speaking tips

“Anything is fixable,” say Frances Frei and Anne Morriss. As cohosts of the Fixable podcast, they’re typically the ones doing the fixing, but on this special episode, they turn to Matt Abrahams for tips on what to do when communication breaks down.

Both Frei and her wife Morriss are public speakers; the former, a professor at Harvard Business School, the latter, a CEO and best-selling author. As they discuss with Matt Abrahams, perfectionism and self-doubt can often creep in, both during preparation before speaking and after the fact. According to Matt, effective communication is about “connection, not perfection.” Instead of putting pressure on ourselves to “get it right,” Matt encourages us to shift our focus from ourselves to those we’re speaking to. “Whenever you're communicating, you're in service of the audience you're communicating to,” he says. “It's not about you, it's about them and what you can do for them.”

In this podcast episode, Frei, Morriss, and Matt explore frameworks and strategies for speaking more spontaneously, building confidence, managing anxiety, and course-correcting when communication goes awry.

Episode Reference Links:

• Fixable Podcast: Website 
• Anne Morriss & Frances Frei: Website 
• Anne Morriss: LinkedIn 
• Frances Frei: HBS Profile

Connect:

• Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
• Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Matt Abrahams introduces the episode, a collaboration with the Fixable podcast hosted by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss.

(00:04:58) Mission of Spontaneous Speaking 

Matt discusses his focus on helping people communicate more effectively in unplanned situations.

(00:07:10) Audience Centered Communication 

The importance of focusing on the audience to reduce anxiety and improve communication.

(00:09:51) Connection Over Perfection 

Prioritizing connection over perfection in communication.

(00:11:00) Benefits of Effective Communication 

The benefits of improving spontaneous speaking skills.

(00:12:17) Building a Communication Infrastructure 

An outline of helping organizations create supportive communication environments.

(00:13:33) Six Steps to Better Communication 

A six-step process to improve spontaneous communication, covering mindset and messaging.

(00:16:55) Managing Communication Anxiety 

Strategies for managing anxiety in high-stakes communication situations.

(00:21:00) Handling Blanking Out 

How to handle and recover from blanking out during a speech or presentation.

(00:25:21) Real-Life Experience 

A recent experience of underestimating time during a keynote and how the situation was managed.

(00:27:44) The Value of Preparation 

The importance of preparation in both spontaneous and planned communication.

(00:28:43) AMP and Building Confidence

Three immediate strategies for reducing anxiety right before speaking.

(00:31:53) Conclusion

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“What people regret over time are things they didn’t do. They didn’t take that trip, they didn’t ask that person out on a date. They didn’t start that business,” says former political speechwriter and author Dan Pink. “I think it’s because we are slightly over-indexed on risk. We overstate the risk in many circumstances.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, strategic communications lecturer Matt Abrahams sits down with Pink to hear how we can take more risks and how leaders can inspire others by focusing on the why instead of the how. “There’s almost incontrovertible evidence that a sense of purpose is the most cost-effective performance enhancer that organizations have,” Pink says.

Episode Reference Links:

• Dan Pink: Website
• Dan’s Books: Website 
• Original Episode: Ep.92 No Regrets: How to Take Risks in Your Communication, Relationships, and Career Website / YouTube
• Ep.103 Simple Is a Superpower: How to Communicate Any Idea to Any Audience Website / YouTube   
• Ep.80 Magic Words: Change What You Say to Inspire and Influence Others Website / YouTube

Connect:

• Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page,  Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
• Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Dan Pink, a NYT bestselling author and former political speechwriter.

(00:01:17) Lessons from Political Speechwriting

Insights from Dan’s experience as a political speechwriter.

(00:03:58) Speak Like a Human

The necessity of authentic communication and the power of speaking naturally and directly.

(00:07:57) The Role of Immediacy in Communication

How immediacy can enhance connection and engagement in communication.

(00:09:24) Problem Finding vs. Problem-Solving

The value of identifying hidden problems in persuasive communication and sales.

(00:11:21) Understanding and Harnessing Purpose

How purpose enhances motivation and performance in work and life.

(00:15:11) Communication, Risk, and Regret

The impact of perceived versus actual risk in communication and decision-making.

(00:20:16) Timing and Breaks for Enhanced Performance

Optimizing performance through strategic timing and the importance of taking breaks.

(00:22:41) The Final Three Question

Dan shares communication advice, a communicator he admires, and three ingredients for successful communication.

(00:25:39) Conclusion

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