Communication is complex. While most people associate it solely with talking or speaking, a good communicator must also have the ability to listen, question, and provide constructive input. The act of communicating not only allows one to convey information but also helps build relationships, enhances engagement, fuels innovation, and fosters trust. But just like any other skill, learning to be better at communicating comes with challenges.  Matt Abrahams, author of “Speaking Up without Freaking Out” and host of the “Think Fast, Talk Smart” podcast, names anxiety as one of the challenges on why it can be hard for some people to express their thoughts and ideas. He believes that it is normal to be nervous and goes on to share some helpful tips and routines that can help manage public speaking anxiety. In this episode, Darius and Matt discuss the types of communication, the ways to become a great communicator, the challenges of public speaking and how to overcome them, the importance of structuring communication plans, and how to leverage and manage public speaking anxiety. Topics include: How Matt realized his passion for communication at an early age Leveraging and managing speaking anxiety How Ted Talks encourages effective good communication Tips on how to level up speaking Things to learn from neuroscience to communicate better The power of communication when it comes to status How to leverage communication to elevate status The importance of listening skills in communication Structuring communication plans Hacks for public speaking with confidence The story behind the creation of Matt’s book “Speaking Up Without Freaking Out” Hosting “Think Fast, Talk Smart” podcast Ways for communicating successfully with remote teams And other topics… Connect with Matt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/ Website: https://nofreakingspeaking.com/  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-fast-talk-smart-communication-techniques/id1494989268  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices