Think Faster, Talk Smarter

How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot

By: Matt Abrahams

Narrated by: Matt Abrahams

Read by the author.

Stanford lecturer and host of the #1 business podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams, reveals the secrets to finding the right words when it counts.

Communication is crucial to success in life and business. However, it is not just big speeches that matter: it is also those critical, spur-of-the-moment situations for which we cannot prepare.

A prospective client asking unexpected questions during a sales pitch, a teacher singling you out for an answer during a class, a high-pressure meeting with senior executives at work, or even a heartwarming toast to deliver on the spot. All are fraught scenarios that might cause you to freeze up. The pandemic has only boosted this fear, by stripping the spontaneity from communication during lockdown, and then changing the communication landscape.

In this invaluable guide, Matt Abrahams provides a six-point methodology that will enable you to cut through the anxiety arising from these stressful, impromptu circumstances to create and deliver crisp, compelling and calm communication.

Think Faster, Talk Smarter is an energetic, engaging resource for anyone who wants to speak out, spread their ideas, and ultimately share their story.

When you purchase this title, an accompanying PDF will be available in your audiobook library along with the audio.

©2023 Matt Abrahams (P)2023 Simon and Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

Remarkably helpful and specific. I certainly plan to follow Abrahams' recommendations (Robert Cialdini, internationally bestselling author of Pre-Suasion)

Exceptional. His tools for thinking quickly and speaking clearly are indispensable. His easy-to-understand approach helps anyone to become a better 'in-the-moment' communicator (Tony Fadell, inventor of the iPod, co-creator of the iPhone, and internationally bestselling author of Build)

A gold standard for communication best practices. Matt’s six step approach to speaking confidently and clearly in spontaneous situations helps calm the nervous system so you can focus on what matters: creating connection with those around you and responding in the moment. (David Eagleman, neuroscientist and internationally bestselling author of The Brain)

Matt Abrahams delivers useful advice on how to think on one's feet with the relaxed polish of a seasoned voice professional. His voice and ideas sparkle with energy. The guide is intuitively organized and covers a wide range of speaking situations, such as interviews, Q&A sessions, unscripted remarks to an audience, and conversations between employees and bosses. His focus on the emotional dynamics of any speaking situation will help listeners feel more confident when faced with a speaking challenge. (Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024)