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Matt Abrahams is a renowned communication expert, with decades of teaching, coaching, and consulting experience. At Stanford University, he teaches a business school class on strategic communication. Beyond academia, he\u2019s a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant, guiding presenters from IPO road shows to prestigious platforms like TED, the World Economic Forum, and the United Nations. His acclaimed podcast, Think Fast, Talk Smart, garners millions of listeners, and his book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, equips speakers with practical skills for impromptu success. With a previous bestseller, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out, Matt has empowered countless individuals to speak confidently and authentically. In our conversation, we discuss:

\u2022 The concept of \u201cdaring to be dull\u201d

\u2022 The power of visualization to desensitize oneself to speaking situations

\u2022 Managing negative self-talk

\u2022 The WHAT structure for delivering toasts (why we are here, how you are connected, anecdote, thanks)

\u2022 The ADD structure for Q&As (answer, detailed example, describe relevance)

\u2022 Breathing techniques to reduce anxiety, such as the double exhale

\u2022 Concrete speaking structures like What? So What? Now What? and the Four I\u2019s (information, impact, invitation, implications)

\u2022 Much more

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Find the transcript and references at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-speak-more-confidently-and

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Where to find Matt Abrahams:

\u2022 X: https://twitter.com/tftsthepod

\u2022 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/

\u2022 Website: https://mattabrahams.com/

\u2022 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ll0MwobDt1JW9gYaOONEo

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Where to find Lenny:

\u2022 Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com

\u2022 X: https://twitter.com/lennysan

\u2022 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/

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In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Matt\u2019s background

(04:50) Techniques for managing anxiety in public speaking

(10:57) Dare to be dull

(13:40) Reframing anxiety as excitement

(16:08) Using mantras to boost confidence

(18:45) Managing negative self-talk

(20:03) Normalizing speaking anxiety

(23:12) Using conversation as a communication technique

(24:52) Using the double-exhale breathing technique

(28:29) Getting present-oriented

(29:46) Using tongue twisters

(33:34) Broad advice for speaking on the spot

(38:35) The PREP structure

(38:59) The What? So What? Now What? structure

(42:10) Toastmasters and improv

(45:31) Getting better at small talk

(51:05) The importance of sharing back

(52:33) Giving feedback

(56:31) Improving toasts and tributes

(01:02:57) Mastering Q&A sessions

(01:07:25) Apologizing effectively

(01:09:29) Closing thoughts

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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.

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Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed.