Managing Speaking Anxiety

Great communication isn’t about saying more—it’s about making what you say matter.

If we want to communicate more effectively, we need to treat communication less like a habit—and more like a series of intentional choices. In this special feed drop, we’re featuring a conversation from the ⁠Masters of Scale⁠ podcast, where host ⁠Jeff Berman⁠ sits down with Stanford lecturer and ⁠Think Fast, Talk Smart ⁠host Matt Abrahams to explore what it really takes to communicate with intention.

Most of us default to what feels natural—long-winded openings, generic pitches, or focusing on what we want to say. But as Matt explains, effective communication starts with the audience. Get to the point quickly. Focus on what’s relevant. “Tell the time, don’t build the clock.”

From high-stakes presentations to job interviews and everyday interactions, Matt shares practical, science-backed strategies for showing up with clarity and confidence. Communication is something we all do every day—but doing it well, especially when it counts, takes intention. As this conversation makes clear, small shifts in how we prepare, structure, and deliver our message can make all the difference.

Episode Reference Links:

• Jeff Berman
• Masters of Scale

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• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (04:13) - Communication as a Skill
• (04:43) - The Impact of Communication
• (05:21) - Prevalence of Speaking Anxiety
• (07:22) - Techniques for Reducing Anxiety
• (09:57) - Core Principles: Repetition, Reflection, Feedback
• (11:04) - Communication in Education
• (12:14) - Opportunities to Improve Communication
• (14:37) - Presenting & Pitching Ideas
• (16:52) - Setting Clear Expectations
• (20:09) - Characteristics of Productive Meetings
• (24:38) - The Role of Repetition in Leadership
• (25:28) - Structured Preparation for Interviews
• (26:54) - The ADD Framework for Responses
• (28:22) - Asking Insightful Questions
• (29:42) - Defining Communication Objectives
• (32:48) - Adapting Messages to Different Formats
• (34:03) - Building Confidence in New Mediums
• (35:13) - Recovering from Cognitive Lapses
• (36:39) - The Pace, Space, Grace Framework
• (38:34) - Navigating Differing Perspectives
• (40:26) - Conclusion

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