Think Faster, Talk Smarter and Excel at Spontaneous Conversation with Matt Abrahams

#139: Stanford professor Matt Abrahams is an expert in spontaneous conversations and shares six steps to help polish your speaking skills. He covers tips and tricks to help you think faster, techniques for managing anxiety, ways to structure small talk to make it more engaging, and a formula for delivering an exceptional wedding toast.

Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He hosts the award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart and is also the author of two books: Think Faster, Talk Smarter and Speaking Up Without Freaking Out.

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Resources Mentioned

Matt Abrahams: Website | Podcast | LinkedIn

• Books: Think Faster, Talk Smarter | Speaking Up Without Freaking Out

Humour, Seriously: Why Humour Is A Superpower At Work And In Life

Web Browser: Arc

AI Powered Personal Communication Tools: LikeSo | Poised

Email for questions, tips, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com

Full Show Notes

(02:13) Handling Spontaneous Conversations

(04:09) Overview: 6-step Process to Think Faster, Talk Smarter

(07:49) A 2-Pronged Approach to Manage Your Anxiety

(16:41) Changing the Way We Strive for Perfection

(18:33) Small Talk & Chit Chat

(21:30) Tactics to End Small Talk

(23:18) Types of Conversational Turns

(25:30) Practicing & Preparing to Be Spontaneous

(27:05) Reframing the Circumstances

(35:03) How to Become Better Listeners

(38:37) Creating Structure for Communication

(43:37) Toasts & Tributes

(45:36) Humor in Conversations

(47:08) Why Having Structure Will Set You Free

(49:30) Being Clear & Concise

(52:42) Using Generative AI for Communication

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