DeepSummary
The podcast episode features a conversation between host Matt Abrahams and Graham Weaver, a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Weaver emphasizes the importance of direct communication and overcoming limiting beliefs to achieve personal and professional growth. He shares insights from his experience teaching entrepreneurship and managing growing enterprises, highlighting the power of speaking one's truth and creating safety for others to hear feedback.
Weaver introduces the concept of living an 'asymmetrical life,' which involves doing hard things, pursuing one's passions, committing to them for decades, and writing one's own story. He draws inspiration from Taylor Swift's resilience and work ethic in the face of setbacks, using it as a lesson in perseverance and self-belief. Weaver also discusses his personal journey towards enlightenment, emphasizing the role of practices like meditation and journaling in gaining self-awareness and clarity.
The conversation concludes with Weaver sharing his perspectives on exceptional leadership, which stems from fully embracing one's authenticity, and the key ingredients for successful communication: understanding one's truth, creating safety, and being clear about the ask. Overall, the episode highlights the interplay between inner growth and effective communication, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and authenticity in achieving personal and professional success.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Direct communication is crucial for personal and professional growth, as being indirect often creates confusion and wastes time and resources.
- Overcoming limiting beliefs and embracing personal truths is essential for unlocking one's full potential and achieving success.
- Living an 'asymmetrical life' involves doing hard things, pursuing one's passions, committing to them for decades, and actively writing one's own story.
- Perseverance, resilience, and a strong work ethic are key to achieving mastery and overcoming setbacks, as exemplified by Taylor Swift's journey.
- Practices like meditation, journaling, and personal coaching can aid in the journey towards self-awareness and enlightenment.
- Exceptional leaders fully embrace their authenticity and give themselves permission to be their true selves.
- Effective communication involves understanding one's truth, creating a safe space for open dialogue, and being clear about the ask or desired outcome.
- Personal growth and effective communication are intertwined, as self-awareness and authenticity lay the foundation for success in both areas.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Everything you want in this life is on the other side of worse. First.“ by Graham Weaver
- “If people knew how hard I worked to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful.“ by Graham Weaver (quoting Michelangelo)
- “Clarity is compassionate. So the more clear, even if it's not what they want to hear, the more direct and clear you can be, the more compassionate that is for the other person.“ by Graham Weaver
- “The longer that life goes on for me, the more I realize that most of this game we're playing is really an internal game, first and foremost.“ by Graham Weaver
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Episode Information
Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Stanford GSB
4/16/24
From the way you communicate, to the way build your life and career, Graham Weaver, MBA ’99, says it’s about “giving yourself permission to fully be yourself. You can never go wrong when you’re saying your truth.”
Weaver is a lecturer in management, a GSB alum, and the founder and a partner of Alpine Investors. He stresses the importance of direct communication, highlighting how avoiding it can lead to wasted time, energy, and even financial losses. Reflecting on his own experiences in private equity, Weaver admits to struggling with being conflict-averse and not speaking his truth directly, which resulted in getting into bad deals and big losses for his company. “People think that by being indirect, they’re being kind, but all they're doing is creating confusion,” he says. “Clarity is compassionate. Even if it's not what they want to hear, the more direct and clear you can be, the more compassionate that is for the other person.”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Weaver and host Matt Abrahams explore how being true to oneself not only fosters personal fulfillment but also enables us to show up better for others. Authenticity and self-belief lay the foundation for effective communication, leadership, and ultimately, success.
Episode Reference Links:
- Graham Weaver: Website
- Last Lecture Series: How to Live an Asymmetric Life (Link to Graham’s Last Lecture)
- H. Irving Grousbeck (Stanford profile of Graham’s mentor and communicator he most admires)
- Ep.82 - It’s Not About You: Why Effective Communicators Put Others First YouTube / Website
- Ep.118 - Maximizing Your Personal Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You Want YouTube / Website
Connect:
- Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu
- Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
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- Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page, Instagram, YouTube
- Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
- Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces guest Graham Weaver, a Stanford alum and lecturer in management at GSB.
(00:0:43) Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Skills in Business
How skills like understanding personal dreams and overcoming limiting beliefs play a critical role in business success.
(00:04:58) Living an Asymmetrical Life
Living an asymmetrical life, including the importance of doing hard things, pursuing your passions, committing long-term, and writing your own story.
(00:10:10) Lessons from Taylor Swift
Business and personal inspiration from Taylor Swift's response to professional setbacks, highlighting her work ethic and resilience.
(00:13:04) Personal Growth and Enlightenment
Graham’s journey towards enlightenment and the practices he adopts to improve his personal and professional life.
(00:16:08) The Final Three Questions
Graham shares what differentiates an exceptional from average leader, a communicator he admires and his ingredients for successful communication.
(00:21:05) Conclusion
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