If you’ve ever felt your heart race before a presentation, struggled to find the right words in a high-stakes conversation, or worried you’re not being heard at work, this episode is for you.
My guest is Matt Abrahams, a world expert in communication, Stanford lecturer, and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast.
In this episode, he shares a powerful, practical approach to overcoming the most common challenges in public speaking and everyday communication.
We explore how to manage anxiety, stop over-relying on slides, and shift from performance mode to connection mode. Matt explains why memorizing a script often makes us more nervous and offers a better alternative: structure over script.
He breaks down how to recover gracefully when your mind goes blank, eliminate filler words like “umm” and “you know,” and use storytelling to make your message more memorable and persuasive.
We also dive into how to be seen and heard at work without sounding self-promotional, and how to build spontaneous speaking skills that make meetings and conversations feel less stressful and more natural.
Enjoy this masterclass in how to speak up – without freaking out.
0:00 Introduction & Setting the Stage
0:36 Presentation Mistakes & Audience-Centric Communication
2:34 The Power of Storytelling
6:53 Managing Nerves & Building Confidence
17:23 Standing Out at Work & Building Credibility
21:40 AI in Communication: Opportunities & Pitfalls
29:02 Evolving as a Communicator & Final Advice
31:21 Outro & Resources
Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
If your team is smart, talented, and experienced – but still isn’t performing as they should – this episode is your wake-up call. Because the problem isn’t your people… it’s the norms driving how they interact.
Today, you’re going to learn how to build team emotional intelligence on demand — the kind that unlocks trust, psychological safety, and fast alignment. If you want to lead a top 1% team, this is the playbook.
In this must-listen episode, Oliver is joined by Dr. Vanessa Druskat, organizational psychologist, long-time collaborator of Daniel Goleman, and co-author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team – one of the most important leadership books of the year.
We unpack why focusing on individuals is no longer enough, how to embed emotional intelligence into your team’s daily habits, the 3 essential norms that separate average teams from extraordinary ones, and how to measure and improve your team’s EQ, starting now.
Vanessa offers a science-backed, deeply practical framework to create high-performing, human-centered teams – even in high-pressure, fast-changing environments.
⏰ CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
01:33 - Meet Dr. Vanessa Druskat & The Power of Team Emotional Intelligence
04:25 - Why Individual EQ Isn’t Enough for Teams
07:20 - The Relationship Between IQ and EQ
10:09 - What Should Leaders Look for When Hiring?
13:09 - The Three Essential Team Norms
15:46 - Norm 1: Building Belonging & Trust
19:22 - Norm 2: Creating Shared Purpose & Direction
22:11 - Norm 3: Reaching Outside the Team
25:20 - Is Team EQ Catching On?
28:18 - How to Measure and Improve Team EQ
31:00 - The Impact of Leadership and Culture Change
34:00 - The Future: AI, Teams, and Emotional Intelligence
37:00 - Vanessa’s Best Communication Advice
39:00 - Wrap Up & Where to Learn More
Enjoy the episode!
Leave us your comments and ideas. We want to know what you think.
You can find the "Team EI Quick Survey" mentioned in the episode here: https://www.vanessadruskat.com/resources
Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
Many leaders sound inauthentic, robotic or fake.
It’s true: As a leader, it’s hard to sound authentic – to be real, relatable, and trusted. Some messages may come across as too corporate, others as too casual.
The result is the same: there’s a gap between what you want to say and what your people hear.
To close that gap, I’m joined by David Shelley, CEO of Hachette Book Group, one of the biggest names in global publishing, with more than 220 million books sold annually.
He’s raw, real, and incredibly believable – and he shows us what authentic leadership communication sounds like at scale.
Get your 50 Presentation Hacks here: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
00:00 Introduction & Authentic Leadership
00:32 Open Office & Company Culture
01:39 Industry Changes & Inclusivity
02:27 Feedback & Growth Mindset
07:54 Diversity & Changing the Story
10:27 Business Growth & Pillars of Success
12:14 Understanding Consumers
14:50 Building Trust & Communication Channels
19:23 Transparency vs. Confidentiality
22:34 The Future of Publishing
26:03 Advice for Aspiring Authors
28:49 Leadership, Communication, and Final Advice
38:35 Closing Remarks
Is everything we know about leadership… wrong?In this eye-opening episode, Jon Levy, behavioral scientist and bestselling author of Team Intelligence, joins Oliver to challenge some of our most deeply held assumptions about what makes a great leader – and what truly drives high-performing teams.Forget charisma and vision. According to Jon, the real reason we follow someone isn’t their MBA or their skills checklist – it's the feeling that they offer a better future. But that’s just the beginning.In this conversation, you’ll learn:
Why the MBA was designed for a world that no longer exists – and what it missed entirely.
How Harvard’s early leadership research was based on fake credentials.
Why “super skills” (not soft skills) are the secret to influence.
What makes some teams 1.6x more productive – and why “glue players” are the hidden MVPs.
The science of bursty communication and why it beats Slack pings and endless meetings.
How too much talent can tank a team—and why team intelligence > individual genius.
Why diversity, emotional intelligence, and alignment are non-negotiable for team success.
How to spot (and survive) dark personalities in your workplace.
The one mindset shift every leader needs to unlock true collective genius.
Jon’s insights are grounded in cutting-edge research but delivered with refreshing clarity, wit, and real-world practicality.
Bonus takeaway: Learn why your best team member might not be the loudest star—but the quiet connector who helps everyone else shine.
Get the “50 Presentation Hacks” Guide https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro & is leadership all wrong?
1:19 - Why the MBA is outdated
3:09 - Harvard’s fake credentials
6:08 - Super skills vs. soft skills
13:22 - Too much talent problem
16:10 - Diversity & emotional intelligence
17:45 - Glue players boost teams
18:32 - Bursty communication
32:30 - Dark personalities at work
39:55 - Unlocking collective genius
Bad communication costs businesses $37 billion a year, and chances are, it's costing you too.
Celeste Headlee is one of the most watched TED speakers ever and a global authority on conversations.
And today, she's going to show you how to save money by communicating better.
Plus: she exposes the bad advice you’ve been given by so-called experts.
Timestamps
00:00 The Cost of Poor Communication
01:19 The Inefficiency of Emails
04:03 Mastering the Art of Conversation
28:21 Switch vs. Support Responses in Conversations
29:34 The Impact of Technology on Communication
33:29 The Future of Communication and AI
Have you ever struggled to explain what you do, or find it hard to cut through? And no, it’s not about refining your elevator pitch or polishing your LinkedIn bio. It’s about making one crucial decision: what are you not?Because in a noisy world, people don’t remember nuance. They remember contrast.Global brand and positioning strategist Laura Ries argues that the clearest way to stand out as a leader or a company is to pick the right fight. Not out of anger. Out of clarity.
She’s spent decades advising global brands. In her new book Pick the Right Fight, she shows why finding your strategic enemy might be the smartest move you ever make.
She breaks it down:-Why people don’t buy “better” – they buy “different”-How to become instantly memorable by positioning against something-Why trying to “stay open” often keeps you invisible- And how even something as small as a color, a word, or a tagline can anchor your entire presence.This isn’t theory. It’s about being findable in a world that forgets you in seconds.You’ll leave this episode asking a powerful question:What am I not – and what fight am I really here for?
Timestamps
00:18 The Power of Strategic Enemies
02:12 Visual Branding & Positioning
08:53 Brand Focus & Differentiation (Subaru, Tesla, Liquid Death)
14:44 Personal Branding & Authenticity
24:44 Reflecting on a Legacy
25:16 The Evolution of Advertising and Positioning
28:45 Modern Branding Challenges and Strategies
48:13 Brand Extensions, Pivots & Case Studies
To influence someone, we have to change their minds – or so we have been told. But what if that’s exactly why your message keeps falling flat?
In this episode, you'll learn why changing minds is overrated – and how to be influential in today’s world.
Our guest is Steve Martin, one of the world’s top minds in behavioral science and longtime business partner of Robert Cialdini, the godfather of persuasion.
Steve has spent 20+ years translating psychology into action and is the author of “Messengers” and his new book “Influence at Work”.
Here’s what we break down:
How you can influence behaviors without changing believes
What makes people trust you – especially in an era of deepfakes, AI, and "super-distrusters"
How to become a messenger worth listening to, not just another voice in the feed
If you want to be more effective in how you show up in the world, this conversation will change the way you think about influence.
Find out more about Steve Martin: https://influenceatwork.co.uk/
Subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile/posts
This episode reveals why most teams underperform and how to fix it fast.
I sit down with Dr. Colin M. Fisher – Harvard-trained management professor, former jazz musician, and author of the brand new book The Collective Edge – to dismantle the myths most leaders believe about collaboration, trust, and leadership.
Forget forced fun, trust falls, and bloated org charts.
Fisher explains why most teams are too big, too unclear, and too focused on individual performance – and what it actually takes to build a high-functioning team that delivers.
🔥 In this episode:
Why adding more people makes your team slower, not smarter
The difference between real trust and the fluff HR sells you
How to reset broken teams without firing anyone
What jazz improvisation can teach you about timing, leadership, and collaboration
Why the lone genius narrative is toxic — and how to build systems that reward actual performance
If you're building teams, leading change, or scaling fast — this conversation will challenge your assumptions and give you a blueprint for team performance that actually works.
Fisher’s work isn’t theory – it’s been battle-tested in high-stakes environments.
👉 Learn more and grab the book at colinmfisher.com
💬 Like what you hear? Follow, share, and leave us a review.
Meet the man who scaled Kindle and turned McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM into truly digital businesses.
Atif Rafiq has helped reshape some of the world’s biggest brands by challenging how organizations make decisions and execute bold ideas.
As the first Chief Digital Officer in the Fortune 500 and author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Decision Sprint, Atif believes the true competitive edge lies not in execution alone, but in mastering the messy, often misunderstood process of decision-making.
Atif breaks down how to foster a culture where problem-solving thrives, people feel heard, and collaboration leads to clarity. He knows what he talks about: Atif led the transformation of McDonald’s customer experience through self-service kiosks and shares how old school carmaker Volvo reimagined its digital strategy.
Now as founder of Ritual – an AI-native workspace designed for strategy, product, and cross-functional collaboration – Atif is building what some have called a “McKinsey Killer.” He offers a compelling take on how AI can democratize high-quality problem-solving and why consultants will need to evolve to stay relevant.
He also shares his most important piece of communication advice for leaders: seek clarity before you provide it. In a world moving faster than ever, Atif’s approach to thoughtful decision-making, human-centered innovation, and transparent leadership offers a powerful roadmap for change.
00:00 Welcome
00:19 Establishing a Culture of Problem Solving
01:31 Leadership and Cultural Shifts at McDonald's
04:12 Digital Transformation at McDonald's
07:48 Innovations at Volvo
09:18 Decision Sprint: The Book
16:58 Methodology for Effective Decision Making
18:25 AI and the Future of Decision Making
20:03 Introducing Ritual: AI Native Workspace
20:58 Key Questions for Exploration and Discovery
21:14 Ritual: AI-Powered Collaboration
21:38 Overcoming Information Sharing Challenges
22:10 Human-AI Collaboration in Ritual
22:32 Structuring Problem Spaces with AI
23:24 Measuring Confidence in Recommendations
23:37 Ritual vs. Traditional Consultants
24:44 Future of Consulting in the AI Era
28:38 Upskilling and the Next-Gen Knowledge Worker
32:47 Challenges and Opportunities for Founders
34:41 Building Long-Term Relationships
36:05 Advice for Younger Self and Community Building
38:39 Final Thoughts and Communication Advice
What makes someone unforgettable in today’s noisy, distracted world? Oliver Aust sits down with Lorraine K. Lee – author of Unforgettable Presence, globally recognized keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor with over 300,000 followers, and former editor at LinkedIn – to explore the art and science of becoming someone people remember, trust, and want to work with.
Lorraine shares her deeply personal and professional journey from being a high-performing, yet overlooked team member at LinkedIn to becoming one of the most in-demand voices on executive presence, virtual communication, and career visibility.
Her transformation didn’t happen overnight – it was fueled by a clear realization: being good at your job isn’t enough if no one notices. You need presence – and that’s a skill anyone can learn.
She introduces listeners to her signature frameworks, starting with the EPIC career brand: Experiences, Personality, Identity, and Community. This framework helps you define and communicate your professional identity with intention, starting with your unique background and values, and extending to how others perceive and speak about you.
She follows with the RAVE model for influence: Relationships, Appearance, Visibility, and Expertise. It’s a practical roadmap for building influence at any level, with or without a formal leadership title.
Lorraine also shares highly actionable tips for upgrading your video presence, leading meetings with impact, and navigating first impressions – both in person and online.
You’ll learn why micro-behaviors matter more than you think, how to manage your energy like an athlete, and how to leverage LinkedIn not just to go viral, but to build meaningful professional relationships. Lorraine emphasizes that presence isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room – it’s about being the most intentional.
Find out more about Lorraine K. Lee: https://lorraineklee.com/
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
What if machines could read us better than people can? Blake Eastman is on a mission to make that a reality – and to ensure it serves humanity, not replaces it.
Blake is the founder of The Nonverbal Group, a former poker pro and psychology professor, and now a pioneering builder at the intersection of human behavior and AI.
Blake pulls back the curtain on his decades-long obsession with decoding people, from micro-reactions and smiles to power dynamics and unspoken expectations.
He also previews his upcoming book, a science-backed reimagining of How to Win Friends and Influence People. It will break down the underlying psychological forces – like hierarchy, status, and value orientation – that shape how we communicate. His goal? To create a foundational guide for truly understanding human behavior at its most nuanced level.
Blake explains why the popular ideas of “reading people” and “taking baselines” are misleading, and how even experts often misinterpret the subtle signals that govern human connection.
He dives into the challenge of building machines that can identify social friction, coach people in real-time, and even outperform humans in behavioral prediction – without losing the ethical thread of care and responsibility.
Throughout the episode, you'll learn how AI can supercharge your social intelligence, why most communication advice fails without context, and how to develop the kind of communication range that makes leaders truly effective.
Blake also shares actionable insight into how anyone – especially those with cross-disciplinary skills – can leverage AI to gain a massive edge in business and life.
Find out more about Blake Eastman: https://www.nonverbalgroup.com/
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
Can you win every pitch? No, but The Pitch Guy’s blueprint gets you close.
Danny Fontaine aka The Pitch Guy is the author of “Pitch: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience On The Planet” and host of the Pitch Masters podcast.
Danny has redefined what it means to pitch an idea, product or business – not as a PowerPoint deck, but as an emotionally charged, strategically choreographed experience that makes people lean in, feel something, and say yes.
He shares his TITAN and Storycoaster frameworks that turn your pitch into a moment they’ll never forget. He unpacks how to tap into emotion before logic, why your audience’s trust matters more than your tech specs, and how to build stories and structures that cut through noise and leave a mark.
You’ll learn how to create “anomalies” that make people sit up, how to pitch even if you're introverted or nervous, and why the best presenters never rely on slides alone.
Plus, you’ll hear the real story behind the most legendary pitch in British advertising history – and how it still shapes how great ideas are sold today.
This isn’t just about pitching better. It’s about learning how to be heard, how to build trust quickly, and how to turn your audience into champions for your message.
Find out more about Danny Fontaine: https://pitchguy.co.uk/
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
It sets the stage for a real talk on what AI means for leaders.
Oliver and his bestie, serial founder Gerrit McGowan explore how emerging tech is reshaping communication, leadership, and trust, and how leaders can use AI without losing authenticity.
From voice cloning to deepfakes, from 3D avatars to AI writing assistants to humans leading teams of AI agents – this conversation hits on the future that’s just arrived.
They explore what leadership looks like when AI can seemingly outthink us in every domain. They examine where humans still have the edge, and how leaders can stay relevant.
Gerrit also reveals how he lost his voice hours before a keynote and created his virtual self overnight to go on stage.
They talk trust, communication, and how to train AI tools to sound like you. Plus, Oliver shares the 10–80–10 rule for using AI to accelerate your work without outsourcing your voice.
And both wrestle with a critical question: where does the human edge still matter?
This is not a debate on whether AI is coming. It’s a field manual for staying human and relevant.
Oliver’s TEDx talk is live now: https://youtu.be/Va82je55WSU?si=P9DTsBlFBhqCwHcG
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
Oliver’s TEDx talk, “AI-Powered Leadership: Why Supercomputers Need Supercommunicators” just dropped.
It sets the stage for a real talk on what AI means for leaders.
Oliver and his bestie, serial founder Gerrit McGowan explore how emerging tech is reshaping communication, leadership, and trust, and how leaders can use AI without losing authenticity.
From voice cloning to deepfakes, from 3D avatars to AI writing assistants to humans leading teams of AI agents – this conversation hits on the future that’s just arrived.
They explore what leadership looks like when AI can seemingly outthink us in every domain. They examine where humans still have the edge, and how leaders can stay relevant.
Gerrit also reveals how he lost his voice hours before a keynote and created his virtual self overnight to go on stage.
They talk trust, communication, and how to train AI tools to sound like you. Plus, Oliver shares the 10–80–10 rule for using AI to accelerate your work without outsourcing your voice.
And both wrestle with a critical question: where does the human edge still matter?
This is not a debate on whether AI is coming. It’s a field manual for staying human and relevant.
Oliver’s TEDx talk is live now: https://youtu.be/Va82je55WSU?si=tjUI3OmIIs0WvsfV
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
What's the difference between a leader and a manager? Why should we avoid the industrial age-style race to the bottom?
This week we are sharing a brief moment of Oliver’s conversation with Seth Godin, 21-time best-selling author and one of the leading business thinkers in the world.
Check out episode 263 for the full conversation.
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
If you don’t have a point, everything you say is pointless.
Oliver speaks with Joel Schwartzberg, communication expert and author of “The Language of Leadership” and “Get to the Point” (updated edition out this month).
Let’s face it, there is too much rambling and hot air in business.
Joel shares concepts such as the “I Believe That” Test and the “XY Test” that help leaders ensure they have a clearly defined point before they speak.
This is a highly actionable episode about avoiding rambling for good, ditching the performance and instead delivering your message like a real human, and escaping the trap of truisms.
Find out more about Joel Schwartzberg: https://www.joelschwartzberg.net/
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career.
This week Oliver is a guest on the Amplified Leadership podcast hosted by Oliver Degnan.
They discuss what it truly means to "Speak like a CEO", how to make your story sticky, how to create a compelling vision, how to communicate better as a team, how to build trust, and much more.
This is a value-packed half an hour with lots of actionable advice!
Get the 21 Storytelling Structures every leader should know: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/1f04d6ddfc
Find out more about Dr Oliver Degnan: https://www.drdegnan.com/
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
Drowning in Zoom calls and Slack threads? No energy left at the end of the day? Zoom fatigue is real. So is information overload.
To understand science-backed strategies that get better results from your virtual communication while preserving your energy, Oliver speaks to Andrew Brodsky.
Andrew is a management professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the author of "Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication".
They dive deep into the science and strategy behind effective virtual communication.
If your day is packed with Zoom calls, endless email threads, and Slack pings, this conversation will change how you work. Andrew challenges the myth that in-person is always best and breaks down why smart, intentional virtual communication can actually boost productivity and reduce burnout.
We explore:
Why video meetings often feel off — and how to fix them
The biggest myths about remote work communication
Eye-opening research on brainstorming, authenticity, and trust in virtual settings
The "PING" framework — a simple method to optimize every digital interaction
What leaders must do to create healthier, more effective remote workplaces
Whether you're leading a remote team or just trying to stay sane in a world of nonstop pings, this episode is full of practical insights you can use immediately.
Find out more about Andrew Brodsky: https://abrodsky.com/
Subscribe to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
What if an algorithm could read your personality better than your best friend?
In this eye-opening episode, Oliver sits down with Dr. Sandra Matz – Columbia Business School professor, computational psychologist, and author of Mindmasters – to explore how our digital footprints reveal far more than we think.
Sandra unpacks how AI tools can accurately infer our Big Five personality traits, mental health, and values using everything from Google searches to smartphone activity.
Oliver and Sandra discuss the power – and ethical challenges – of data-driven persuasion, including what brands and political campaigns really know about you, and how personalization is reshaping communication, marketing, and even internal business culture.
Drawing on her role in helping uncover the truth behind Cambridge Analytica and her work with leading global brands, Sandra provides a rare, credible look at how psychological targeting works – and where it’s headed next.
From mental health interventions to personalized internal comms, this conversation goes deep into the future of influence.
Plus: Why personality tests like Myers-Briggs are outdated, how to build high-performing teams using psychology, and Sandra’s #1 piece of communication advice.
Find out more about Sandra Matz: https://sandramatz.com/
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career:https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/
Leaders who use humor are seen as more confident, competent and get better results – if they do it the right way.
Andrew Tarvin is the CEO of Humor That Works and author of the book by the same name.
He shares how leaders can use humor as a serious tool for better results. But it’s not about being haha funny or being a slap-on-the-back kinda boss.
It’s about bringing lightness to leadership that increases performance, status and – yes – makes work a little more fun.
Andrew shares compelling insights into why humor is no longer a nice-to-have, but a crucial skill for professionals looking to enhance morale, manage stress, improve communication, and even boost their status.
You will discover the critical difference between humor and comedy in a professional setting, learn practical techniques for incorporating appropriate humor into presentations and daily interactions, and understand how humor enhances your perceived confidence and competence.
Andrew debunks common myths about humor in the workplace and provides actionable strategies for making work more engaging and, ultimately, more effective.
Give this episode a listen and let's make work a little less "worky."
Find out more about Andrew Tarvin https://drewtarvin.com/
Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/
Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career:https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/