“Be sincere; be brief; be seated”  These six words by Franklin D. Roosevelt, which I stumbled upon during my early days as a 22-year-old sales manager, have profoundly shaped my communication philosophy.

I’ve always believed that one’s ability to effectively communicate isn’t just a skill to be honed, it’s often the key that unlocks hidden potential; particularly in business and leadership.  Whether you’re an entrepreneur working to advance an idea, a leader inspiring your team, or someone in pursuit of a higher purpose - how you speak can be the diving line between capturing or missing opportunities.

Nearly a decade ago, I met Matt Abrahams, and he challenged me to embrace style and structure in my communication.  And while I’m not naturally a process-oriented individual, I’ve come to appreciate the profound value of forging meaningful connections as a result.  I am thrilled that Matt’s latest book - Think Faster Talk Smarter - explores the topic of spontaneous communication; which each of us deals with on a regular basis.  The moments when you're stumped by an unanticipated question, or asked to comment during an unpleasant interaction - sure, it's easy to understand the importance of thinking on your feet; however, applying it effectively requires immense preparation.  In this episode, Matt and I discuss the various methods and frameworks that have shaped his work with entrepreneurs, leaders, and high achieving individuals.  Here’s a glimpse of the situations we discuss:

• The mindsets that ignite impactful communication
• An approach to crafting meaningful messages
• Why mediocrity is the catalyst to achieving greatness
• A method to communicate uncommon or complex ideas
• Why the first and last minute of a presentation are critical & how to approach them
• A framework for quick presenting or pitching
• What Martial arts can teach you about effective communication
• How to craft a sales presentation that doesn’t suck