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.

  • 24 minutes 50 seconds
    257. Move Your Audience: Lessons From MLK You Should Use

    Why it’s not about being born a great communicator, but becoming one.


    The greatest communicators aren’t always great from the start. As Lerone Martin knows, even the great Martin Luther King Jr. had to practice before he could persuade.

    Martin is the Martin Luther King Jr. Centennial Professor at Stanford, and as director of the King Research and Education Institute, he has spent years studying how King developed his brilliant communication that continues to captivate audiences to this day. “This is a skill that Martin developed over years,” Martin says. “There are stories of him practicing in the mirror... And I think it speaks to us about how we can develop this skill over time.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Martin and host Matt Abrahams unpack the techniques behind King's legendary speeches, from the musicality of his voice to his use of repetition and narrative structure. Whether you’re preparing a speech or building conversation skills, Martin highlights King’s example to show that great communication isn’t always born — it’s built.

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

    Episode Reference Links:

    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:50) - Why MLK Was So Compelling
    • (04:17) - MLK’s Early Speaking Struggles
    • (05:49) - How MLK Practiced and Improved
    • (06:44) - Favorite MLK Speech
    • (07:58) - “I Have A Dream” and Prepared Spontaneity
    • (10:03) - MLK’s Core Techniques
    • (13:01) - Repetition, Rhythm, and Momentum
    • (15:30) - Conviction vs. Performative Messaging
    • (19:00) - The Final Three Questions
    • (23:35) - Conclusion

    ********
    This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today

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

    19 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 26 minutes
    256. Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success

    Why being kind is the best investment.


    Can kindness be a company’s competitive advantage? Bonnie Hayden Cheng says yes — and she’s got a business metric to prove it: return on kindness.

    Cheng is a professor of management at City University of Hong Kong who researches how workplace behaviors affect interpersonal dynamics and well-being. In her book, The Return on Kindness, she explores how organizations that foster a culture of kindness see a measurable ROK — one marked by a more committed, more productive, and less expensive workforce. “Organizations that have this kind of culture around acts of civic virtue, helping, or showing support for people, those end up having employees that want to stay, are less likely to call in sick, are more committed, their performance goes up,” she says. “There's also benefits for the company in terms of higher productivity and efficiency, and even lower costs.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Cheng and host Matt Abrahams explore how to build cultures of kindness — from Cheng’s RISE framework for kind leadership to why candor and compassion go hand-in-hand. Whether you're leading a team or simply trying to show up better for your colleagues, Cheng offers a compelling case for measuring what really matters: the return on kindness.

    Episode Reference Links:

    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:00) - What Is Kind Leadership?
    • (05:02) - The RISE Framework
    • (07:37) - Everyone Can Be a Leader
    • (08:56) - Kindness vs. Niceness
    • (11:25) - Kindness and Candor
    • (12:57) - Communicating Kindness
    • (14:56) - The Power of Tone and Pause
    • (17:13) - Building a Culture of Kindness
    • (19:25) - Protecting Kindness in Organizations
    • (22:10) - The Final Three Questions
    • (24:51) - 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.

    This episode is brought to you by     Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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

    15 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 33 seconds
    255. How Leaders Sound Smart Without Saying Too Much

    The keys to communicating clarity, not confusion.

    What separates communicators who clarify from those who confuse? The ability to “Simplify complexity,” says Adam Bryant. “I don't think you can be an effective leader if you can't do that.”

    Bryant is a senior managing director at the ExCo Group and former New York Times journalist who interviewed over 500 CEOs for his renowned Corner Office column. Through those conversations, he identified a pattern: the best communicators turn complexity into clarity. For Bryant, that means checking your own expertise, considering not whether something makes sense to you, but whether it makes sense to someone else. “Empathy [is] a component of communication,” he says, “to be an effective communicator, you have to be able to get in the head of the audience.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Bryant and host Matt Abrahams explore the keys to clear communication, from simplifying (without oversimplifying) to repeating messages until people can recite them back. Whether you’re leading a whole company or just one conversation, Bryant’s insights reveal how to communicate complex ideas in ways anyone can understand.

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

    Episode Reference Links:

    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:20) - Traits of Successful Leaders
    • (05:35) - Communication Mistakes to Avoid
    • (09:32) - Listening as a Leadership Skill
    • (12:52) - Simplifying Complex Ideas
    • (16:28) - How to Capture Attention
    • (19:08) - Leading Life with Curiosity
    • (20:32) - The Final Three Question
    • (26:24) - 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.

    This episode is brought to you by     Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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

    13 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 32 seconds
    254. Start Fresh: How Framing, Timing, and Talk Can Improve Your Finances

    How to have more open conversations about money.


    Talking about money is taboo for many people. But according to Wendy De La Rosa, financial well-being only starts when we break the silence around finance.

    De La Rosa is a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a co-founder of the Common Cents Lab, an initiative aiming to increase financial well-being for low- to moderate-income people. For many, she says, shame keeps us silent about money. “Shame is paralyzing, and more than any other negative emotion, [it] leads us to ignore,” she says. But when it comes to financial well-being, ignoring our finances is the last thing we should do. Instead, De La Rosa advocates for open discussion. “Talk about finances,” she says. “How did you ask for a raise? What are you getting paid right now? These are important conversations that help everybody.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, De La Rosa and host Matt Abrahams explore how to have more open, productive conversations about finances. Whether you're a manager thinking about employee financial wellness or trying to broach a difficult topic with a partner or friend, De La Rosa offers practical strategies for breaking through the taboo around money.


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

    Episode Reference Links:

    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:58) - The Fresh Start Effect
    • (05:21) - Pay Timing Shapes Behavior
    • (06:37) - Productivity and Financial Stress
    • (09:03) - Framing Financial Choices
    • (11:36) - Understanding Financial Shame
    • (14:06) - Rebuilding Your Financial Environment
    • (15:31) - Giving Financial Advice With Care
    • (18:03) - Normalizing Money Talk
    • (19:07) - The Final Three Question
    • (24:19) - 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.

    This episode is brought to you by     Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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

    6 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 39 seconds
    253. Top 10: The Best Communication Tips from 2025

    Our 10 favorite communication insights from 2025.

    The most transformative communication insights are the ones we actually remember to use. That’s why host Matt Abrahams is taking stock of his favorite communication tips from this year, so we can carry them into the next.

    In this annual Think Fast, Talk Smart tradition, Abrahams shares his top 10 communication insights from guests over the past year, from facilitating connection through Gina Bianchini's "proactive serendipity” to Jenn Wynn’s use of dialogue as a gateway to synergy. Whether you're looking to build trust, boost productivity, or speak more spontaneously, this year’s top 10 insights offer a reminder of all we’ve learned this year — and a roadmap for better communication in the year ahead.

    Episode Reference Links:

    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:33) - Facilitation and Productive Serendipity
    • (05:08) - Toxic vs. Healthy Productivity
    • (07:31) - Dialogue as the Path to Synergy
    • (10:03) - How Actions Build Trust
    • (11:29) - Communication as an Unselfish Act
    • (13:24) - Be Present and Prepare to Be Spontaneous
    • (15:29) - Why Memorable Words Matter
    • (18:54) - Persuasion and Identity
    • (20:43) - Finding Meaning Through Purpose
    • (22:38) - Listening to Negative Emotions
    • (24:55) - 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.

    This episode is brought to you by     Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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

    30 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 17 minutes 6 seconds
    252. Rethinks: How to Make Complex Ideas Accessible

    Presenting complex information for your audience to understand.

    As communicators, we often need to take complex information (e.g., financial, technical, or scientific) and make it more understandable for our audience – we’re experts and they likely aren’t. But having so much knowledge on the topics we discuss can often make the job more difficult: we dive in too quickly, forget about our audience's needs, or use jargon that goes over their heads. 


    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, strategic communications lecturers Matt Abrahams and Lauren Weinstein explore the “curse of knowledge” and offer specific techniques you can use to be more successful in getting your point across.

    Episode Reference Links:

    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:21) - Where Complexity Breaks Down
    • (04:34) - Start With the Audience
    • (05:36) - The Power of Analogy
    • (08:37) - The “Chunking” Technique
    • (10:32) - Make Data Relatable
    • (12:42) - The Final Three Question
    • (15:59) - 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.

    This episode is brought to you by     Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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

    25 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 36 seconds
    251. How to Stop Performing and Start Communicating with Presence

    Why good communication requires presence, not performance.


    Effective communication isn't about perfecting your performance. According to Dr. Kate Mason, it's about being powerfully present.

    Mason is a world champion debater, executive communication coach, and author of the book Powerfully Likeable. In her work coaching senior executives to communicate more effectively, she emphasizes that it’s not about creating a performative persona, it’s about uncovering the authentic communicator you already are. “The coaching is just bringing the real parts of you to the fore,” she says, “uncovering rather than totally building from scratch. A lot of people come to me and say, I need to be more warm or more insert adjective here. And I say, I'm not gonna help you be more warm if that's not what's coming naturally to you. I am gonna help you work out the thing you're already doing, the thing you're already saying, how to make that comfortable for people around you.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Mason and host Matt Abrahams discuss strategies for more present communication. From avoiding "imposing syndrome” to reducing “the delta between your real self and that corporate persona,” Mason's insights explore how we can bring more of our true selves to the table.

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

    Episode Reference Links:

    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:00) - Why Confidence Is the Wrong Goal
    • (04:23) - Bridging Your Real and Work Selves
    • (05:55) - What Is Imposing Syndrome?
    • (07:29) - Catching Yourself Shrinking
    • (09:26) - Rethinking Imposter Syndrome
    • (10:43) - Assertive vs. Agreeable
    • (13:08) - Naming Your Communication Style
    • (16:06) - What You Say vs. How You Show Up
    • (18:11) - Body Language That Signals Openness
    • (19:32) - Executive Messaging Lessons
    • (22:29) - The Final Three Questions
    • (27:29) - 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.

    This episode is brought to you by     Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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

    23 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 29 minutes 18 seconds
    250. How to Navigate Conflict: Tools For Productive Communication

    Celebrate our 250th episode with expert strategies that make tough conversations easier — and more meaningful.

    Some of the most meaningful shifts in how we communicate come from the moments that challenge us the most. In this special 250th episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams reflects on the insights that have shown him how conflict can become a catalyst for clarity, connection, and even compassion.

    From Amy Gallo’s reminder that the “right kind of conflict” leads to better outcomes to Jenn Wynn’s framework for calming our nervous system before stepping into a hard conversation and Julia Minson’s HEAR method for signaling genuine curiosity, each tool helps turn tension into understanding for every stage of conflict. And with Joseph Grenny’s guidance on noticing when our motives shift from problem-solving to winning, this episode highlights how self-awareness can reset even the toughest moments.

    Whether you’re navigating workplace disagreements or everyday friction at home, this milestone episode offers practical ways to make difficult dialogue feel less daunting — and a real opportunity to communicate better.

    Episode Reference Links:


    Music from Blue Dot Sessions:


    Etude 3 Chessanta
    Etude 1 Cherub

    Etude 12 Taminy

    Ojufemi

    Cloud Cannon

    The Caspian Sea 

    Doghouse

    An Opus in Ab

    First Results 

    Cach PKL

    Tenaway

    Connect:


    Timed Links:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:45) - Why Conflict Is Necessary
    • (04:44) - Transforming Unproductive Conflict
    • (05:32) - Inner Experience of Difficult Conversations
    • (06:28) - Self-Awareness, Pause, Reframe
    • (08:35) - Four Questions For Understanding
    • (11:54) - Acting Curious vs. Feeling Curious
    • (14:10) - The HEAR Framework
    • (18:46) - Humility & Willingness To Be Wrong
    • (20:17) - Practice & Repetition
    • (21:44) - Acknowledging Motives
    • (22:58) - Two Questions to Reset Motives
    • (24:52) - Bringing the Frameworks Together
    • (26:18) - What Really Matters
    • (27:50) - 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.

    This episode is brought to you by     Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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

    16 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 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.

    Episode Reference Links:

    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:49) - Measuring Collaboration the Right Way
    • (05:41) - Training Leaders & Goal Rituals
    • (07:55) - Creating Space for Spontaneous Work
    • (11:26) - Making In-Person Time Count
    • (11:50) - Three High-Impact Team Gatherings
    • (15:17) - Supporting Diverse Communication Styles
    • (17:25) - Conclusion

    ********
    This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today

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

    11 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 32 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.

    Episode Reference Links:


    On Apple: 


    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:57) - How the Teamwork Lab Works
    • (04:28) - Top Challenges for Teams
    • (05:02) - Clarifying Goals & Alignment
    • (07:44) - AI as a Collaborative Partner
    • (09:50) - Atlassian’s AI Onboarding Buddy
    • (13:14) - Rethinking Meetings
    • (16:23) - Three Types of Work Time
    • (17:42) - Replacing Meetings with Asynchronous Video
    • (20:27) - The Final Three Questions
    • (24:30) - 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.

    This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today

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

    9 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 17 minutes 54 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.

    Episode Reference Links:


    Connect:


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:19) - Introducing Coach Matt and Chat Matt
    • (04:20) - Coach Matt: Speaking Anxiety
    • (06:20) - Reframing Nervousness
    • (07:20) - Constructive Feedback Framework
    • (08:39) - Testing Communication Advice
    • (10:13) - Chat Matt: High-Stakes Presenting
    • (14:19) - Strengthening a Two-Minute Proposal
    • (16:55) - 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.

    This episode is brought to you by     Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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

    2 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • More Episodes? Get the App