Think Faster, Talk Smarter with Matt Abrahams

Many of us dread having to convey our ideas to others, often feeling ill-equipped, anxious, and awkward. Experts help by focusing on planned communication experiences; yet, most of our professional and personal communication occurs in spontaneous situations that leave us flustered and stumbling for words. Together, we’ll explore science-based strategies for managing anxiety, responding to the mood of the room, and making content concise, relevant, compelling, and memorable. By the end of this class, you’ll know how to navigate the situation like a pro and bring out your very best.

Matt Abrahams, ’91, lecturer in organizational behavior, Graduate School of Business

[davidr]

Excellent video. The best tips for better speech I have ever heard include
1. Be knowledgeable on many topics and be a subject matter expert in your area.
2. Prepare your speech. Think about what you are going to say. There is no shame in writing your speech out.
3. Read out loud every day. Just as a singer will not improve with mouthing the words silently an orator needs to practice saying words.
4. Speak slow.
5. Smile and look very comfortable.
6. Concentrate fully on your speech to get in the zone. Don't get distracted and don't lose focus.
7. Role model a great speaking. Watch videos from Obama, Jay Leno, Josh Hawley and other great speakers. Watch their head, hands and other body movement.
8. Practice giving speeches preferrable out loud or at very least in your mind.
9. If you are given a tough question, answer it in frameworks rather than being potentially wrong with the answer.
10. Ask clarifying questions before you give your answer.

[swaganomiks]

For everyone that is watching this video. Your time for greatness is coming!

[zc]

Key titles
#1. Tame the Anxiety Beast.
#2. Maximise Mediocrity. (So you can achieve greatness)
- Reduce cognitive load.
#3. Mind Your Mindset.
- i) Not yet ii) Yes, and. iii) Next play iv) Missed take
#4. Don't just do something... stand there
- Listen; Pace. Space. Grace
#5. STRUCTURE Your Spontaneity
- What? So What? Now What?
#6. The F-word: FOCUS
- Have a Goal: Know, Feel, Do. (What do I want the audience to Know, How do I want them to Feel, What do I want them to Do)
- Sentence starters, pitch (structure): What if you could... So that... For example... That's not all...

[hpfaith]

This is God sent. I blush and perspire and it has really destroyed my life. I am 38 years old now and still faces this issue. Somehow as a younger person I thought, that it would go away as I grow older, but it never did. I just came home after having dinner at a friends place and while socializing my anxiety kicked in and I blushed and started perspiring again. Went home dejected, fired up my P.C and decided, my time's better spent learning Japanese then wallowing in self pity, but for some reason the app won't open. So opened YouTube and this was in my recommendation. I will use this knowledge and better myself from this day onward. Thank You

[singlepointdc]

I always try to remind myself that I’m just trying to help the people I’m presenting to. If you’re just there to help, and focus on that, you can take yourself out of the equation.

[claudiajimenez]

I found you in YouTube by amazing accident, and I have been watching three videos on a road, I'm going to give a class for medical interpreters in Montana, and all your videos that I watched help me to feel more confident and get more ideas for my next class in March 2024. God bless your knowledge 🙏

[lkppilu]

Step 1. Manage Anxiety,
Step 2. Get out of our own way,
Step 3. See it as an Opportunity
Step 4. Listen Well
Step 5. Messaging

[Deanforbes]

It always surprises me how many people have a hard time with small talk. This info is necessary!

[noorazimi]

To this day, i didn't know what small talk means. I am glad i have searched it on here and came across this treasure of communication skills.

[AlimFlood-jhgc]

🎉 Thank you YouTube and Stanford Alumni for this free lecture and class... I've learned what was much-needed for my success in the future ❤. #thinktillyousweat

[xzvfctj]

I’m brand new to sales and struggle with social anxiety. I really appreciate your videos. They are very helpful!

[johndymen]

One of the rare time I open my note book to study a talk.
Thanks for the content. It’s so valuable

[dukeyin]

1)What? So what? Now what?. 2)Tell me the time, don’t make me a clock. 3) Structure/focus. pitching: what if you could, so that, for example, and that’s not all

[vynomous]

I love this video. The speaker really understands our shared problem and reduces my anxiety of feeling dumb when speaking.

[fvqzsob]

Amazing presentation again from Matt!! I've been trying to follow him since the presentation 9 years ago and it really helps me

[Sasmitsaurav]

I am indian and i wanna to take business classes particularly becz i sm science student but all resources i got intt thanks i loved it ❤❤❤

[nickpetrock]

Love this guy! He's like a serious Steve Martin, very engaging speaker!

[TarikuDejene-wbrm]

So glad I found you again!!!! Thank you

[GregoryAustin]

Outstanding lecture! I wish Matt had been my professor in college. Very engaging to the very end and extremely useful. There are clear applications across my life communicating with my family, in my roles in business development and in podcasting. Thanks, Matt!

[thedoctorhr]

This video deserves all the praise, it's truly outstanding.