Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/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 [https://fastersmarter.io/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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], 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: * Bonnie Hayden Cheng [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/bonnie-hayden-cheng/] * Bonnie’s Book: The Return on Kindness [https://fastersmarter.io/the-return-on-kindness] * Ep.93 All the Feels: The Personal and Professional Power of Emotional Awareness [https://www.fastersmarter.io/93-all-the-feels-the-personal-and-professional-power-of-emotional-awareness/] * Ep.132 Lean Into Failure: How to Make Mistakes That Work [https://www.fastersmarter.io/132-lean-into-failure-how-to-make-mistakes-that-work/] Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/256-be-kind-the-most-overlooked-driver-of-success/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (02:57) - What Is Kind Leadership? * (04:59) - The RISE Framework * (07:34) - Everyone Can Be a Leader * (08:53) - Kindness vs. Niceness * (11:22) - Kindness and Candor * (12:54) - Communicating Kindness * (14:53) - The Power of Tone and Pause * (17:10) - Building a Culture of Kindness * (19:22) - Protecting Kindness in Organizations * (21:51) - The Final Three Questions * (24:32) - Conclusion ******** This episode is sponsored by Virtual Speech. Visit virtualspeech.com [https://virtualspeech.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=thinkfasttalksmart&utm_campaign=thinkfasttalksmart] to learn how AI-powered learning can transform your team. Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], 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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * Adam Bryant [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/adam-bryant/] * Adam’s Books: Quick and Nimble [http://fastersmarter.io/quick-and-nimble] / The CEO Test [http://fastersmarter.io/the-ceo-test] * Ep.98 Give It to Me Straight: How to Give Honest, Constructive Feedback [https://www.fastersmarter.io/98-give-it-to-me-straight-how-to-give-honest-constructive-feedback/]  Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/255-how-leaders-sound-smart-without-saying-too-much/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (03:17) - Traits of Successful Leaders * (05:32) - Communication Mistakes to Avoid * (09:29) - Listening as a Leadership Skill * (12:49) - Simplifying Complex Ideas * (16:25) - How to Capture Attention * (19:05) - Leading Life with Curiosity * (20:29) - The Final Three Question * (26:05) - Conclusion ******** This episode is sponsored by Virtual Speech. Visit virtualspeech.com [https://virtualspeech.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=thinkfasttalksmart&utm_campaign=thinkfasttalksmart] to learn how AI-powered learning can transform your team. Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], 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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * Wendy De La Rosa [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/wendy-de-la-rosa/] * Ep.104 How to Change: Building Better Habits and Behaviors (And Getting Out of Your Own Way) [https://www.fastersmarter.io/104-how-to-change-building-better-habits-and-behaviors-and-getting-out-of-your-own-way/] * Ep.59 From Dreaming to Doing: How We Set and Achieve Goals [https://www.fastersmarter.io/59-from-dreaming-to-doing-how-we-set-and-achieve-goals/]   Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/254-start-fresh-how-framing-timing-and-talk-can-improve-your-finances/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] 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 [https://get.babbel.com/eg_podcast_flags_ame_usa-en?bsc=podcast-thinkfast&btp=default&utm_campaign=podcast-thinkfast&utm_content=podcast..thinkfast..usa..internal&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=thinkfast&utm_term=generic_v1]. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast [http://babbel.com/Thinkfast] and get up to 55% off your Babbel [https://get.babbel.com/eg_podcast_flags_ame_usa-en?bsc=podcast-thinkfast&btp=default&utm_campaign=podcast-thinkfast&utm_content=podcast..thinkfast..usa..internal&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=thinkfast&utm_term=generic_v1] subscription. Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/] tradition, Abrahams shares his top 10 communication insights from guests over the past year, from facilitating connection through Gina Bianchini's [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/gina-bianchini/] "proactive serendipity” to Jenn Wynn’s [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/jenn-wynn/] 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: * Ep.177 Don’t Resolve, Evolve: Top 10 Lessons From 2024 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/177-dont-resolve-evolve-top-10-lessons-from-2024/] * Ep.120 A Few of Matt’s Favorite Things: 10 Communication Takeaways from 2023's TFTS Episodes [https://www.fastersmarter.io/120-a-few-of-matts-favorite-things-10-communication-takeaways-from-2023s-tfts-episodes/]   Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/253-top-10-the-best-communication-tips-from-2025/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (03:30) - Facilitation and Productive Serendipity * (05:05) - Toxic vs. Healthy Productivity * (07:28) - Dialogue as the Path to Synergy * (10:00) - How Actions Build Trust * (11:26) - Communication as an Unselfish Act * (13:21) - Be Present and Prepare to Be Spontaneous * (15:26) - Why Memorable Words Matter * (18:35) - Persuasion and Identity * (20:24) - Finding Meaning Through Purpose * (22:19) - Listening to Negative Emotions * (24:36) - Conclusion ******** This episode is sponsored by Virtual Speech. Visit virtualspeech.com [https://virtualspeech.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=thinkfasttalksmart&utm_campaign=thinkfasttalksmart] to learn how AI-powered learning can transform your team. Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], strategic communications lecturers Matt Abrahams and Lauren Weinstein [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/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: * Lauren Weinstein [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/lauren-weinstein/] * Ep.3 When Knowing Too Much Can Hurt Your Communication: How to Make Complex Ideas Accessible [https://www.fastersmarter.io/3-when-knowing-too-much-can-hurt-your-communication-how-to-make-complex-ideas-accessible/] * Ep.49 Make Numbers Count: How to Communicate Data Effectively [https://www.fastersmarter.io/49-make-numbers-count-how-to-communicate-data-effectively/] * Ep.91 Um, Like, So: How Filler Words Can Create More Connected, Effective Communication [https://www.fastersmarter.io/91-um-like-so-how-filler-words-can-create-more-connected-effective-communication/]  Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/252-rethinks-how-to-make-complex-ideas-accessible/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] 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 [https://get.babbel.com/eg_podcast_flags_ame_usa-en?bsc=podcast-thinkfast&btp=default&utm_campaign=podcast-thinkfast&utm_content=podcast..thinkfast..usa..internal&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=thinkfast&utm_term=generic_v1]. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast [http://babbel.com/Thinkfast] and get up to 55% off your Babbel [https://get.babbel.com/eg_podcast_flags_ame_usa-en?bsc=podcast-thinkfast&btp=default&utm_campaign=podcast-thinkfast&utm_content=podcast..thinkfast..usa..internal&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=thinkfast&utm_term=generic_v1] subscription. Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]