CM 252: Matt Abrahams on How to Speak on the Spot

• Take deep belly breaths with a focus on longer exhalations can help alleviate anxiety (Watch it here).
• Hold something cold in your hands (like a chilled water bottle) as this helps in reducing core body temperature. It further slows down the heart rate and decreases blood pressure.

• Matt Abrahams offers over 50 scientifically-backed techniques to manage anxiety, particularly in public speaking scenarios, in his book Speaking Up Without Freaking Out.
• Select 3 to 5 techniques from the list to create your own plan.

• For example, your 3-step plan could be (1) Breathe Deeply: Take 10 deep breaths to calm your nerves; (2) Listen to an inspirational song, preferably the same one each time to prime your mind; (3) Visualize Success: Close your eyes and imagine yourself being applauded and appreciated for your speech.
• Use an acronym to remember your plan (BLV).
• Regularly rehearse it to build familiarity - each time before you give an important speech, carry out this pre-game ritual.

• A framework to organize their thoughts and communicate more effectively. Think along the lines of answering the following questions:
• What: Lay out the facts and describing the situation objectively. What happened? What was the idea?
• So What: Analyze the significance of the situation. Why is this important? What impact did this have?
• Now What: Decide on the next steps. What will you do differently next time? How will you apply the insights?

• Focus on what is relevant to your audience and start with what is most important to them.
• Avoid the tendency to overexplain or show off your knowledge by building the clock when all people need is the time.
• Simplify language by avoiding jargon.

1. Information: What do I want my audience to know? Clearly state the facts and share relevant information.
2. Emotion: How do I want my audience to feel? Use stories, anecdotes, or expressive language to evoke the desired emotions. Emotions are key to make your message more memorable and build trust.
3. Action: What do I want the audience to do next? Share practical steps you want them to take after receiving your message.

This is applicable for any form of communication—be it a speech, presentation, email, or meeting.

Imagine you are giving a presentation on the importance of cybersecurity in your organization.

1. Information: Present statistics on recent cyber-attacks, the potential risks, and the current state of your organization’s cybersecurity measures.
2. Emotion: Share a compelling story about a competitor that suffered a significant data breach and the emotional and financial toll it took on them.
3. Action: Conclude by outlining specific steps your team can take to enhance cybersecurity, such as adopting new protocols or attending a training session.