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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
  • 275. Cracking the Code: Learn The Unspoken Rules of Workplace Success

    275. Cracking the Code: Learn The Unspoken Rules of Workplace Success
    Mar 26 2026

    Why mastering unspoken workplace communication is essential to long-term career success.


    Succeeding at work doesn’t just depend on how hard you work or how smart you are. According to Erin McGoff, it often comes down to whether you understand the “secret language” everyone else seems to be speaking.


    McGoff is a career creator, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and author of The Secret Language of Work: Hyper Helpful Scripts for Every Situation. Known for her wildly popular AdviceWithErin platform, she helps millions of professionals phrase things more effectively — without sounding stiff or robotic. “It’s this hidden curriculum to the workforce,” she explains, describing the unwritten rules of interviews, negotiations, and professional etiquette. “It’s not written down anywhere. It’s not equally distributed.” Her mission is to make those invisible rules visible — and usable.

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McGoff and host Matt Abrahams explore how to communicate with confidence, advocate for yourself strategically, and build a professional brand with intention. Confidence, she says, isn’t fixed: “Confidence isn’t binary. Confidence is a spectrum.” It starts internally, with how we speak to ourselves, and strengthens when we “get really good at what you do.”

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Erin McGoff
    • Erin’s Book: The Secret Language of Work
    • 202. Own Your Brand: How to Communicate with Presence and Impact

    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
    • (04:56) - The Secret Language of Work
    • (06:32) - Building Confidence
    • (08:39) - Creating Your Professional Brand
    • (10:00) - Setting Expectations at Work
    • (12:31) - Advocate Strategically
    • (14:34) - Mastering First Impressions
    • (15:50) - Professional vs. Personal
    • (18:19) - Interview Before, During, After
    • (22:55) - Nonverbal Presence
    • (23:19) - The Final Three Questions
    • (27:18) - 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.

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    25 mins
  • 274. Choose Connection Over Perfection: Why Happiness Starts with Better Communication

    274. Choose Connection Over Perfection: Why Happiness Starts with Better Communication
    Mar 23 2026
    How to communicate for deeper connection—and greater happiness.Happiness isn’t just a feeling—it’s something you can actively shape through how you think, connect, and communicate.Sonja Lyubomirsky, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside and co-author of How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, defines happiness as two key components: “being happy in your life and being happy with your life.” And while many people separate happiness from meaning or purpose, she explains that “they almost always go together.” Her research shows how the small habits we practice—like gratitude—can have a powerful effect, helping to “neutralize negative emotions” and shift how we see our lives. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Lyubomirsky and host Matt Abrahams explore the science of wellbeing and the habits that help us feel more fulfilled. From gratitude practices to breaking free from the comparison trap, they share practical strategies for boosting happiness and explain why connection isn’t just about being loved, but truly “feeling loved.”Episode Reference Links:Sonja LyubomirskySonja’s Book: How To Feel Loved179. Finding Positive in Negative Emotions: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing180. Unlocking Your Future Self: Communication, Happiness & Well…181. Why Happiness is a Direction, Not a Destination: Communicat…182. Stop Chasing Time and Start Owning It: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing 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 >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (04:50) - Defining Happiness (07:02) - Gratitude in Practice (07:45) - Acting Extroverted (09:42) - The Comparison Trap (11:40) - Reflection vs. Rumination (12:27) - Best Self Exercise (13:51) - Building Positive Psychology (15:16) - Happiness Drives Success (16:44) - Relationships as a Seesaw (19:04) - Being Known vs. Impressive (21:22) - The Final Three Questions (25:55) - 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.
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    24 mins
  • 273. Quick Thinks: How to Create Messages People Remember

    273. Quick Thinks: How to Create Messages People Remember
    Mar 19 2026

    Memorable communication isn’t about saying more—it’s making the right idea stick.


    No matter how compelling a presentation feels in the moment, most of what you say won’t last in your audience’s memory. The key isn’t trying to make people remember everything — it’s ensuring they remember what matters most.


    Carmen Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, author, and expert on how the brain pays attention and forms memories. Her research explores how communication can move beyond passive listening and become an experience the brain actually holds onto. “The way we come to know the world is through the interaction of brain, body, and environment,” she explains. “The more you invite your audiences to interact with anything, especially physically, the more you impact cognition.”

    In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Simon and host Matt Abrahams explore practical, research-backed ways to make communication more memorable. They discuss why handwriting notes can deepen understanding, how curiosity and tension capture attention, and why communicators should avoid overwhelming audiences with too much information. Instead, Simon encourages speakers to structure ideas so audiences can recognize patterns and return to a clear core message.


    Episode Reference Links:

    • Carmen Simon
    • Carmen’s Book: Impossible to Ignore
    • Ep.39 Brains Love Stories: How Leveraging Neuroscience Can Capture People's Emotions

    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
    • (02:31) - Embodied Cognition Explained
    • (04:44) - The Impact of Environment on Attention
    • (06:08) - Sparking Curiosity in Your Audience
    • (10:24) - Avoiding Cognitive Overload
    • (14:48) - Using Visuals to Improve Recall
    • (18:43) - 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.

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    20 mins
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