#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. Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/think-fast-talk-smarter Partner Deals DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Masterworks: VIP access to skip the waitlist Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals 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, hacks, deals, feedback: [email protected] 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 Connect with All the Hacks All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices