196. Ditch the Dictionary: Communicate Confidently Through Connection

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart

Communicating, Influence, Career Skills, Career, Business, Education, Leadership, Careers, Communication, Career Growth, Public Speaking, Language Learning, Improv

4.7 • 711 Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2025

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Communication isn’t about perfect word choice, it’s about connecting with others.

For native speakers and language learners alike, communicating comes with all kinds of challenges. But no matter how much we stumble over our words, Lindsay McMahon says communication isn’t about perfection — it’s about connection.

The CEO and founder of All Ears English and host of the All Ears English podcast, McMahon is on a mission to help non-native English speakers around the world hone their ability to communicate and connect. Whether you’re forming your first sentences in a new language or giving a presentation in the language you’ve spoken your whole life, “It's about human connection,” she says. “What really matters is are we connecting to our audience… the human being[s] in front of us?”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McMahon joins host Matt Abrahams to explore strategies for improving our communication — not by finding the right words, but by finding the right mindset. From active listening and cultural awareness to quieting nerves and building confidence, McMahon's practical approaches help communicators connect more authentically in any language or context.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:44) - Common Challenges for English Learners
(03:09) - Overcoming the Confidence Catch-22
(05:00) - Communication Lessons from CEOs
(05:48) - The Art of Listening
(07:35) - Idioms and Hidden Meanings
(08:53) - Context Shapes Communication
(10:40) - Cultural Analogies and Miscommunication
(11:46) - Entering a New Role or Culture
(14:05) - Immersive Language Learning
(17:20) - The Final Three Questions
(21:39) - Conclusion

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Stanford University.
0:04.1	As a Think Fast Talk Smart listener, you're familiar with the techniques and tactics developed by my Stanford colleagues that can help you be a better strategic communicator, like the work of Jamil Zaki on how to be more trusted and connected.
0:16.7	Stanford professors help shape the world in many other ways.
0:20.5	Recently, my colleagues in the Stanford School of Engineering hosted a course for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.
0:27.1	Over 10 days, Stanford professors taught the pilots some of the latest AI and robotics technologies
0:32.5	that they could apply to their careers designing, testing, and evaluating military aircraft and satellites.
0:39.2	Partnerships like this one with the Air Force are part of everyday research activities at
0:43.5	Stanford. If you'd like to stay informed on world-changing research like this, sign up for
0:48.4	Stanford Report at connect.standford.edu.edu.
0:53.6	Culture and context have a huge influence over our communication,
0:58.7	regardless of if you're a native speaker or someone new to the language.
1:03.6	My name is Matt Abraham's,
1:05.3	and I teach strategic communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business.
1:11.4	Welcome to Think Fast, Talk Smart, the podcast.
1:15.5	Today I really look forward to speaking with Lindsay McMahon.
1:18.7	Lindsay is a friend and mentor.
1:20.9	Her All-Ears English podcast is wildly successful and incredibly helpful to anyone
1:26.0	wishing to improve their English as a non-native speaker
1:29.3	or someone who is well-versed in English. Some of you might remember, Lindsay and I collaborated on
1:35.0	an episode where we interviewed Whitney Johnson as we discussed the power of personal disruption.
1:41.2	Welcome, Lindsay. Thank you for having me on, Matt. I appreciate it.
1:49.8	Before we get started, I wanted to invite you to join us for our upcoming Think Fast Talk Smart Live event on April 14th and 15th. I'll be giving a brief talk and then I'll take questions live.
	...

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