Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Disrupting yourself can open new doors and help you reach your full potential.

Show Notes

Innovation and disruption aren’t just for organizations. According to Whitney Johnson, we can find new possibilities for personal and professional growth — by disrupting ourselves.
As an executive coach, author, and podcaster, Johnson teaches people how to level up their lives and careers through the power of personal disruption. Her book, Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work, reveals how shaking things up enables us to break free of the constraints we might not even know we’re imposing on ourselves. “Personal disruption [is] a process of deliberate self-innovation; a decision to step back from who you are to slingshot into who you can be,” she explains.
In this Think Fast, Talk Smart episode with host Matt Abrahams, Johnson offers strategies for tailoring messages to different audiences, reveals the key ingredients for successful communication, and explains how disrupting yourself can open new doors and help you reach your full potential.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces Whitney Johnson, keynote speaker and executive coach.
(00:01:25) The Concept of Disruption
The definition of disruption, and the benefits of personal disruption and self-innovation.
(00:02:48) Identifying and Leveraging Distinctive Strengths
How to identify distinctive strengths through observing frustrations, listening to compliments, and valuing inherent skills.
(00:06:11) The S Curve of Learning
The S curve model, its stages, and how it relates to personal and organizational growth.
(00:11:56) Tenacity and Tolerance in Personal Disruption
The importance of tenacity, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity and failure during the disruptive process.
(00:13:35) Encouraging Disruptive Ideas in Organizations
Strategies for leaders to foster a culture that encourages disruptive ideas and constructive dialogue within teams.
(00:17:00) The Final Three Questions
Whitney shares how she tailors her communication for varying audiences, a communicator she admires, and her recipe for successful communication.
(00:22:30) Conclusion 

Creators & Guests

Host
Matt Abrahams
Lecturer Stanford University Graduate School of Business | Think Fast Talk Smart podcast host

What is Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques?

Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, every Tuesday as he sits down with experts in the field to discuss real-world challenges.
How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I write emails to get my point across? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I manage my reputation? Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life.
Think Fast, Talk Smart provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help you communicate more effectively.
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