How to "Think Faster and Talk Smarter": a Masterclass with Matt Abrahams

<p>Welcome to Grit &amp; Growth’s masterclass on spontaneous communication — those unplanned moments when you’re called on in a meeting, asked to give feedback, or introduced to a potential investor. Matt Abrahams, Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer in strategic communications, has tips and tricks to overcome anxiety, gain confidence, and make sure you’re ready to speak when you least expect it.</p><p><a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/matt-forrest-abrahams" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt Abrahams</a> speaks a lot&nbsp; in public, whether he’s teaching MBAs at Stanford or hosting his podcast “<a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/think-fast-talk-smart-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Think Fast, Talk Smart</a>.” And yet, he still gets nervous. He calls it getting the “ABCs.” “There's the affect or emotional component, the behavioral or what happens to your body, and then the cognitive part, what happens in your mind,” Abrahams explains. Luckily, he believes there are tons of techniques to manage your nerves, like holding something cold in your hands to calm you down, saying positive affirmations to give you confidence, and even using tongue twisters to both distract your mind and warm up your voice.&nbsp;</p><p>Abrahams’ latest book, <a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/books/think-faster-talk-smarter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Think Faster, Talk Smarter</em></a>, is filled with practical advice for how to prepare for your next spontaneous conversation. He says the biggest mistake people make in their communication is starting from the wrong place. “We start by saying, here's what I want to say, versus, what does the audience or person I'm speaking to need to hear. And that's a fundamental mind shift. If I don't understand from your perspective what's important for you, what knowledge you have now versus where I would like you to be, I can't tailor my message.”&nbsp;</p><p><br>