramon , Stanford GSB lecturer in management and editor at the New York Times. “Start with the most important conclusion and then explain how you got there.” On the latest episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , lecturer and podcast host Matt Abrahams sits down with Glenn Kramon to talk about just how important our writing is — from a lengthy report to the opening...

As we look back on more than 20 interviews with Think Fast, Talk Smart guests, we’ve heard one piece of advice over and again: Know Your Audience. This wisdom echoes what research clearly shows: 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 messa...

“Something like 90 to 95% of our decisions and behaviors are constantly being shaped the non-consciously by emotional brain system.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Professor of Marketing Baba Shiv sits down with lecturer and host Matt Abrahams to share his research on how emotions affect our, and our audience’s, decision making.  “You’ve got to pay careful attention to the audience th...

“Effective is being able to achieve your goals, which is important, but there are plenty of people who achieve their goals that most of us would find unworthy. So the question what does it take to be a good leader requires you to reflect on the values that you hold dear.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Organizational Behavior Brian Lowery sits do...

“Knowing your values gives you a beacon, or a lamppost, that can inform how you’re going to prioritize your actions.”    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer and Stanford University’s former Vice President of Public Affairs David Demarest speaks with host and lecturer Matt Abrahams on why knowing your values and the concerns of your stakeholders...

What way can the language we use reinforce existing stereotypes and biases?  In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Sarah Soule , Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Organizational Behavior sits down with lecturer and host Matt Abrahams to discuss how even the details of our word choice can shape culture, for better or worse.   Connect: Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart...

“Sparking communication starts with asking why or what or how.” On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smar t, Tina Seelig , the Professor of the Practice in Stanford’s department of Management Science and Engineering, sits down with podcast host and lecturer Matt Abrahams to talk about the structures of storytelling that will help become more creative communicators and the importance of asking quest...

“In companies, you’re interacting with other people who come from different cultural contexts, and in order to be effective, you have to understand how much of your own communication and other people’s communication is shaped by their cultural ideas and their cultural values.” On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , host Matt Abrahams sits down with Jeanne Tsai , an associate professor of Psyc...

“The less time you can spend dwelling on your mistakes, the more mental energy you can devote to doing what you need to do in that moment.” On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Christian Wheeler , the StrataComm Professor of Management and Professor of Marketing at Stanford Graduate School Business, sits down with podcast host and lecturer Matt Abrahams to talk about embracing failure and m...

We asked listeners to send in their communication conundrums and ended up with an inbox full of thoughtful, specific questions.  In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , host and Stanford GSB lecturer Matt Abrahams is joined by Shawon Jackson , MBA ’21, to share techniques on crafting written responses, dealing with constant interruptions, and confronting the power dynamics present in most comm...

Knowing what to say to a skeptical audience is paramount, but how can your body language communicate empathy, openness, and power?  In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , we revisit Matt Abrahams’s conversation with Stanford GSB lecturer Burt Alper about how to keep body language in mind when it comes to handling objections.   Connect: Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast T...

Whether we realize it or not, we negotiate everyday. But when we approach these situations as a win-or-lose battle, we’re already showing resistance, and setting ourselves up for difficulty. But what if you reframed the whole idea, to think of a negotiation not as a fight, but as a problem-solving exercise involving emotions? In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart Matt Abrahams speaks with Stan...

Most of the work we do requires coordinating and collaborating with others. But how can we ensure the benefits of working with others, while avoiding conflict that’s inherent to communicating within groups? In this episode, Matt Abrahams speaks with Bob Sutton , Professor of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford School of Engineering and GSB Professor of Organizational Behavior (by courte...

Humor does more than just make people laugh. It allows you to connect with your audience, diffuse tension, elevate status, and compel others to your point of view. Humor can also help you and your message stand out, yet most of us hesitate to use humor, especially in our professional lives. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Matt Abrahams speaks with Stanford GSB Professor Jennifer Aaker...

Power exists in every relationship — whether we like that idea or not — and to be effective in any role, power needs to be understood.  In this episode , Matt Abrahams sits down with Professor of Organizational Behavior Deborah Gruenfeld to discuss her new book, Acting with Power: Why We Are More Powerful Than We Believe . Deborah shares how body language can give us power, or take it from us, and...

We’re constantly bombarded with competing images, messaging, and bids for our attention. That's why as communicators, it’s increasingly important to know what engages people. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Matt Abrahams speaks with Stanford GSB Professor Zak Tormala about the subtle ways you can structure your speech to get people to pay attention. “It’s not really about tricking peop...

Most people feel nervous in situations such as speaking in front of a class, pitching a big idea, or giving a toast, yet research-backed techniques can help manage both the symptoms and sources of our speaking jitters. Matt Abrahams sits in the interviewee chair for this episode and talks with the podcast's producer, Jenny Luna , to share his backstory with public speaking anxiety and how by recog...

Although it may feel counter intuitive, letting go of our prepared notes and focusing on the present can help us communicate more effectively. In this Quick Thinks episode, host Matt Abrahams speaks with Stanford University lecturers and improv theater experts Dan Klein and Adam Tobin on how staying in the moment allows communicators to connect with their audience. Connect: Premium Signup >>...