Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

One of the most essential ingredients to success in business and life is effective communication.

  • 18 minutes 47 seconds
    249. Quick Thinks: Rituals That Make Teamwork Work

    The right rituals—and the right conversations—can transform how your team collaborates.


    Strong collaboration starts with thoughtful practices and clear communication. As Molly Sands, Head of the Teamwork Lab at Atlassian, emphasizes, the teams that thrive are the ones that regularly pause to align on what matters and how they’re progressing. “You want to know if you’re making progress,” she notes, “and you want ways to redirect early—before you’re scrambling at the end.”

    Through her research with teams across Atlassian and around the world, Sands has seen how small, consistent habits—monthly goal reviews, transparent updates, shared spaces for spontaneous interaction—build alignment, psychological safety, and momentum. And in hybrid and distributed environments, she highlights how “bursty” collaboration patterns and intentional meeting design help teams move faster without burning out.

    In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Sands and host Matt Abrahams break down the rituals that make teamwork work, from OKR check-ins to collaboration hours to the rotating Chief Vibes Officer. No matter where your team sits, Sands shows how intentional communication unlocks connection, speed, and more satisfying ways of working together.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:43) - Measuring Collaboration the Right Way
    • (05:35) - Training Leaders & Goal Rituals
    • (07:49) - Creating Space for Spontaneous Work
    • (11:20) - Making In-Person Time Count
    • (11:44) - Three High-Impact Team Gatherings
    • (15:17) - Supporting Diverse Communication Styles
    • (17:25) - Conclusion

     ********
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    11 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 11 seconds
    248. Better Together: How to Supercharge Your Team’s Productivity

    The secret to effective teamwork and collaboration.


    To collaborate, we have to communicate. As Molly Sands knows, “The more that we can get on the same page, the more effective we are.”

    Sands is a behavioral scientist and the head of the Teamwork Lab at Atlassian, where she researches how teams can collaborate more effectively and efficiently, especially in distributed and hybrid work environments. As she’s seen in her research and within her own team, “People can accomplish a lot more together when they work well together.” The key to unlocking that potential lies in communication that aligns people not just in their activity, but in their deeper goals and vision. “The best work happens when you start by asking why,” she says, “getting people to really understand: why is this a problem, why do we wanna solve it, and how are we uniquely positioned to do that? The more that we can map this out together, the more effective our teams tend to be.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Sands and host Matt Abrahams discuss strategies for effective collaboration, from “page-led” meetings and asynchronous video messages to using AI as a collaborator. Whether your team is working face-to-face or across time zones, Sands’ insights show how better communication is the key to better collaboration.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:29) - How the Teamwork Lab Works
    • (04:00) - Top Challenges for Teams
    • (04:34) - Clarifying Goals & Alignment
    • (07:16) - AI as a Collaborative Partner
    • (09:22) - Atlassian’s AI Onboarding Buddy
    • (12:46) - Rethinking Meetings
    • (15:55) - Three Types of Work Time
    • (17:14) - Replacing Meetings with Asynchronous Video
    • (19:59) - The Final Three Questions
    • (24:09) - Conclusion

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    9 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 17 minutes 35 seconds
    247. “Matt”er of Fact: Coaching on Feedback and Q&A

    Two new Think Fast Talk Smart AI tools put communication skills to the test in real time.


    Technology promises many things, but few experiments illustrate its potential more vividly than a coach in conversation with his own digital counterpart. In this episode, Matt Abrahams introduces two new AI-powered tools from the Think Fast Talk Smart Online Learning Community: Coach Matt and Chat Matt. Trained on years of Matt’s communication teachings and podcast insights, these digital counterparts offer a rare opportunity to watch human expertise meet machine-driven guidance in real time.

    Coach Matt begins by addressing a familiar tension: the surge of anxiety that surfaces before high-stakes speaking moments. His approach reframes that nervousness as a form of future-focused energy that can be redirected toward curiosity and clarity. He also introduces the “What–So What–Now What” framework, a simple but powerful method for giving feedback that remains constructive, direct, and grounded in shared purpose.

    Chat Matt then steps into the conversation, tackling the challenge of crafting a compelling proposal in just two minutes. Its responses reveal how AI can quickly synthesize communication principles while also highlighting the evolving space where human nuance and digital precision intersect.

    By pairing Matt Abrahams with his own digital counterparts, this episode of Think Fast Talk Smarts explores the future of communication learning—one where technology doesn’t replace the coach, but expands the possibilities for insight, clarity, and confident expression.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:10) - Introducing Coach Matt and Chat Matt
    • (04:11) - Coach Matt: Speaking Anxiety
    • (06:11) - Reframing Nervousness
    • (07:11) - Constructive Feedback Framework
    • (08:30) - Testing Communication Advice
    • (10:04) - Chat Matt: High-Stakes Presenting
    • (14:00) - Strengthening a Two-Minute Proposal
    • (16:36) - 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.

    Go to     Quince.com/ThinkFast for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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

    2 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 38 seconds
    246. Shared Wisdom: How Communication Defines Culture and Builds Community

    Why good communication is the key to good communities.


    Community and communication go hand-in-hand. For Sandy Pentland, the culture and cohesion of any group “has to do with the stories [people] tell each other.”

    Pentland is a professor at MIT, where he helped create and direct the MIT Media Lab. As a pioneer in computational social science, he’s using data to map social networks and decode communication. In his latest book, Shared Wisdom: Cultural Evolution in the Age of AI, he explores the interplay between human culture, technological development, and societal change — arguing that communication is the tool that enables groups to achieve these advancements and to cohere throughout them. “Stories are the stuff of culture,” he says. “Sharing stories educates the community… defining the worldview and culture of that group.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Pentland and host Matt Abrahams explore what our communication patterns reveal about group dynamics and organizational health. From the “honest signals” in our interactions to strategies for strengthening remote work connections, Pentland shares how better communication can fuel more connected communities.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:53) - Honest Signals & Human Behavior
    • (04:46) - The Sociometric Badge Research
    • (06:16) - Human Connection in Remote Work
    • (07:33) - Organizations as Networks
    • (10:05) - How Ideas Spread in Groups
    • (13:16) - Bringing the Right People Together
    • (14:44) - Stories as Cultural DNA
    • (17:27) - The Final Three Questions
    • (22:29) - 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.

    Go to     Quince.com/ThinkFast for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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

    27 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 20 minutes 58 seconds
    245. Mindful Messages: Leveraging the Power of Presence

    When you enter a conflict trying to win, Deepak Chopra says you’ve already lost.


    “We can resolve any conflict,” says Dr. Deepak Chopra. All it takes is what he calls “conscious communication.”

    Chopra is a physician, a leading authority on integrative wellbeing, and the author of over 97 books. His “conscious communication” approach puts presence at the center of all meaningful interactions — bringing together attention, affection, appreciation, and acceptance. When applied to conflicts, his approach turns adversaries into collaborators, leading to what he calls "spiritual solutions" where diverse perspectives and problem-solving lead to better outcomes for all. “We can come up with a creative solution for any adversity,” he says. “All we want is the best outcome for everyone.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Chopra and host Matt Abrahams explore how presence transforms our interactions, why intentions enable us to accomplish more with less effort, and helpful questions to guide difficult conversations. Whether navigating conflict in our professional or personal lives, Chopra’s insights show why the best resolutions come when we stop trying to be right and start trying to understand.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:03) - The Power of Presence
    • (04:49) - Reframing Conflict
    • (10:59) - The Role of Intention
    • (12:59) - DeepakChopra.ai Explained
    • (15:01) - The Final Three Question
    • (19:48) - 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.

    Go to     Quince.com/ThinkFast for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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

    25 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 29 seconds
    244. Community Creates Change: Build Relationships That Actually Matter

    Why community is the most powerful tool for transformation.


    Community isn't just a feel-good buzzword. According to Gina Bianchini, it's a catalyst for personal and collective transformation.

    Bianchini is the CEO and founder of community-building platform, Mighty Networks, and author of the book Purpose: Design a Community and Change Your Life. "Community is when people come together, and every single member has something to give and something to receive," she explains. In contrast to the one-directional dynamic of a speaker and their audience or a creator and their following, Bianchini argues that the power of community lies in two-way exchanges, where each member benefits the group and benefits from it. "Community is the single most effective way to get results and transformation you just can't get on your own," she says.

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Bianchini joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss how to unlock the potential of purposeful communities. She shares strategies for finding your tribe during times of transition, the "people magic” created when we facilitate deep connections, and how creating community enables us to create the world and lives we imagine.

    To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:47) - Defining Community vs. Audience
    • (04:35) - Community as a Catalyst for Transformation
    • (07:11) - Finding the Right Community
    • (10:59) - The Future Story Framework
    • (13:52) - People Magic & Facilitation
    • (19:28) - The Final Three Questions
    • (25:20) - 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.

    Go to     Quince.com/ThinkFast for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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

    20 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 52 seconds
    243. Rethinks: How Lessons from Neuroscience Can Help You Communicate Confidently

    Reduce speaking anxiety and achieve your communication goals.

    “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 Think Fast Talk Smart Rethinks episode, we revisit one of our most popular interviews. In it, Huberman, from the wildly popular Huberman Lab Podcast, shares his research on the autonomic continuum, a spectrum between states of high alertness or fear all the way down to deep sleep, and shares how to use the system to your advantage. “If people can conceptualize that the anxiety or stress response is the same as the excitement response, they feel different,” Huberman says.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:20) - Stress & the Autonomic Continuum
    • (05:28) - Controlling Alertness & Calmness
    • (09:17) - Movement & Audience Perception
    • (11:42) - Eye Movements for Anxiety Reduction
    • (14:02) - Two Approaches to Managing Stress
    • (18:46) - Preparing for Stress in Advance
    • (20:48) - Effective Virtual Communication
    • (22:50) - The Final Three Questions
    • (27:49) - 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.

    Go to     Quince.com/ThinkFast for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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

    17 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 14 minutes 23 seconds
    242. Tech Tools: The Power of Showing, Not Telling

    Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.


    Sometimes the best way to explain an idea is to show it. That’s why Loom was built — to make communication more visual, authentic, and efficient. By combining video, screen sharing, and AI-powered editing, Loom helps teams connect and collaborate asynchronously, no matter where they are.

    In this episode of the Think Fast, Talk Smart Tech Tools miniseries, host Matt Abrahams talks with Joe Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Loom, now part of Atlassian, about how asynchronous video can make communication clearer, faster, and more personal. They discuss why “show, don’t tell” is such an effective communication principle, how authenticity builds trust, and why recording yourself might be one of the best ways to improve how you communicate.

    In addition to insight-packed discussions, this miniseries explores innovative tools that enhance the way we communicate and connect. Whether you want to make your presentations more memorable, craft stories that stick, or connect with your audience on a deeper level, these episodes will help you communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and impact.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (01:18) - Loom Elevator Pitch
    • (02:27) - Creation of Loom
    • (03:50) - Show, Don’t Tell: Using Video Effectively
    • (08:39) - Favorite Communicator
    • (09:43) - Communication Hack or Tool
    • (12:46) - 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.

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    13 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 24 minutes 31 seconds
    241. Team Spirit: How to Make Group Work Work

    How to unlock the power of groups through collective communication.


    They say teamwork makes the dream work. But as Colin Fisher knows, unlocking the power of groups requires a specific kind of collective communication.

    Fisher is an associate professor of organizations and innovation at University College London School of Management and author of The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups. His research reveals the dichotomy of group dynamics: "Groups can be the pinnacle of human accomplishment," he says. "But groups also have these tendencies to restrict us, to take away our individuality, and to sometimes make us the worst versions of ourselves.” The key, he argues, is fostering communication that maximizes the creative synergy of collaboration while minimizing the pressure to conform.

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Fisher joins host Matt Abrahams to share evidence-based strategies for effective teamwork, from selecting the ideal group size to fostering psychological safety. Whether with our coworkers, our families, or our friends, Fisher’s insights reveal how collective communication can make or break group success.

    To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:58) - Advantages and Disadvantages of Groups
    • (04:32) - What Makes Teams Successful
    • (06:16) - The Ideal Group Size
    • (07:12) - Building Psychological Safety
    • (09:28) - Launching a Team for Success
    • (13:49) - Making Meetings More Effective
    • (17:04) - The Final Three Questions
    • (23:15) - 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.

    Go to     Quince.com/ThinkFast for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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

    11 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 46 seconds
    240. Belief It or Not: How to Rewrite the Narratives That Hold You Back

    How to identify and rewrite the limiting beliefs holding you back.

    Achieving what you want in life doesn’t just hinge on what you believe about your future. According to Muriel Wilkins, it has just as much to do with what you believe about your past and present.

    Wilkins is an executive coach, author, and host of the HBR podcast Coaching Real Leaders. In her new book, Leadership Unblocked: Breakthrough the Beliefs that Limit Your Potential, she explains how our personal and professional blocks often stem from our own limiting beliefs about ourselves. “A belief is a story that you tell yourself,” she says, “It is the operating principle that is driving your behavior and the decisions you make.” Before we can take actions that will lead us to where we want to go, we have to uncover these hidden beliefs. Otherwise, Wilkins says, “We'll come back right to where we started. It's not just about what we do, it's about what we think about what we do that makes all the difference."

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wilkins and host Matt Abrahams explore the three-step process of uncover, unpack, and unblock — Wilkins’ method for identifying limiting beliefs, understanding how they might be shaping our behavior, and updating narratives to align with who we actually want to be.

    To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:53) - The Seven Limiting Beliefs
    • (05:19) - Three Steps to Becoming Unblocked
    • (08:33) - Rethinking Values and Success
    • (09:48) - Healthy vs. Toxic Productivity
    • (12:32) - The Power of Mindset and Reframing
    • (15:08) - Reverse Engineering Your Goals
    • (18:17) - Managing Emotional Investment
    • (21:57) - The Final Three Question
    • (27:37) - 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.

    Go to     Quince.com/ThinkFast for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

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

    4 November 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 13 minutes 19 seconds
    239. Tech Tools: How Smarter Scheduling Leads to Stronger Communication

    Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.

    Meetings are where collaboration happens — but too often, scheduling them feels like the biggest barrier to meaningful connection. That’s why Calendly was created: to simplify scheduling and make time for what truly matters — the conversation itself.

    In this episode of the Think Fast, Talk Smart Tech Tools miniseries, host Matt Abrahams talks with Calendly’s Vice President of Growth, Darren Chait, about how intentional scheduling leads to better communication, stronger relationships, and more productive meetings. They explore how data-driven insights can improve collaboration, reduce burnout, and help teams make every meeting count.

    In addition to insight-packed discussions, this miniseries explores innovative tools that enhance the way we communicate and connect. Whether you want to make your presentations more memorable, craft stories that stick, or connect with your audience on a deeper level, these episodes will help you communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and impact.

    Episode Reference Links:


    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (01:12) - Calendly Elevator Pitch
    • (02:47) - The Origin of Calendly
    • (04:44) - The Art of Intentional Scheduling
    • (06:33) - Making Meetings More Effective
    • (07:30) - Favorite Communicator
    • (09:37) - Communication Hack or Tool
    • (11:42) - 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.

    Try Prezi today and get 25% off exclusively at prezi.com/thinkfast.

    30 October 2025, 1:00 pm
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