Bonus: How to Manage Speaking Anxiety the Think Faster, Talk Smarter Way

09/26/24 • 21 min

3 Listeners

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Gain control over your speaking and excel in your communication.

For the first anniversary of his book Think Faster, Talk Smarter, Matt Abrahams shares strategies from the first chapter, focusing on managing speaking anxiety and improving spontaneous communication. Through personal anecdotes and practical techniques, he explains how to handle unexpected questions, reframe anxiety as excitement, and use mindfulness and breathing exercises to stay calm under pressure. The episode also offers tips for managing physical symptoms of anxiety and staying mentally focused during high-stakes situations

Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from THINK FASTER, TALK SMARTER by Matt Abrahams, read by the author. Copyright 2023 by Matthew Abrahams LLC. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Reference Links:

Link to buy book in your country: Think Faster, Talk Smarter
Ep.48 Speaking Up Without Freaking Out: How to Tackle Communication Anxiety

Connect:

Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:09) - The Onion Interview
(02:51) - Speaking Up Without Freaking Out
(05:19) - The ABCs of Speaking Anxiety
(06:33) - Mindfulness Matters
(08:51) - Reframe Anxiety as Excitement
(10:15) - Cooling Down and Managing Physical Symptoms
(14:04) - Taming Negative Thoughts
(15:15) - The Power of Repetition
(15:53) - Preparing Questions
(18:18) - Rationalizing the Odds
(19:21) - Conclusion

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Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.

Gain control over your speaking and excel in your communication.

Reference Links:

Link to buy book in your country: Think Faster, Talk Smarter
Ep.48 Speaking Up Without Freaking Out: How to Tackle Communication Anxiety

Connect:

Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:09) - The Onion Interview
(02:51) - Speaking Up Without Freaking Out
(05:19) - The ABCs of Speaking Anxiety
(06:33) - Mindfulness Matters
(08:51) - Reframe Anxiety as Excitement
(10:15) - Cooling Down and Managing Physical Symptoms
(14:04) - Taming Negative Thoughts
(15:15) - The Power of Repetition
(15:53) - Preparing Questions
(18:18) - Rationalizing the Odds
(19:21) - Conclusion

********
Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.

Previous Episode

161. Do Your Homework: Know What to Say by Knowing Who You’re Talking To

Know your audience and tailor the message for them.

In high-stakes communication, every word counts. For Jen Psaki, that means knowing who she’s talking to — so she knows just what to say.

As the former White House Press Secretary and current host of Inside with Jen Psaki on MSNBC, Psaki has discovered that communication isn’t about “saying the most words or saying them the loudest,” but about knowing your audience well enough to tailor the message just for them. “You need to think about how you're going to get your audience to listen to you,” she says. “The goal of communicating is to crack the door open so somebody wants to hear more.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Psaki and host Matt Abrahams explore her approach to strategic communication: identifying your audience and using what you know to engage with them and get them to engage with you.

Episode Reference Links:

Connect:

Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:39) - Principles of Communication
(02:40) - Skills for Effective Listening
(03:23) - Engagement and Lowering Barriers
(04:22) - Tailoring Communication
(05:46) - Preparation and Practice for Confidence
(07:39) - The Value of Feedback
(10:42) - Handling Difficult Questions
(13:10) - High-Stakes Negotiation
(16:02) - The Final Three Questions
(20:20) - Conclusion

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Next Episode

162. Unlock Career Opportunities: How to Make the Right Moves

Being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds.

We all want to lead lives and careers full of joy and fulfillment. Maggie Baird certainly has, and the key, she says, is to stay open to new possibilities and “let your passion lead.”

Baird is an accomplished actress, improv teacher at the Groundlings Theater, mother to music sensations Billie Eilish and Phineas, and founder of Support and Feed, a nonprofit addressing food equity and the climate crisis. Through it all, she has embodied the improv principle of "Yes, and..." — being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds. “I have done many things,” she says, “but I never approached any of them as a career change. They all came out of new interests and new experiences.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Baird joins host Matt Abrahams to explore the critical role of communication in developing a career, and how improv principles can help us engage, as Baird says, “From a place of open-heartedness, appreciation, [and] collaboration.”

Episode Reference Links:

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