Great strategy starts with a question—and a story worth believing in.

A good strategy isn’t just built—it’s told. For Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute and author of The Imagination Machine and Like: The Button That Changed the World, strategy and imagination are both deeply communicative processes, rooted in storytelling, curiosity, and the courage to reframe assumptions.
“A strategy is really just a special kind of story,” Reeves explains. “It begins with the present and aspires to a different future—it’s fiction made actionable.” To bring that fiction to life, leaders must involve their teams in a co-creative journey and use thoughtful questions to shape not just ideas, but belief and action.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Reeves joins Matt Abrahams to explore how communication fuels strategic thinking, innovation, and organizational reinvention. He outlines his six-step framework for imagination—from embracing anomalies to codifying and continuing ideas—and underscores the role of reframing, deep listening, and even levity in solving complex problems. Together, they unpack how a single “like” button changed our digital behaviors—and what it teaches us about influence and attention today.

Episode Reference Links:

• Martin Reeves
• Martin’s Books: Like / The Imagination Machine
• Ep.71 Strategy Success: How to Communicate Your Gameplan

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:19) - Using Story in Strategy
• (05:00) - Questions as a Communication Technology
• (06:15) - The Six Steps to Harnessing Imagination
• (10:36) - The “7 Cs” of Imagination and Communication
• (12:08) - Reframing as a Creative Tool
• (14:11) - The Like Button: Origin and Evolution
• (16:14) - Brain Chemistry Behind Digital Liking
• (18:12) - The Final Three Questions
• (22:59) - Conclusion

*****
This episode is sponsored by Stanford. Groundbreaking research happens everyday at Stanford, learn more here.
Support Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.

A live SXSW panel on how employee complaints illuminate the path to organizational innovation.

Wrong question: How can AI revolutionize productivity in my organization?

Right question: What do my employees hate most about their jobs?

For the Portland Trail Blazers, a winning game plan for AI implementation didn’t begin with a tech-first approach — it began with a talk-first one. “The whole concept was to talk about pain points," explains David Long, VP of Digital Innovation, describing the "Lunch and Launch" sessions where employees could openly share frustrations about their daily work. “People really enjoy talking about what they hate about their jobs,” says Christa Stout, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, and as they did, they illuminated opportunities for optimization. “By getting this insight across the whole company, it is already opening our eyes [to how] we can potentially transform the business more broadly,” Stout says.

In this special live episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, recorded at SXSW, host Matt Abrahams leads a panel with Long, Stout, and Stanford colleague Jeremy Utley, exploring how "catharsis catalyzes change.” For any team wanting to implement new technology or rethink workflows, these experts reveal how creating space for complaints can catalyze meaningful innovation throughout an organization.

Episode Reference Links:

• Jeremy Utley
• David Long
• Christa Stout
• Ep.77 Quick Thinks: AI Has Entered The Chat – A "Conversation" with ChatGPT
• Ep.134 How to Chat with Bots: The Secrets to Getting the Information You Need from AI

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (04:42) - The Business Behind Basketball
• (06:13) - Why AI and Why Now?
• (07:21) - Collaborating with the Team
• (08:39) - The Lunch & Launch Method
• (11:11) - Branding AI Initiatives
• (12:29) - David Detractor & Kelly Kindness
• (16:00) - Human Connection through AI
• (16:45) - Auditing for Brand Consistency
• (18:53) - AI in National Parks
• (21:36) - Making AI Personal
• (22:58) - Using AI to Learn AI
• (27:27) - Encouraging AI in the Workplace
• (30:21) - Change Management: Iteration Over Perfection
• (34:07) - Start with Curiosity and Empower Action
• (37:50) - Communication Ingredients
• (39:22) - Conclusion

********
This episode is sponsored by LinkedIn. Dare to discover what’s next. Explore your job potential at LinkedIn.
Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.

How to have the conversations that are most difficult — and most important.

Before you can have hard conversations with others, you need to have an honest conversation with yourself. That's the counterintuitive advice from Sheila Heen, who says our own internal narratives often derail our attempts at negotiation and conflict resolution.

"The first negotiation is actually a negotiation I have with myself about my own story," explains Heen, a Harvard Law School lecturer and co-author of Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most. When entering challenging interactions, she recommends a powerful shift where we consider that our perspective is only one side of the story. "If I can shift my purpose from convincing you of something to just understanding how you see it and why we might see it differently, that actually is more likely to generate a good conversation with less defensiveness for both of us."

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Heen joins Matt Abrahams to explore effective communication in high-stakes situations. From giving and receiving feedback with her “ACE” framework (Appreciation, Coaching, and Evaluation) to recognizing the "degrees of difficulty" in disagreements, she offers practical strategies for having productive conversations even when emotions run high.

Episode Reference Links:

• Sheila Heen
• Sheila’s Books: Difficult Conversations / Thanks for the Feedback
• Ep.144 Communicating Through Conflict: How to Get Along with Anyone
• Ep.136 The Art of Disagreeing Without Conflict: Navigating the Nuance

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:36) - Managing Anxiety in Tough Conversations
• (04:15) - Why Emotions Matter
• (07:23) - Shifting the Story We Tell Ourselves
• (08:41) - Starting with the Real Issue
• (10:20) - Getting Unstuck in Conflict
• (13:18) - ACE: The Three Types of Feedback
• (16:20) - Making Feedback Actionable
• (18:40) - Finding Common Ground
• (20:17) - The Final Three Questions
• (27:32) - Conclusion

*****
This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

Support Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.