248. Better Together: How to Supercharge Your Team’s Productivity

248. Better Together: How to Supercharge Your Team’s Productivity

Author: Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart December 9, 2025 Duration: 25:57

The secret to effective teamwork and collaboration.


To collaborate, we have to communicate. As Molly Sands knows, “The more that we can get on the same page, the more effective we are.”

Sands is a behavioral scientist and the head of the Teamwork Lab at Atlassian, where she researches how teams can collaborate more effectively and efficiently, especially in distributed and hybrid work environments. As she’s seen in her research and within her own team, “People can accomplish a lot more together when they work well together.” The key to unlocking that potential lies in communication that aligns people not just in their activity, but in their deeper goals and vision. “The best work happens when you start by asking why,” she says, “getting people to really understand: why is this a problem, why do we wanna solve it, and how are we uniquely positioned to do that? The more that we can map this out together, the more effective our teams tend to be.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Sands and host Matt Abrahams discuss strategies for effective collaboration, from “page-led” meetings and asynchronous video messages to using AI as a collaborator. Whether your team is working face-to-face or across time zones, Sands’ insights show how better communication is the key to better collaboration.

Episode Reference Links:


On Apple: 


Connect:


Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:18) - How the Teamwork Lab Works
  • (03:49) - Top Challenges for Teams
  • (04:23) - Clarifying Goals & Alignment
  • (07:05) - AI as a Collaborative Partner
  • (09:11) - Atlassian’s AI Onboarding Buddy
  • (12:35) - Rethinking Meetings
  • (15:44) - Three Types of Work Time
  • (17:03) - Replacing Meetings with Asynchronous Video
  • (19:48) - The Final Three Questions
  • (24:34) - Conclusion

********
Thank you to our sponsors.
 These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 


Ever find yourself scrambling for the right words in a high-stakes meeting or struggling to get your point across clearly? That’s the territory Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques explores. Hosted by Matt Abrahams, a Stanford lecturer and author who understands the real-world pressure of thinking on your feet, this podcast digs into the mechanics of how we connect and convey ideas. Each episode features conversations with specialists across various fields, moving beyond theory to deliver concrete methods you can use immediately. Whether it’s navigating a difficult conversation, structuring a persuasive pitch, or simply becoming a more engaged listener, Matt focuses on the tactical skills that build confidence. The discussions are grounded in his professional experience and academic background, offering a blend of research and relatable application. You’ll hear specific techniques for organizing your thoughts under pressure, using storytelling to make data memorable, and adjusting your communication style for different audiences. This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s a resource for anyone who needs to influence, lead, or collaborate more effectively in their career and daily interactions. Tune in to this practical podcast for a regular dose of insights that aim to make your communication more intentional and impactful, one conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Podcast Episodes
294. Ask & You Shall Receive: Questions For Better Negotiations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:34
Do you really win the negotiation if it means losing the relationship?You might think that successful negotiation means getting what you want here and now. But Stan Christensen says this short-sighted view is selling man…
292. Headspace Habits: Lessons for Calm, Confident Communication [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
The hidden habits behind calm, confident communicators.What does it really take to become a more confident communicator? In this special collaboration between Think Fast, Talk Smart and Headspace, host Matt Abrahams shar…
291. Hello, Stranger: Why Curiosity Beats Charisma Every Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:16
What keeps us from being more social? Nick Epley calls it a “mind-reading mistake.”We all think about what others think, particularly what they think about us. The problem, says Nick Epley, is that we’re almost always wr…
290. Quick Thinks: How to Have Better Conversations About Aging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:29
How can we approach aging with more joy, empathy, and meaningful connection?We often talk about lifespan, or how long we live, but Kerry Burnight believes the more important question is how fully we live along the way.Bu…
289. Better with Age: Why Joy Matters More Than Longevity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:54
A full life isn’t about the quantity of time, but the quality.Our lifespan might describe how long we live, but it doesn’t say anything about how well we live. For that, Kerry Burnight says, we need a different measure:…
286. Driven to Succeed: Turn Doubt Into Your Competitive Advantage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:53
Confidence, clarity, and speaking when it matters.Confident communication isn’t about being the loudest in the room. For Susie Wolff, it’s about displaying assurance before you even open your mouth.Wolff is a former prof…