Think Faster, Talk Smarter by Matt Abrahams - Business Communication Skills - Non Fiction - Paperback

Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781035024971
Publisher: Macmillan Business
Age Range: Adult

Overview:
Think Faster, Talk Smarter by Matt Abrahams is a practical guide for anyone who freezes up when speaking off the cuff. Drawing on his experience as a Stanford lecturer and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast, Abrahams offers a proven six-point methodology for managing impromptu speaking situations, from job interviews and client pitches to wedding toasts and awkward Zoom questions. It's a confidence-building toolkit for turning nerves into clear, compelling communication whenever you're put on the spot.

About the Book:
Most communication advice focuses on prepared speeches, but this book tackles the far more common, and terrifying, challenge of speaking spontaneously. Whether fielding an unexpected question in a meeting, making small talk at a networking event, or asked to say a few words at a family gathering, Abrahams shows that the fear of "freezing up" can be managed rather than endured. The book lays out a six-point framework covering how to manage anxiety, structure thoughts on the fly, use concise and vivid language, tell relevant stories, listen actively, and adapt to your audience in real time. Each technique is illustrated with relatable scenarios from business, academia, and everyday life, alongside checklists, sample scripts, and short drills to practise immediately. Abrahams also tackles the hybrid workplace, offering strategies for handling spontaneous questions on video calls, not just in person. His tone is warm, funny, and reassuring rather than clinical, treating nervousness as energy to redirect rather than a flaw to eliminate. Readers come away not with a memorised script, but with a flexible, repeatable process for whenever they're caught off guard, whether answering a tricky question from the boss, introducing themselves at an event, or proposing a toast.

Key Benefits:

• A practical six-point framework for confident, spontaneous speaking
• Written by Stanford GSB lecturer and podcast host Matt Abrahams
• Covers real-world scenarios: interviews, meetings, networking, toasts and more
• Includes checklists, sample scripts and quick practice drills
• Addresses remote and hybrid communication challenges
• Turns speaking anxiety into a manageable, repeatable skill

About the Author:
Matt Abrahams is a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, where he teaches strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He is the host of the popular Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast and has coached executives, entrepreneurs and public speakers worldwide. Abrahams has advised presenters at IPO road shows and high-profile events, and his practical, research-backed approach has made him one of the most sought-after communication coaches in business today. He brings decades of teaching and coaching experience to this accessible guide.

Why You'll Love This Book:
If small talk, Q&As or unexpected questions make you anxious, this book hands you a genuinely usable system for staying calm and articulate. It's practical, funny, and immediately applicable at work and in everyday life.

Please Note: Cover may vary slightly from image shown; this is the current UK paperback edition with UK ISBN 9781035024971.