Matt Abrahams is a renowned communication expert, with decades of teaching, coaching, and consulting experience. At Stanford University, he teaches a business school class on strategic communication. Beyond academia, he’s a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant, guiding presenters from IPO road shows to prestigious platforms like TED, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations. His acclaimed podcast, Think Fast, Talk Smart, garners millions of listeners, and his book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, equips speakers with practical skills for impromptu success. With a previous bestseller, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out, Matt has empowered countless individuals to speak confidently and authentically. In our conversation, we discuss:
• The concept of “daring to be dull”
• The power of visualization to desensitize oneself to speaking situations
• Managing negative self-talk
• The WHAT structure for delivering toasts (why we are here, how you are connected, anecdote, thanks)
• The ADD structure for Q&As (answer, detailed example, describe relevance)
• Breathing techniques to reduce anxiety, such as the double exhale
• Concrete speaking structures like What? So What? Now What? and the Four I’s (information, impact, invitation, implications)
• Much more
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In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Matt’s background
(04:50) Techniques for managing anxiety in public speaking
(10:57) Dare to be dull
(13:40) Reframing anxiety as excitement
(16:08) Using mantras to boost confidence
(18:45) Managing negative self-talk
(20:03) Normalizing speaking anxiety
(23:12) Using conversation as a communication technique
(24:52) Using the double-exhale breathing technique
(28:29) Getting present-oriented
(29:46) Using tongue twisters
(33:34) Broad advice for speaking on the spot
(38:35) The PREP structure
(38:59) The What? So What? Now What? structure
(42:10) Toastmasters and improv
(45:31) Getting better at small talk
(51:05) The importance of sharing back
(52:33) Giving feedback
(56:31) Improving toasts and tributes
(01:02:57) Mastering Q&A sessions
(01:07:25) Apologizing effectively
(01:09:29) Closing thoughts
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