Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Great communication isn’t about saying more—it’s about making what you say matter.
If we want to communicate more effectively, we need to treat communication less like a habit—and more like a series of intentional choices. In this special feed drop, we’re featuring a conversation from the ⁠Masters of Scale⁠ podcast, where host ⁠Jeff Berman⁠ sits down with Stanford lecturer and ⁠Think Fast, Talk Smart ⁠host Matt Abrahams to explore what it really takes to communicate with intention.
Most of us default to what feels natural—long-winded openings, generic pitches, or focusing on what we want to say. But as Matt explains, effective communication starts with the audience. Get to the point quickly. Focus on what’s relevant. “Tell the time, don’t build the clock.”
From high-stakes presentations to job interviews and everyday interactions, Matt shares practical, science-backed strategies for showing up with clarity and confidence. Communication is something we all do every day—but doing it well, especially when it counts, takes intention. As this conversation makes clear, small shifts in how we prepare, structure, and deliver our message can make all the difference.

Episode Reference Links:
Jeff Berman
Masters of Scale

Connect:
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Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
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Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction

(04:02) - Communication as a Skill

(04:32) - The Impact of Communication

(05:10) - Prevalence of Speaking Anxiety

(07:11) - Techniques for Reducing Anxiety

(09:46) - Core Principles: Repetition, Reflection, Feedback

(10:53) - Communication in Education

(12:03) - Opportunities to Improve Communication

(14:26) - Presenting & Pitching Ideas

(16:41) - Setting Clear Expectations

(19:58) - Characteristics of Productive Meetings

(24:13) - The Role of Repetition in Leadership

(25:03) - Structured Preparation for Interviews

(26:29) - The ADD Framework for Responses

(27:57) - Asking Insightful Questions

(29:17) - Defining Communication Objectives

(32:23) - Adapting Messages to Different Formats

(33:38) - Building Confidence in New Mediums

(34:48) - Recovering from Cognitive Lapses

(36:14) - The Pace, Space, Grace Framework

(38:09) - Navigating Differing Perspectives

(40:01) - Conclusion

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Work is changing, not ending—what it takes to stay relevant in an AI-driven world.

Careers aren’t ladders anymore — they’re climbing walls. As Aneesh Raman puts it, “work is changing, not ending,” and success today depends on how well you can navigate change and explain your path along the way.
Raman is the Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn and a former presidential speechwriter for Barack Obama. His work focuses on the future of work and how individuals can adapt in an AI-driven world. In his book Open to Work, he argues that the most valuable skills today aren’t technical — they’re human. “We now have this technology that's gonna do more, better, faster… It will out efficiency us,” he explains. But that shift creates opportunity: “When you recognize that humans aren't meant to be machine-like, and that machines will eventually out machine us, that isn't the end state. It's going to be a more entrepreneurial era where we're going to rely on our unique ability to imagine, to invent, to create.”
In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Raman and host Matt Abrahams explore what it takes to navigate a rapidly changing workplace. From the “Five C’s” to practical ways to redesign your role around human strengths, Raman shares how to stay relevant as work evolves, the power of audience-first communication, and why great storytelling starts with understanding yourself.
To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.
Episode Reference Links:
Aneesh Raman
Aneesh’s Book: Open to Work
226. Reinvent Yourself: Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity 

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
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

(02:36) - Storytelling & Career Lessons

(05:01) - Obama’s Communication Style

(07:53) - Careers as Climbing Walls

(11:59) - The Rise of Human Skills

(15:35) - The Three Work Buckets

(21:17) - The Final Three Questions

(27:02) - Conclusion

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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 your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

How to turn latent motivation into fuel for change.

If you want to be a changemaker, you’ll have to convince others to join your cause. But according to Dan Heath, persuading your audience isn’t about creating new motivation — it’s about leveraging the motivation that’s already there.

“The most important fuel for any change effort is motivation,” says Heath, the number-one New York Times bestselling author of Reset: How to Change What's Not Working. Instead of struggling to persuade people to want what you want, Heath suggests finding where your goals overlap with the things they already desire. "Before you even get to persuasion, if you can just tap and unleash the energy that's already there, you've already catapulted yourself toward success,” he says.

In this Rethinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Heath and host Matt Abrahams explore how to create more compelling communication using “leverage points,” or as Heath says, “where a little bit of effort yields a disproportionate return.” Whether getting buy-in from one teammate or achieving change across an entire organization, Heath shares practical tips for turning latent motivation into an engine for change.
Episode Reference Links:
Dan Heath
Dan’s Books: Reset: How to Change What's Not Working
Dan's Podcast: What It’s Like To Be 
Ep.190 Motivation Matters: How to Leverage What People Already Want
Ep.49 Make Numbers Count: How to Communicate Data Effectively  

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
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

(03:59) - The Power of Storytelling

(07:09) - Crafting Powerful Stories

(12:08) - Finding Great Stories

(15:27) - Leverage Points For Change

(18:39) - Wasted Resources & Motivation

(23:06) - Latent Desire in Systems

(25:15) - The Role of Systems in Communication

(29:04) - Communicating Progress

(32:26) - Lessons from Hosting a Podcast

(34:58) - The Final Three Questions

(43:00) - Conclusion

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Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

Whatever your message, the manner in which you deliver it is just as important.

You found the right words. You picked the right time to say them. You even tailored them to your audience. Why did your message fall flat? “It's your tone,” says Jefferson Fisher.

Fisher is a trial attorney, New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and one of the most-followed experts in communication today. From handling high-stakes communication in the courtroom to navigating everyday conversations, he says successful messaging isn’t just about what you say, but how you say it. “It’s not your words, it’s your tone,” he says, “The words might be right, but the way you [say them] — that's what ends up controlling the day. Tone controls everything.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Fisher and host Matt Abrahams explore how to set the right tone in all kinds of communication. Whether you're navigating conflict, giving and receiving feedback, or just trying to connect, Fisher offers practical techniques for ensuring the manner of your communication matches what you mean.
Episode Reference Links:
Jefferson Fisher
Jefferson’s Book: The Next Conversation Workbook
Jefferson's Podcast: The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
Ep.228 Negotiate Your Way to Success: Empathy, Mirroring, and Labeling 

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
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

(02:31) - Stop Winning Arguments

(04:05) - Ask, Don’t Persuade

(04:36) - Defuse Tension Fast

(05:43) - Read the Room

(07:39) - Observing vs. Absorbing

(09:11) - Framing Conversations

(11:24) - Fix Digital Communication

(13:04) - Improve Your Tone

(15:56) - Break People-Pleasing

(17:21) - Setting Clear Boundaries

(21:33) - The Final Three Questions

(24:34) - Conclusion

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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 your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

Real change isn’t about knowing what to do — it’s about actually doing it, one small choice at a time.

Change doesn’t come from one big breakthrough. It comes from the small choices we make over and over — often in moments we barely notice.

Eric Zimmer, behavior coach, host of The One You Feed podcast, and author of How A Little Becomes A Lot, says the real challenge isn’t figuring out what to do — it’s closing the gap between knowing and doing. “We all have areas where we know exactly what would help,” he says. “But somehow, we still don’t follow through.” His approach focuses on something simpler and more effective: small, low-resistance actions done consistently over time. “It’s not about doing everything,” Zimmer explains. “It’s about doing something — again and again — in the same direction.”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Zimmer joins host Matt Abrahams to unpack how lasting change actually happens. From building awareness in the middle of everyday life to designing habits that are easier to stick with, he shares practical strategies for turning intention into action. “You don’t need to wait until you feel ready,” he says. “You can act even when it’s uncomfortable.”
Episode Reference Links:
Eric Zimmer
Eric’s Book: How a Little Becomes a Lot
Eric’s Podcast: The One You Feed
Ep.86 Building Habits: The Key to Lasting Behavior Change 

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
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

(02:27) - From Addiction to Transformation

(03:37) - The “Two Wolves” Parable

(05:22) - Awareness in Communication

(06:56) - Building Awareness Through Small Habits

(08:50) - The Knowing–Doing Gap

(10:14) - The SPAR Framework

(13:49) - Motivation vs. Action

(19:15) - The Final Three Questions

(24:42) - Conclusion

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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 your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.