Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques27 Mai 2025

205. Say What Sucks: Catalyzing Organizational Change with AI

A live SXSW panel on how employee complaints illuminate the path to organizational innovation.

Wrong question: How can AI revolutionize productivity in my organization?

Right question: What do my employees hate most about their jobs?

For the Portland Trail Blazers, a winning game plan for AI implementation didn’t begin with a tech-first approach — it began with a talk-first one. “The whole concept was to talk about pain points," explains David Long, VP of Digital Innovation, describing the "Lunch and Launch" sessions where employees could openly share frustrations about their daily work. “People really enjoy talking about what they hate about their jobs,” says Christa Stout, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, and as they did, they illuminated opportunities for optimization. “By getting this insight across the whole company, it is already opening our eyes [to how] we can potentially transform the business more broadly,” Stout says.

In this special live episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, recorded at SXSW, host Matt Abrahams leads a panel with Long, Stout, and Stanford colleague Jeremy Utley, exploring how "catharsis catalyzes change.” For any team wanting to implement new technology or rethink workflows, these experts reveal how creating space for complaints can catalyze meaningful innovation throughout an organization.

Episode Reference Links:

Connect:

Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(04:31) - The Business Behind Basketball
(06:02) - Why AI and Why Now?
(07:10) - Collaborating with the Team
(08:28) - The Lunch & Launch Method
(11:00) - Branding AI Initiatives
(12:18) - David Detractor & Kelly Kindness
(15:49) - Human Connection through AI
(16:34) - Auditing for Brand Consistency
(18:42) - AI in National Parks
(21:25) - Making AI Personal
(22:47) - Using AI to Learn AI
(27:16) - Encouraging AI in the Workplace
(30:10) - Change Management: Iteration Over Perfection
(33:56) - Start with Curiosity and Empower Action
(37:39) - Communication Ingredients
(40:17) - Conclusion

********
Thank you to our sponsors. These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(301)

297. Agency Over Anxiety: Communicating in Uncertain Times

Why the most effective communicators help people see not just what's changing, but why it matters to them.For Sinéad Bovell, effective communication isn’t just about explaining what’s coming next—it’s...

15 Jun 26min

296. AMA: Speaking Out, Staying Grounded, and Managing Up

Practical communication strategies you can use immediately at work and beyond.How do you speak up when a conversation is moving faster than you can think? What should you do when emotions threaten to ...

11 Jun 13min

295. Culture Club: Communicating Values That Scale

Why the best leaders treat uncertainty as a chance to learn, not a failure to avoid.Most companies are built to grow. Far fewer are built to stay true to their purpose as they do.Eric Ries is an entre...

8 Jun 22min

294. Ask & You Shall Receive: Questions For Better Negotiations

Do you really win the negotiation if it means losing the relationship?You might think that successful negotiation means getting what you want here and now. But Stan Christensen says this short-sighted...

4 Jun 26min

293. 5 Leadership Lessons From Stanford: Me2We 2026

What it takes to lead as a communicator and communicate as a leader.Leadership isn’t just about making decisions — it’s about how you communicate them. As Matt Abrahams puts it, “Communication is oper...

1 Jun 35min

292. Headspace Habits: Lessons for Calm, Confident Communication

The hidden habits behind calm, confident communicators.What does it really take to become a more confident communicator? In this special collaboration between Think Fast, Talk Smart and Headspace, hos...

28 Mai 29min

291. Hello, Stranger: Why Curiosity Beats Charisma Every Time

What keeps us from being more social? Nick Epley calls it a “mind-reading mistake.”We all think about what others think, particularly what they think about us. The problem, says Nick Epley, is that we...

25 Mai 30min

290. Quick Thinks: How to Have Better Conversations About Aging

How can we approach aging with more joy, empathy, and meaningful connection?We often talk about lifespan, or how long we live, but Kerry Burnight believes the more important question is how fully we l...

21 Mai 20min