MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Effective speaking in spontaneous situations is crucial for communication success.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Catching people's attention is challenging, so I use a grammatically incorrect title to draw interest.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

To become effective communicators, we must practice actual communication.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Spontaneous speaking is more common than planned speaking, such as during introductions or Q&A sessions.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Managing anxiety is essential for effective communication, as 85% of people report feeling nervous when speaking in public.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Greeting your anxiety and acknowledging it can help prevent it from spiraling out of control.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Re-framing the speaking situation as a conversation rather than a performance can reduce anxiety.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Using questions in your presentation engages the audience and creates a conversational atmosphere.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Conversational language helps to connect with the audience and makes the speaker feel more at ease.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Bringing yourself into the present moment can help reduce nervousness before speaking.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The first step to effective spontaneous speaking is to get out of your own way and not strive for perfection.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

It's okay to point at me, and I hope it's not a bad thing you say when you point at me.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

When we teach the improvisational speaking class, we say your brain is there to help you, but we want to wipe away those suggestions and see what happens.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Dare to be dull; rather than striving for greatness, allow yourself to be dull, and you will reach greatness.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The first step in our process is to get out of our own way; the second step is to reframe the situation as an opportunity.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

See the speaking opportunity as an opportunity rather than a challenge or threat; this shift in perspective allows for more freedom to respond.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

In spontaneous speaking situations, when you feel challenged, you tend to do the bare minimum to protect yourself, but viewing it as an opportunity encourages interaction.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

As a communicator, your job is to be in service of your audience, which requires understanding their needs and listening carefully.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Don't just do something, stand there; listen first before responding to spontaneous requests.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

We need to respond in a structured way, as all stories have structure, which is key to successful spontaneous speaking.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Structured information is processed roughly 40% more effectively than unstructured information, enhancing communication effectiveness.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Young people today don't need to remember phone numbers; they just look at a picture and push a button to connect with someone.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Chunking information into a structure, like three, three, and four, helps us remember, which is also true when speaking spontaneously or in planned situations.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The 'problem, solution, benefit' structure is effective for communication. You start by discussing the issue, then the solution, and finally the benefits of that solution.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

As a presenter, you must never lose your audience. Providing structure helps keep them on track, just like a tour guide must keep their group together.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Setting expectations is crucial in presentations. You need to inform your audience about where you're going, why, and how long it will take.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The 'what, so what, now what?' structure is another effective communication tool. It helps clarify what something is, why it's important, and what the next steps are.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

In spontaneous speaking situations, you must figure out what to say and how to say it simultaneously. Familiarity with structures can help you respond effectively.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

To manage anxiety before speaking, greet it, reframe it as a conversation, and stay present in the moment.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Practice a series of four steps to improve spontaneous speaking: get out of your own way, see interactions as opportunities, listen actively, and use structures.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Using humor in presentations can be risky; self-deprecating humor is often the safest choice, as it connects with the audience without alienating them.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

When asking spontaneous questions to trained speakers, use the power of 'why' to dig deeper and encourage more authentic responses.

MA

Matt Abrahams

12/05/14

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Asking someone for advice can change the dynamic of the conversation, leading to richer and more detailed information from them.

Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Takeaways