Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Stanford GSB
カテゴリー:Business
Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he sits down with experts in the field to discuss real-world challenges.
How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I write emails to get my point across? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I manage my reputation? Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life.
Think Fast, Talk Smart provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help you communicate more effectively.
2024年04月23日
139. Lose Yourself: The Secret to Finding Flow and Being Fully Present
Whether you're looking to boost your productivity, find more joy in your work, or simply be more present in the moment, you need flow — and research by Assistant Professor David Melnikoff could help you find it.
Melnikoff investigates how we pursue our goals, and how flow — the state of being totally immersed and engaged in what we’re doing — can help us achieve them. According to him, flow isn’t necessarily about enjoying a task or activity for its own sake, but more about the process of discovery that unfolds as we take action in the face of uncertainty. “The source of flow is engaging in an activity that allows you to reduce uncertainty about your future, engaging in actions that reduce possible future outcomes, or ideally, eliminate all possible future outcomes except for one,” he says. With each action that we take, the path before us narrows, leading us more directly to the goal that we’ve set.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Melnikoff shares why uncertainty presents us with the opportunity to step into the flow state, to experience more focus and engagement, and to supercharge our goal pursuit and performance
Episode Reference Links:
- David Melnikoff: Website
- Dr. Laurie Santos (Communicator Melnikoff admires)
- The Happiness Lab Podcast — Dr. Laurie Santos (Podcast of communicator Melnikoff admires)
- Ep.59 From Dreaming to Doing: How We Set and Achieve Goals Website / YouTube
- Ep.104 How to Change: Building Better Habits and Behaviors (And Getting Out of Your Own Way Website / YouTube
Connect:
- Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu
- Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
- Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
- Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page, Instagram, YouTube
- Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
- Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abraham welcomes guest David Melnikoff, an assistant professor of organizational behavior at Stanford GSB and an expert on flow and goal achievement.
(00:00:40) Understanding Flow and Its Benefits
The definition of flow and the reversal of the usual dynamic of goal pursuit.
(00:02:20) Achieving and Maintaining Flow
Misconceptions about achieving flow and the role of reducing uncertainty in engaging activities.
(00:06:22) Flow in Business and Leadership
Applying flow principles to business, emphasizing the structuring of tasks and goals to induce flow through uncertainty reduction.
(00:08:39) Personal Applications of Flow for Goal Pursuit
How to utilize flow principles to set and achieve goals with advice on framing tasks to maximize uncertainty and flow.
(00:11:03) Collaborative Flow and Communication
The potential for shared flow experiences in collaborative settings and the role of communication in facilitating flow.
(00:13:05) Goal Setting and Achievement Advice
Advice on goal setting, advocating for goals with a degree of uncertainty to enhance engagement and likelihood of entering a flow state.
(00:14:43) The Final Three Questions
David Melnikoff shares how he invites flow into his life, a communicator he admires, and his recipe for communication.
(00:16:17) Conclusion
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2024年04月16日
138. Speak Your Truth: Why Authenticity Leads to Better Communication
From the way you communicate, to the way build your life and career, Graham Weaver, MBA ’99, says it’s about “giving yourself permission to fully be yourself. You can never go wrong when you’re saying your truth.”
Weaver is a lecturer in management, a GSB alum, and the founder and a partner of Alpine Investors. He stresses the importance of direct communication, highlighting how avoiding it can lead to wasted time, energy, and even financial losses. Reflecting on his own experiences in private equity, Weaver admits to struggling with being conflict-averse and not speaking his truth directly, which resulted in getting into bad deals and big losses for his company. “People think that by being indirect, they’re being kind, but all they're doing is creating confusion,” he says. “Clarity is compassionate. Even if it's not what they want to hear, the more direct and clear you can be, the more compassionate that is for the other person.”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Weaver and host Matt Abrahams explore how being true to oneself not only fosters personal fulfillment but also enables us to show up better for others. Authenticity and self-belief lay the foundation for effective communication, leadership, and ultimately, success.
We are nominated for a prized Webby award. We'd really appreciate you voting for us at: fastersmarter.io/webby Voting ends on April 18th.
Episode Reference Links:
- Graham Weaver: Website
- Last Lecture Series: How to Live an Asymmetric Life (Link to Graham’s Last Lecture)
- H. Irving Grousbeck (Stanford profile of Graham’s mentor and communicator he most admires)
- Ep.82 - It’s Not About You: Why Effective Communicators Put Others First YouTube / Website
- Ep.118 - Maximizing Your Personal Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You Want YouTube / Website
Connect:
- Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu
- Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
- Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
- Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page, Instagram, YouTube
- Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
- Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces guest Graham Weaver, a Stanford alum and lecturer in management at GSB.
(00:0:43) Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills in Business
How skills like understanding personal dreams and overcoming limiting beliefs play a critical role in business success.
(00:04:58) Living an Asymmetrical Life
Living an asymmetrical life, including the importance of doing hard things, pursuing your passions, committing long-term, and writing your own story.
(00:10:10) Lessons from Taylor Swift
Business and personal inspiration from Taylor Swift's response to professional setbacks, highlighting her work ethic and resilience.
(00:13:04) Personal Growth and Enlightenment
Graham’s journey towards enlightenment and the practices he adopts to improve his personal and professional life.
(00:16:08) The Final Three Questions
Graham shares what differentiates an exceptional from average leader, a communicator he admires and his ingredients for successful communication.
(00:21:05) Conclusion
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2024年04月09日
137. When Words Aren’t Enough: How to Excel at Nonverbal Communication
If communication is like painting, words are the primary colors. But to convey deeper meaning, we need a broader color palette, which Dana Carney says requires the mastery of nonverbal communication.
We often focus on the words that we say when honing our communication, but according to Carney, there are many instances “where nonverbals start to be more meaningful than verbals.” A professor at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the George Quist Chair in Business Ethics, Carney researches the nonverbal ways in which we communicate our biases, our preferences, our power, and our status.
As Carney explores in her forthcoming book, The Five Nonverbal Rules of Power, there are several key areas of nonverbal behavior that we need to grasp in order to fully tap our potential as communicators. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, she and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to read the nonverbal communication of others — and how to gain control of the nonverbals we express to the world.
Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.
Episode Reference Links:
- Dana Carney: Website
- Ep.12 - It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It: How to Communicate Power Website / YouTube
- Ep.16 - How to Craft Your Body Language When Confronting Objections Website / YouTube
Connect:
- Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu
- Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
- Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
- Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page, Instagram, YouTube
- Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
- Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces guest Dana Carney, an expert in nonverbal communication.
(00:01:12) Understanding Nonverbal Communication
Foundational aspects of nonverbal communication, dividing it into perception and expression, and emphasizing the importance of facial expressions and body language.
(00:02:11) The Nonverbal Rules of Power
How nonverbal communication influences perceptions of power and status and the concept of the "five nonverbal rules of power".
(00:04:37) Cultural and Contextual Variations
The impact of culture and context on nonverbal cues, discussing how cultural differences can alter the interpretation of behaviors such as eye contact and proximity.
(00:08:10) The Balance Between Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
Verbal versus nonverbal communication and its significance especially in contexts where honesty or bias might be in question.
(00:09:15) Achieving Communication Goals Through Nonverbals
How understanding nonverbal cues can help individuals achieve specific social interaction goals.
(0012:51) Enhancing Nonverbal Communication Skills
Practical advice for becoming more aware of one's nonverbal communication, including self-observation and seeking feedback from others.
(00:16:13) The Final Three Questions
Dana shares a nonverbal behavior that demonstrates confidence, a communicator she admires, and her recipe for successful communication.
(00:21:09) Conclusion
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