Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

When we truly listen, every conversation changes — including the one with ourselves. Listening isn’t about waiting for your turn to speak — it’s about being present enough to truly hear. In a world full of noise, slowing down to listen can feel like a radical act. Yet it’s in those moments of stillness and attention that real understanding begins. In this special Ask Matt Anything episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], we explore what it means to “listen up” — to engage with intention, empathy, and curiosity. Along the way, listener questions spark insights on how to slow down fast conversations, apply communication tools in real life, and navigate the nuances of culture and connection. Because better communication doesn’t start with what we say — it starts with what we hear. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * Ep.17 Think Fast: You Asked, We Answered [https://www.fastersmarter.io/17-think-fast-you-asked-we-answered/] * Ep.114 Communication Means Paying Attention: The Four Pillars of Active Listening [https://www.fastersmarter.io/114-communication-means-paying-attention-the-four-pillars-of-active-listening/] * Ask Matt Anything (AMA) 1: Trust, Paraphrasing, and Nonverbal Cues [https://www.fastersmarter.io/ask-matt-anything-ama-1-trust-paraphrasing-and-nonverbal-cues/]    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/238-ama-why-listening-might-be-your-most-powerful-skill/] * 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 * (02:42) - The Three Ps That Block Good Listening * (03:39) - Ace Your Listening: Pace, Space, and Grace * (05:59) - Listening Beyond Words: Nonverbal Cues That Matter * (06:37) - Listening Through Paraphrasing * (08:13) - Practicing Better Listening * (09:30) - Choosing the Right Structure for Your Audience * (12:55) - Applying Communication Skills Effectively * (16:02) - Slowing Down Conversations * (20:32) - Practicing and Getting Feedback * (23:02) - What’s Next for Think Fast Talk Smart * (24:54) - 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. Strawberry.me. [https://strawberry.me/quiz?isDirect=1&promotionCode=smart&utm_source=smart] Get $50 off coaching today at Strawberry.me/smart [https://strawberry.me/quiz?isDirect=1&promotionCode=smart&utm_source=smart]

Why we learn the most when we accept that we might be wrong. Effective communication isn’t about having all the answers. As Astro Teller [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/astro-teller/] knows, it’s about finding (and sometimes fumbling) your way through the questions. Teller is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and inventor who serves as Captain of Moonshots at X, Alphabet's Moonshot Factory. In his work leading teams toward audacious solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems, he embraces what he calls “a learning journey,” where being wrong isn’t the end, but the beginning. “As scary as it is to be wrong,” he says, it’s a necessary part of the discovery process. Whether experimenting in the lab or testing our thoughts and opinions in conversation with others, it’s about having the humility and curiosity to face the limits of our understanding. “When do you learn something? You learn something when you have a model about the world, and then you get some data that tells you you're wrong,” he says. “You learn nothing when you're right.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], Teller and host Matt Abrahams discuss how embracing uncertainty drives innovation, why leaders should reward learning habits over outcomes, and how we learn the most when we’re not afraid to find that we might be wrong. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * Astro Teller [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/astro-teller/] * Astro’s Book: Sacred Cows [https://www.fastersmarter.io/sacred-cows]  * Ep.70 Ideas Fuel Innovation: Why Your First Ideas Aren’t Always the Best [https://www.fastersmarter.io/70-ideas-fuel-innovation-why-your-first-ideas-arent-always-the-best/]  * Ep.20 Question Your Questions: How to Spark Creativity in Your Communication [https://www.fastersmarter.io/20-question-your-questions-how-to-spark-creativity-in-your-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/237-mistake-it-till-you-make-it-learn-faster-and-fail-smarter/] * 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 * (02:18) - Defining a Moonshot * (04:21) - Building a Learning Machine * (07:00) - Learning vs. Productivity * (08:35) - Capturing and Sharing Learning * (10:49) - Rewarding Habits, Not Outcomes * (13:17) - Moonshot Success Stories * (16:16) - The Power of Storytelling in Innovation * (17:46) - Launching The Moonshot Podcast * (19:37) - The Final Three Questions * (25:27) - 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. Support Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/p/premium/].

Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick. Staying on top of communication starts with staying in control of your inbox. That’s why Rahul Vohra [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/rahul-vohra/], founder and CEO of Superhuman, believes that how we manage email directly shapes how we manage our time, focus, and relationships. For years, Superhuman has helped professionals reach Inbox Zero faster — reducing email overload and reclaiming time for what truly matters. In this episode of the Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/] Tech Tools miniseries, host Matt Abrahams talks with Vohra about the philosophy behind Inbox Zero, how better systems lead to clearer communication, and why mindfulness and intentional design can make us more effective communicators. 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: * Rahul Vohra [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/rahul-vohra/] * Ep.227 Tech Tools: Move Your Audience By Moving Through Your Presentation [https://www.fastersmarter.io/227-tech-tools-move-your-audience-by-moving-through-your-presentation/]  * Ep.230 Tech Tools: Use Visuals to Your Advantage [https://www.fastersmarter.io/230-tech-tools-use-visuals-to-your-advantage/]  * Ep.233 Tech Tools: Write with Confidence and Impact [https://www.fastersmarter.io/233-tech-tools-write-with-confidence-and-impact/]  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/236-tech-tools-tech-tools-zeroing-in-on-your-email-communication/] * 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 * (01:18) - The Philosophy Behind Inbox Zero * (04:19) - The Superhuman Elevator Pitch * (05:50) - The Origin of Superhuman * (08:53) - Favorite Communicator * (09:56) - Communication Hack or Tool * (11:38) - 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 [http://prezi.com/thinkfast].

The road to mastery is paved with small improvements every day. Communicating can feel daunting at times. What does it take to find your voice in the moments that matter most? As Chiney Ogwumike [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/chiney-ogwumike/] says, “There is freedom on the other side of your fear.” As a professional basketball player, NBA and WNBA analyst for ESPN, and advocate for gender equality in sports, Ogwumike faces many situations where communication is critical. For her, achieving confidence in communication is the same as honing any other skill—embracing failure and refinement through repetition. “The best things in life are things you work out over long periods of time,” she says. “Great people, great communicators, anyone that's working at something, show up each and every day and just chip away, chip away, chip away, until they turn that weakness into a strength.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], Ogwumike and host Matt Abrahams discuss how practice and preparation can equip us for better communication, transforming fear into confidence, perfectionism into authenticity, and weakness into strength. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * Chiney Ogwumike [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/chiney-ogwumike/] * Ep.166 Why Relying on Talent Alone Will Fail You [https://www.fastersmarter.io/166-why-relying-on-talent-alone-will-fail-you/]  * Ep.153 Listen Up, Leaders: A Record-Setting Coach’s Guide to Communication [https://www.fastersmarter.io/153-listen-up-leaders-a-record-setting-coachs-guide-to-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/235-refine-reframe-repeat-make-your-communication-a-slam-dunk/] * 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 * (02:19) - Communication on the Court * (04:01) - Performing Under Pressure * (06:10) - Lessons from Great Coaches * (08:20) - Embracing Imperfection and Authenticity * (11:42) - Strategies for Effective On-Air Communication * (16:15) - The Final Three Questions * (19:08) - 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. Strawberry.me. [https://strawberry.me/quiz?isDirect=1&promotionCode=smart&utm_source=smart] Get $50 off coaching today at Strawberry.me/smart [https://strawberry.me/quiz?isDirect=1&promotionCode=smart&utm_source=smart]

When it comes to leading a team, there’s no such thing as too much information. Good leadership is about good communication. And for General Stanley McChrystal [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/general-stanley-mcch/], that means creating a culture of free-flowing information: “The goal is to have everyone know everything all the time,” he says. McChrystal is a retired four-star general, former commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan, and a renowned leadership expert. In his experience building cohesive teams in complex environments, he’s discovered that successful teams are built on a “shared consciousness [where] all have a common contextual understanding of what the situation is.” The key to creating that kind of culture, he says, is radical transparency — from leaders and subordinates alike. Whatever your position, “You are responsible for informing other people of things that they need to know,” he says. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], McChrystal and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to build shared consciousness within teams, how to communicate across cultural divides, and how to lead with clarity, context, and character. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * General Stanley McChrystal [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/general-stanley-mcch/] * General McChrystal’s Books: On Character [https://www.fastersmarter.io/on-character] / Team of Teams [https://www.fastersmarter.io/team-of-teams] * 155. Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly [https://www.fastersmarter.io/155-can-we-be-candid-how-to-communicate-clearly-and-directly/] * 161. Do Your Homework: Know What to Say by Knowing Who You’re Talking To [https://www.fastersmarter.io/161-do-your-homework-know-what-to-say-by-knowing-who-youre-talking-to/]   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/234-need-to-know-lead-with-transparency-character-and-silence/] * 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 * (02:25) - Building Shared Consciousness * (06:35) - Leading Across Differences * (08:15) - Delivering Difficult News * (10:40) - Communicating in a Virtual World * (16:39) - Character as an Iterative Practice * (18:49) - The Final Three Questions * (23:15) - 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 [https://www.grammarly.com/?utm_campaign=arm&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=podcast&utm_content=directpodcasts] Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/p/premium/].