Matt Abrahams

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So these are mental shortcuts that we use to help us in uncertain situations.

Absolutely.

And you're highlighting that if we get into our heads, we're not able to assess what's going on in the moment.

A lot of communication is responding.

And so I need to be present enough to see how my audience is responding.

Are they looking confused?

Do they look upset?

Then I can adjust and adapt.

We have to be in that moment enough to be present so we can respond.

The preparation work we do in advance helps us be better prepared.

Now, I would argue that in the example you just gave with your former graduate student, part of the issue that I think she might have been having is when you relayed the information, it was just a list or litany of things.

And our brains aren't very good at remembering lists.

I mean, I always will joke with my students, when you go to the grocery store, how many items do you need to buy before you have to write something down?

For me, it's three.

I just can't remember much in lists.

If you provide a structure to the information, it makes it much easier.

It increases processing ability.

So a structure is nothing more than a logical connection of ideas.

Everybody listening has seen structure.