logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
29m 29s

Improve Your Impromptu Speaking

Harvard Business Review
About this episode
We all know that leaders need to captivate audiences and effectively convey their ideas. But not every speaking opportunity can be prepared and practiced. That's why it's so important to learn the skill of speaking off-the-cuff, and Matt Abrahams, lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and host of the podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, has advice ... Show More
Up next
Aug 19
How to Bring More Rigor to Your Long-Term Thinking
Amid great economic, political, and technological change, it can feel impossible to predict what might happen next. Nick Foster, a futurist and designer who has worked at Google X, Sony, and elsewhere, says that most of us struggle because we tend to fall into one pattern of thin ... Show More
32m 1s
Jul 29
What We Know About Leading with Intuition
It might seem risky to base decisions as a leader on your gut feeling or intuition. But Laura Huang's research has found that intuition isn't just an arbitrary thought or emotion; that it’s the culmination of years of data and observation, and that it is worth listening to. The N ... Show More
34m 33s
Jul 22
Finding Joy When You Have Limited Free Time
It might seem that high-achievers with important jobs don't need — or even have time for — activities that bring them joy. But it turns out that finding joy at all stages of life (along with achievement and meaningfulness) is essential to feeling satisfied and being a more effect ... Show More
25m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2021
Masterclass on Communicating with Confidence
Welcome to Grit & Growth’s masterclass on communicating with confidence, featuring Matt Abrahams, Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer in strategic communications. Whether pitching to investors, reporting to your board, or motivating employees, Abrahams has tips and tric ... Show More
23m 33s
Apr 2024
879. Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques for Spontaneous Speaking 🗣️ with Matt Abrahams
Top tips for spontaneous speaking 🏆 with communication expert Matt Abrahams, a professor at the Stamford Graduate School of Business, California. Matt is a leading expert in his field and his new book "Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the ... Show More
1h 17m
Jul 2023
99. Rethinks: How to Handle Challenging Conversations
Being a better listener has a lot to do with silence, says Collins Dobbs, a lecturer in management at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “A lot of people are uncomfortable with the smallest modicum of silence, but learning often happens when we create distance for useful refle ... Show More
24m 11s
Feb 2022
50. Telling Good Stories: How to Use the Elements of Narrative to Keep Listeners Engaged
“Make them want to turn the page,” says Paula Moya, a professor at Stanford University and author of The Social Imperative: Race, Close Reading, and Contemporary Literary Criticism. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Moya sits down with strategic communication lecturer Ma ... Show More
19m 39s
Jul 2020
16. Quick Thinks: How to Craft Your Body Language When Confronting Objections
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 ke ... Show More
6m 26s
Jan 2022
48. Speaking Up Without Freaking Out: How to Tackle Communication Anxiety
“Eighty five percent of people report being nervous about speaking in public, and I believe the other 15% are lying,” says Matt Abrahams, lecturer in Strategic Communication and podcast host. “What is it about speaking in front of others that makes most of us nervous? Well, those ... Show More
24m 56s
Jan 2024
Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast (A Sound Bite!)
Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life. Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he sits down with experts in the field to discuss real-wor ... Show More
1m 53s
Oct 2020
21. Words Matter: How to Make Your Communication Inclusive
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 ... Show More
21m 53s
Oct 2021
42. Space, Pace, and Grace: How to Handle Challenging Conversations
Being a better listener has a lot to do with silence, says Collins Dobbs, a lecturer in management at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “A lot of people are uncomfortable with the smallest modicum of silence, but learning often happens when we create distance for useful refle ... Show More
23m 35s
Mar 2024
How to Lead Great Conversations with Your Team
Some leaders spend their careers honing their relationships with employees. But Harvard Business School professor Boris Groysberg and corporate communications expert Michael Slind argue that leaders are at their best when they simply talk with their teams. In this episode, you’ll ... Show More
17m 25s