DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, who discusses the importance of power and presence in effective communication. He defines power as the ability to get things done against opposition and explains that his popular course on power is appreciated for its honest and practical advice.
Pfeffer provides specific nonverbal and verbal behaviors that convey power, such as maintaining an expansive posture, using forceful gestures, speaking loudly, and avoiding filler words. He also emphasizes the role of displaying strong emotions like anger and passion in projecting power and authority.
Additionally, Pfeffer offers advice on communicating across power levels, suggesting concise and direct messaging tailored to the recipient's interests. He highlights the importance of warming up physically and vocally before important communications and shares insights on projecting competence in virtual settings.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Maintain an expansive, balanced posture and use forceful gestures to project power and authority.
- Speak loudly, directly, and with conviction, avoiding filler words and hesitation.
- Display strong emotions like anger and passion to convey confidence and energy.
- When communicating with higher-status individuals, craft concise and direct messages tailored to their interests.
- Warm up physically and vocally before important communications to ensure readiness and presence.
- In virtual settings, dress professionally, frame yourself properly, and maintain eye contact to project competence.
- Use simple, forceful, and vivid language to strengthen your message and influence.
- Understand and leverage the nuances of verbal, nonverbal, and emotional cues to communicate with impact.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I define power as the ability to get things done against opposition.“ by Jeffrey Pfeffer
- “You want to speak directly. You want to communicate directly. You want to show up. If you're communicating with them in person in a way that shows that you're someone to be taken seriously and in how you dress and how you hold yourself and how you convey yourself to both your body language and your spoken language.“ by Jeffrey Pfeffer
- “You should warm up so that when you enter the moment, you are as relaxed and as ready to go as you can.“ by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Entities
Person
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Episode Information
Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Stanford GSB
2/20/24
“Simple language, forceful language, vivid language, and keeping it simple and direct,” says Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, are all powerful tools to strengthen your communication.
Host and Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer Matt Abrahams interviews Pfeffer, the author many books, including Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't, about the verbal and nonverbal ways we can harness, or give away, our authority when we’re speaking to others. Pfeffer is also the host of the podcast Pfeffer on Power and teaches the Stanford GSB online course Discover the Paths to Power.
Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills.
Episode Reference Links:
- Jeffrey Pfeffer's podcast: Pfeffer on Power
- Jeffrey Pfeffer's books: Dying for a Paycheck & Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't
- Stanford GSB Online Course: Discover the Paths to Power
- Ep 12, Deb Grunfeld: YouTube / Website
- Ep 44, Melissa Jones Briggs: YouTube / Website
Connect:
- Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.edu
- Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
- Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
- Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page, Instagram, YouTube
- Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn
- Stanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & Twitter
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Matt Abrahams introduces the episode, highlighting the importance of power and presence in communication.
(00:01:31) Defining Power and Status
Jeffrey Pfeffer shares his definition of power and status, emphasizing their significance in achieving goals despite opposition.
(00:02:45) Nonverbal & Verbal Behaviors to Communicate Power
Specific behaviors that convey power, and those to avoid.
(00:05:46) Emotion and Power
Pfeffer explores the role of emotion in conveying power, highlighting the effectiveness of displaying strong emotions like anger and passion.
(00:09:11) Virtual Communication
Strategies for projecting competence and higher status in virtual communication are discussed, emphasizing the importance of appearance and framing on video calls.
(00:10:55) Communicating Across Power Levels
Jeffrey Pfeffer advises on crafting concise, powerful messages for communication with higher-status individuals, emphasizing the importance of directness and presentation in person.
(00:12:06) Tailoring Messages with Flattery
Pfeffer suggests beginning communications with flattery, highlighting its effectiveness in making the recipient more receptive to your message.
(00:13:33) The Importance of ‘Warming Up’
Why we should warm up physically and vocally before important communications.
(00:16:33) The Final Three Questions
Pfeffer shares his best communication advice in a concise slide title, the communicators he “admires”, and his three ingredients for a successful communication recipe.
(00:19:20) Conclusion and Appreciation
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