Matt Abrahams

So these are all very specific, spontaneous speaking situations that the book addresses. And then finally, the podcast, Think Fast, Talk Smart. We've been on air for almost four and a half years now. We focus exclusively on communication. We're sponsored by Stanford's Graduate School of Business. 20-minute episodes where I get to interview just amazing experts in communication.

So these are all very specific, spontaneous speaking situations that the book addresses. And then finally, the podcast, Think Fast, Talk Smart. We've been on air for almost four and a half years now. We focus exclusively on communication. We're sponsored by Stanford's Graduate School of Business. 20-minute episodes where I get to interview just amazing experts in communication.

And we talk about everything from how to be persuasive, how to negotiate, how to manage conflict, how to brand yourself and actually position yourself well. Super fascinating, super fun. And I'm really excited that we've won lots of prestigious awards, but we were also nominated in a one best dog walking podcast because we're exactly 20 minutes.

And we talk about everything from how to be persuasive, how to negotiate, how to manage conflict, how to brand yourself and actually position yourself well. Super fascinating, super fun. And I'm really excited that we've won lots of prestigious awards, but we were also nominated in a one best dog walking podcast because we're exactly 20 minutes.

And apparently that's how long people walk their dog.

And apparently that's how long people walk their dog.

So there's one thing that's important, I think, to think about, and that is listening. Listening is actually a really important communication skill, but it's actually critical for spontaneous speaking. You know, I've talked a lot about what we do to communicate our messages out, but we also have to listen to understand better what is needed in the moment. We all don't listen that well.

So there's one thing that's important, I think, to think about, and that is listening. Listening is actually a really important communication skill, but it's actually critical for spontaneous speaking. You know, I've talked a lot about what we do to communicate our messages out, but we also have to listen to understand better what is needed in the moment. We all don't listen that well.

We listen just enough to get the top level of what somebody is saying. So we need to listen deeper. We need to listen for the bottom line, not the top line. We need to listen not just to what's said, but what's not said, how it's said, where it's said. And that can actually influence how we respond. I'll give you a quick example.

We listen just enough to get the top level of what somebody is saying. So we need to listen deeper. We need to listen for the bottom line, not the top line. We need to listen not just to what's said, but what's not said, how it's said, where it's said. And that can actually influence how we respond. I'll give you a quick example.

Imagine you and I come out of a meeting and you say, hey, Matt, how do you think that went? If I'm just listening for the top line, I say, oh, she wants feedback. And I might start diving into here are all the things we could have done better. Here are the things that weren't great. But if I would have listened more fully, I might have noticed you came out the back door, not the front door.

Imagine you and I come out of a meeting and you say, hey, Matt, how do you think that went? If I'm just listening for the top line, I say, oh, she wants feedback. And I might start diving into here are all the things we could have done better. Here are the things that weren't great. But if I would have listened more fully, I might have noticed you came out the back door, not the front door.

You spoke more quietly than usual. You were looking down. All of this might clue me into the fact that you really don't want feedback. What you really want is support because you're not feeling that that went well. So by listening more astutely for the bottom line, I can respond better and perhaps help our relationship rather than hurting it.

You spoke more quietly than usual. You were looking down. All of this might clue me into the fact that you really don't want feedback. What you really want is support because you're not feeling that that went well. So by listening more astutely for the bottom line, I can respond better and perhaps help our relationship rather than hurting it.

I don't know if there's a next book, but I definitely am spending a lot of time talking about listening and talking a lot about how to collaborate with people and manage through conflicts and challenges that happen.

I don't know if there's a next book, but I definitely am spending a lot of time talking about listening and talking a lot about how to collaborate with people and manage through conflicts and challenges that happen.

No, not at all.

No, not at all.

This was fun. I enjoyed the conversation very much. It was lovely to chat with you. Thank you. And I appreciate the opportunity.

This was fun. I enjoyed the conversation very much. It was lovely to chat with you. Thank you. And I appreciate the opportunity.