Spontaneous Speaking: How To Think Faster, Talk Smarter with Toastmaster and Stanford GSB's, Matt Abrahams
Science-based strategies for managing anxiety, responding to the mood of the room, and making content concise, relevant, compelling, and memorable.
Many of us dread having to convey our ideas to others, often feeling ill-equipped, anxious, and awkward. Experts help by focusing on planned communication experiences; yet, most of our professional and personal communication occurs in spontaneous situations that leave us flustered and stumbling for words. Together, we’ll explore science-based strategies for managing anxiety, responding to the mood of the room, and making content concise, relevant, compelling, and memorable. By the end of this class, you’ll know how to navigate the situation like a pro and bring out your very best.
Matt Abrahams is a lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford GSB. He has decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. He teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his teaching students around the world. Outside of the classroom, Matt is a sought-after keynote speaker and communication consultant. He has helped countless presenters improve and hone their communication, including some who have delivered IPO road shows as well as Nobel Prize, TED, and World Economic Forum presentations. He also consults for the United Nations Secretary General’s Strategic Planning and Communication Group. His online talks garner millions of views and he hosts the popular, award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart The Podcast. His new book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot provides tangible, actionable skills to help even the most anxious of speakers succeed when speaking spontaneously, such as navigating Q&A sessions, shining in job interviews, providing effective feedback, making small talk, fixing faux pas, persuading others. His previous book Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting has helped thousands of people manage speaking anxiety and present more confidently and authentically.