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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
  • 326. Rethinks: The Secrets to Getting the Information You Need from AI

    326. Rethinks: The Secrets to Getting the Information You Need from AI
    Sep 24 2026

    “Most teams leave the vast majority of their innovation potential on the table.”

    If you treat artificial intelligence like an oracle, you’ll likely be disappointed. But treat it like a teammate, and Jeremy Utley and Kian Gohar say you may be surprised by how useful a collaborator it can be. Utley, an adjunct professor at the Stanford d.school, and Gohar, a bestselling author and futurist, have studied how teams can use AI to generate more creative ideas and solve problems. Their research shows that tools like ChatGPT can unlock new possibilities, but only when teams know how to work with them. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Utley and Gohar join Matt Abrahams to discuss how to move beyond treating AI like a magic 8-ball and start using it as a creative partner for brainstorming and innovation.


    Takeaways:

    • Treat AI like a teammate, not an oracle. AI becomes more useful when you actively collaborate with it, asking questions, building on responses, and using it as a partner rather than expecting one perfect answer.
    • Better AI collaboration can unlock better ideas. Integrating AI into brainstorming and problem-solving can help teams expand their thinking, generate more possibilities, and tap into creative potential they might otherwise leave unexplored.


    Activity:

    • Give AI a seat at the table. During your next brainstorm, treat AI as another member of the team. Ask it to contribute ideas, challenge the group’s assumptions, or suggest a direction no one has considered yet.


    Episode Reference Links:

    • Jeremy Utley
    • Jeremy's Book: Ideaflow
    • Kian Gohar
    • Kian's Book: Competing In The New World Of Work

    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
    • (01:43) - AI and Problem-Solving
    • (04:13) - What the Research Revealed
    • (05:18) - Why Better AI Takes More Work
    • (08:40) - The FIXIT Method
    • (13:10) - Better Conversations With AI
    • (16:07) - Making AI Critique Itself
    • (18:45) - The Final Three Questions
    • (24:35) - Conclusion

    ********
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    25 mins
  • 325. Message Market Fit: Turning Great Ideas Into Communication That Lands

    325. Message Market Fit: Turning Great Ideas Into Communication That Lands
    Sep 21 2026
    “No one cares about us, our company, our products. We have to make them care, and for that, we need the right words.”Great work doesn’t always speak for itself. For communication strategist and author of Message Machine: How Communications Will Make You An Unstoppable Founder, Oliver Aust, getting your ideas noticed requires “message-market fit,” finding the right words and stories to make people understand why what you offer matters. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Aust joins Matt Abrahams to discuss how to craft messages that resonate and stand out. From focusing on outcomes instead of products to building a personal brand and using storytelling to make sense of change, Aust shares practical strategies for communicating your value with greater clarity and impact.Takeaways:Make people care about the outcome, not the product. Strong messaging focuses less on what you do and more on the value you create, helping your audience see and feel what’s possible.Good work still needs to be communicated. Building visibility isn’t just self-promotion. Clearly sharing your value, defining who you’re for, and developing a distinctive message can help the right people find you.Activity:Show the picture. Choose one product, service, or idea you regularly describe. Instead of explaining what it does, describe the outcome your audience wants to experience. Make that outcome the centerpiece of your message.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Oliver AustOliver’s Books: Message Machine / UnignorableEp.82 It’s Not About You: Why Effective Communicators Put Others F… 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 >>> LinkedIn Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction(01:00) - Message-Market Fit(04:03) - Becoming Unignorable(05:21) - Mindset, Message, Method(06:12) - Building a Distinctive Message(08:07) - The PACE Framework(10:27) - Managing Communication Anxiety(12:44) - Storytelling as a Leader(15:03) - The Final Three Questions(19:16) - 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.With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence, knowing you're getting the best talent for your needs. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com/fastJoin our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.
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    20 mins
  • 324. Rethinks: Defining Where We Want AI To Take Us

    324. Rethinks: Defining Where We Want AI To Take Us
    Sep 17 2026

    “If you're worried that a ChatGPT type tool can replace you, you need to [ask]: Why am I communicating? What am I trying to say? Am I being authentic?”

    Artificial intelligence can now do a lot of things. But if you’re worried about it taking your place as a communicator, Russ Altman says you need to question why you’re communicating in the first place. A Stanford professor of bioengineering and host of Stanford Engineering’s podcast, The Future of Everything, Altman sees advancing technology not as a threat to human creativity and connection, but as a tool for raising our standards for communication. In this Rethinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Altman and Matt Abrahams discuss how effective communication can help us articulate ideas, strengthen connections, and navigate toward the future we want.


    Takeaways:

    • AI works best as an amplifier, not a replacement. Using AI to test, refine, and adapt your ideas can make communication clearer while keeping your purpose, judgment, and authentic message at the center.
    • Make complexity easier to understand, not less meaningful. Stories, analogies, and audience-aware language can translate difficult ideas without dumbing them down.


    Activity:

    • Treat questions as gifts. The next time someone questions your idea, resist the urge to defend it. Instead, thank them and ask one follow-up question to better understand their perspective before responding.


    Episode Reference Links:

    • Russ Altman
    • Russ’s Podcast: The Future of Everything
    • Ep.157 Communicating the Future: Defining Where We Want AI to Take Us

    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
    • (01:41) - AI and Communication
    • (03:46) - AI as a Feedback Tool
    • (04:48) - Structuring a Strong Proposal
    • (06:48) - Simplifying Complex Ideas
    • (09:12) - Preparing for Tough Topics
    • (10:53) - Asking Better Questions
    • (13:43) - Building Stronger Teams
    • (16:21) - Productive Conflict
    • (17:53) - Finding People’s Passion
    • (18:43) - The Final Three Questions
    • (22:06) - 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.

    With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence, knowing you're getting the best talent for your needs. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com/fast

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

    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
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