Matt Abrahams, Stanford lecturer and author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter, discusses how the improv principle of 'daring to be dull' reduces anxiety in spontaneous speaking.
“Strive for connection over perfection. By daring to be dull, just get the task done. Just answer the question. Just give the feedback. Just be engaged in the small talk. And by doing that, you dial down the volume of self-evaluation, freeing up resources that can be used to really help you succeed.”
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Opinion
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AssertionSupported
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AssertionContradicted
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Insight
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“You actually have to prepare to be spontaneous and that's counterintuitive, but it is through preparation that we get better at it.”
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Insight
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Insight
Abrahams: Small talk requires reciprocal depth of personal disclosure
“One rule is the one that you shared that in small talk, there should be a balance of disclosure or depth of disclosure over time. So if you're telling me about the first time your first pet died, and I'm telling you my favorite color is blue, there's a discrep…”
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