Today’s guest is Matt Abrahams, a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and an expert in communication. With decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach, Matt has helped countless presenters improve their communication skills, including those who have delivered IPO roadshows as well as Nobel Prize, TED, and World Economic Forum presentations. In our conversation, we delve into various aspects of effective communication, focusing on the challenges and techniques of speaking spontaneously in high-pressure situations. Talking Points: Anxiety management: Strategies for managing anxiety during public speaking and understanding its impact on communication effectiveness.The role of structure: The importance of structuring thoughts and messages to enhance clarity and audience engagement.Capturing and keeping audience attention: Techniques for engaging audiences, including physical involvement, mental engagement, and linguistic strategies.Non-verbal communication: Finding the right balance in physical movements during presentations to augment verbal communication without being distracting.Frameworks for spontaneous speaking: 'What, So What, Now What' Authenticity: Balancing structured communication with authenticity to effectively express your personality and viewpoints.Ongoing improvement: The importance of practice, reflection, and feedback in honing communication skills. LINKS: Matt's website Matt's LinkedIn Matt's book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast Interested in learning more about these themes? Book Ollie to speak with your team. Ollie's LinkedIn Future Work/Life Newsletter Work/Life Flywheel: Harness the work revolution and reimagine your career without fear, is out now. You can order your copy HERE (UK) or HERE (US).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.