238. AMA: Why Listening Might Be Your Most Powerful Skill

238. AMA: Why Listening Might Be Your Most Powerful Skill

When we truly listen, every conversation changes — including the one with ourselves.

Listening isn’t about waiting for your turn to speak — it’s about being present enough to truly hear. In a world full of noise, slowing down to listen can feel like a radical act. Yet it’s in those moments of stillness and attention that real understanding begins.


In this special Ask Matt Anything episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, we explore what it means to “listen up” — to engage with intention, empathy, and curiosity. Along the way, listener questions spark insights on how to slow down fast conversations, apply communication tools in real life, and navigate the nuances of culture and connection. Because better communication doesn’t start with what we say — it starts with what we hear.

To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

Episode Reference Links:


Connect:


Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:38) - The Three Ps That Block Good Listening
  • (03:35) - Ace Your Listening: Pace, Space, and Grace
  • (05:55) - Listening Beyond Words: Nonverbal Cues That Matter
  • (06:33) - Listening Through Paraphrasing
  • (08:09) - Practicing Better Listening
  • (09:26) - Choosing the Right Structure for Your Audience
  • (12:51) - Applying Communication Skills Effectively
  • (15:58) - Slowing Down Conversations
  • (21:10) - Practicing and Getting Feedback
  • (23:40) - What’s Next for Think Fast Talk Smart
  • (25:32) - Conclusion

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13. Make ’Em Laugh: How to Use Humor as a Secret Weapon in Your Communication

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Humor does more than just make people laugh. It allows you to connect with your audience, diffuse tension, elevate status, and compel others to your point of view. Humor can also help you and your message stand out, yet most of us hesitate to use humor, especially in our professional lives.In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams speaks with Stanford GSB Professor Jennifer Aaker and Lecturer Naomi Bagdonas about when and how humor operates in the work place. “Many believe that humor simply has no place amidst serious work,” Professor Aaker says. “Yet showing your sense of humor can make your peers and your friends attribute more perceptions of confidence and status to us while also cultivating a sense of trust.”Aaker and Bagdonas are are the authors of Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life, which comes out in October of this year. Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn,  Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn   ********This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today

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8. Don't Get Lost in Translation: How Non-Native Speakers Can Communicate With Confidence

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