Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

298. Quick Thinks: How to Look Confident, Composed, and Credible

The nonverbal habits that make you look confident, composed, and authentic before you even speak. How you carry yourself can shape how others perceive your confidence, credibility, and authenticity—often before you say a word. In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], Matt Abrahams shares practical, research-backed techniques for strengthening your presence through body language, posture, gestures, and eye contact. Learn how to stand and sit with confidence, move with purpose, use your hands effectively, and avoid common nonverbal habits that can distract from your message. Whether you're presenting to an audience, leading a meeting, or navigating everyday conversations, these simple strategies can help you communicate with greater composure and impact. Episode Reference Links: * Ep.12 It's Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It: How To Communica… [https://www.fastersmarter.io/12-its-not-what-you-say-its-how-you-say-it-how-to-communicate-power/] * Ep.137 When Words Aren't Enough: How to Excel at Nonverbal Communication [https://www.fastersmarter.io/137-when-words-arent-enough-how-to-excel-at-nonverbal-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/298-quick-thinks-how-to-look-confident-composed-and-credible/] * 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/]   [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (01:59) - Be Big, Balanced, and Still * (02:53) - The Right Speaking Stance * (03:38) - Moving with Purpose * (04:29) - Presence While Seated * (05:15) - What to Do with Your Hands * (06:00) - Gesturing Beyond Your Shoulders * (08:29) - Effective Eye Contact * (09:14) - Thinking While Speaking * (09:59) - Bringing It All Together * (10:46) - Practice Through Recording * (11:32) - 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 your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart [https://strawberry.me/quiz?isDirect=1&promotionCode=smart&utm_source=smart]

297. Agency Over Anxiety: Communicating in Uncertain Times

Why the most effective communicators help people see not just what's changing, but why it matters to them. For Sinéad Bovell [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/sinead-bovell/], effective communication isn’t just about explaining what’s coming next—it’s about giving people the confidence and agency to engage with it. Bovell is a futurist, founder of the tech education company WAYE, and an expert advisor to the United Nations AI Advisory Body. Known for making complex topics accessible to broad audiences, she has spent years helping leaders, organizations, and young people understand the implications of artificial intelligence and other transformative technologies. Her approach starts with a simple principle: meet people where they are and connect big ideas to what matters in their lives. “If you scare people too much, if you disempower them, they do unsubscribe from the very activities you need them to lean into.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], Bovell joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss how to communicate complexity without overwhelming people and why skills like adaptability and judgment are becoming more valuable in the age of AI. From making emerging technologies more accessible to building trust through relevance and empathy, they discuss what it takes to help audiences engage with change rather than fear it. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * Sinéad Bovell [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/sinead-bovell/] 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/297-agency-over-anxiety-communicating-in-uncertain-times/] * 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/]   [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (01:00) - Explaining Complex Ideas * (03:48) - The Future of Soft Skills * (06:52) - Talking About AI Without Fear * (10:33) - Storytelling for Young Audiences * (12:46) - Reaching Young Audiences * (15:01) - Career Pivots & Reinvention * (16:53) - Becoming a Better Communicator * (18:59) - The Final Three Questions * (25:09) - Conclusion

296. AMA: Speaking Out, Staying Grounded, and Managing Up

Practical communication strategies you can use immediately at work and beyond. How do you speak up when a conversation is moving faster than you can think? What should you do when emotions threaten to derail your listening? And how can you give honest feedback to a boss who doesn’t seem interested in hearing it? In this Ask Matt Anything episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], host Matt Abrahams answers listener questions from the Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community [http://fastersmarter.io/learning] on some of the most challenging workplace communication scenarios. From practical techniques for inserting your ideas into fast-paced meetings to strategies for managing emotions and delivering feedback upward, Matt shares actionable advice to help you communicate with greater confidence, clarity, and impact. Episode Reference Links: * Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community [http://fastersmarter.io/learning]  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/296-ama-speaking-out-staying-grounded-and-managing-up/] * 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/]   [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (01:56) - Speaking Up in Meetings * (04:36) - Listening Through Emotion * (07:52) - Giving Feedback Upward * (12:35) - 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 your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart [https://strawberry.me/quiz?isDirect=1&promotionCode=smart&utm_source=smart]

295. Culture Club: Communicating Values That Scale

Why the best leaders treat uncertainty as a chance to learn, not a failure to avoid. Most companies are built to grow. Far fewer are built to stay true to their purpose as they do. Eric Ries [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/eric-ries/]is an entrepreneur, creator of the Lean Startup movement, and author of Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great [https://www.fastersmarter.io/incorruptible]. For Ries, innovation starts with a simple reality: nobody can predict the future. “If you're going to do something fundamentally new,” he says, “how are we supposed to forecast” what success will look like? Instead of relying on certainty, leaders should focus on learning. “If you cannot fail, you cannot learn.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], Ries and host Matt Abrahams explore how leaders can communicate through uncertainty, turn setbacks into valuable insights, and build cultures rooted in trust. From the power of the build-measure-learn feedback loop to the importance of making “deposits” in a company’s culture bank, Ries shares practical strategies for creating organizations that innovate, adapt, and stay true to their values as they grow. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * Eric Ries [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/eric-ries/] * Eric’s Book: Incorruptible [https://www.fastersmarter.io/incorruptible] * Ep.56 Lean Messaging: How Simple Messages Really Stick [https://www.fastersmarter.io/56-lean-messaging-how-simple-messages-really-stick/] * Ep.54 Leadership and Ethics: How to Communicate Your Core Values [https://www.fastersmarter.io/54-leadership-and-ethics-how-to-communicate-your-core-values/]   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/295-culture-club-communicating-values-that-scale/] * 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/]   [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (02:15) - Lean Startup Fundamentals * (03:57) - Business Plans vs. Reality * (06:25) - Learning from Failure * (08:05) - Why Companies Go Bad * (10:43) - The Culture Bank * (13:45) - The Final Three Questions * (21:11) - 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 your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart [https://strawberry.me/quiz?isDirect=1&promotionCode=smart&utm_source=smart]

294. Ask & You Shall Receive: Questions For Better Negotiations

Do you really win the negotiation if it means losing the relationship? You might think that successful negotiation means getting what you want here and now. But Stan Christensen [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/stan-christensen/] says this short-sighted view is selling many negotiators short. Christensen is a professional negotiator, host of the All Things Negotiation [https://open.spotify.com/show/4U7ATznNeinnZypXGHZjGb?si=00e3dc178e284fbf] podcast, and instructor of one of Stanford's most popular courses on the subject. His core insight: most negotiations happen with people you’ll see again — which means success isn’t about claiming victory, it’s about building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. “Most people think of negotiation statically,” he says. “It's you and I. There's a fixed pie. We're trying to get more for ourself and less for the other party. In reality, 95% of negotiations are gonna be with people you see again, so I define success as contributing to the value of the long-term relationship.” In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], Christensen and host Matt Abrahams explore what it takes to negotiate well — from the power of listening and asking questions to managing emotions and communicating for collaboration. Whether you're negotiating a business deal or just deciding where to go to dinner, Christensen shows why every negotiation is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship. Episode Reference Links: * Stan Christensen [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/stan-christensen/] * All Things Negotiation Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/4U7ATznNeinnZypXGHZjGb?si=00e3dc178e284fbf] * Ep.15 The Art of Negotiation: How to Get More of What You Want [https://www.fastersmarter.io/15-the-art-of-negotiation-how-to-get-more-of-what-you-want/] * Ep.204 Tough Talks: Turn Tension Into Trust [https://www.fastersmarter.io/204-tough-talks-turn-tension-into-trust/]  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/294-ask-you-shall-receive-questions-for-better-negotiations/] * 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/]   [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (02:05) - What Is Negotiation? * (02:44) - Negotiating Every Day * (03:46) - The Power of Listening * (05:19) - Asking Better Questions * (07:20) - Handling Emotions * (08:18) - Authentic Emotion * (09:16) - Body Language Matters * (10:07) - Collaboration in Negotiation * (11:45) - Framing Conversations * (13:10) - Setting the Agenda * (14:32) - Co-Creating Structure * (16:08) - A Common Negotiation Mistake * (16:47) - Why Start a Podcast * (17:51) - Learning from Guests * (18:48) - The Final Three Questions * (25:21) - 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 your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart [https://strawberry.me/quiz?isDirect=1&promotionCode=smart&utm_source=smart]