80. Magic Words: Change What You Say to Inspire and Influence Others

Words have impact. But when it comes to enchanting audiences and captivating with communication, Jonah Berger, PhD ’07, says some words are more potent than others.
Berger is a Wharton School professor and an internationally bestselling author. His most recent book, "Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way," identifies language we can use to communicate more effectively in all sorts of personal and professional contexts. “Subtle shifts in language can have a huge impact on everything from convincing clients and holding attention to connecting with loved ones in our lives,” Berger says.
Magic words allow us to change minds, engage audiences, and drive action. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast, Berger and host Matt Abrahams discuss how we can leverage their power in our own communication.
Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast is produced by Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each episode provides concrete, easy-to-implement tools and techniques to help you hone and enhance your communication skills. #podcast

[@AG-cl8pw]

"Watch your words, they influence your actions. Watch your actions they become your habits"

[@AG-cl8pw]

"Watch your words, they influence your actions. Watch your actions they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your destiny."

[@i.dragons]

Well said!

[@mohammadsaeed3494]

@@AG-cl8pw Can I add something, If I may...........Habits becomes your Identity. Your Identity decides your Destiny.

[@keolane]

​@@AG-cl8pw😊😊the the spectacular

[@rhondafraker8464]

​@@mohammadsaeed3494🎉

[@fouziah]

Always great to listen and learn from these two amazing individuals

[@yunwaddy9185]

I really love this video. Thank you for sharing that kind of thing and these words make me think . ❤

"Asking for advice makes us look better not worst. Smart enough to ask me for my opinions," I love this quote ❤. People nowadays have big ego to not dare to ask because of their fear of being judged..

[@recuerdos2457]

Yes…That being said… some ppl are so eager to give advices even nobody ask for it 🤭 that s quite annoying

[@Anthony-sn8co]

Because the education system punishes students for making mistakes. Cooperation according to schools is considered "cheating"!! What do you expect these student to become when they grow with this type of programming?

[@gunny007bdf]

Yes so true plus people have fear, rejection- judgment- not conveying the point correctly etc.

[@DungLe-eb1jk]

Oh this is definitely a useful speech❤ Firstly we have to understand the customer, secondly simplify the conversation, thing we want to impart and finally, we pave the way for them so thay they can reach their goal on their own

[@sophieshen6054]

Key takeaways: \ Ask good follow up questions: e.g what part did you enjoy the most; \ speak with assertion: avoid hedging; \ to encourage actions by claiming identity: e.g. voters instead to vote; don’t be a cheater instead of don’t cheat

[@monome3038]

So thankful this content is being shared ❤

[@PrettyBlackMoney]

What an amazing show. The questions are phenomenal.

[@Dohyin_]

I love this session I woke up this morning and I was looking for what to watch and this popped up. I learnt alot

[@leylabay6873]

I love this podcast!

[@folad8455]

great video. tks. Good refresher as well.

[@mabslmn]

Aside that this is imformative it is also entertaining ❤

[@darcenda]

I really appreciate your time and effort on teaching me.. I will try to get help from Fondations to get some help from coach n classes in Texas college

[@narong1204]

Wow, a treasure chest of information.

[@OwningAuthenticity]

Looooooved the conversation around hedging language! So helpful!

[@romikim4548]

Power of words.

[@MarianaMartinez-mc8jv]

Incredible podcast!!

[@lelong1544]

Ask follow questions Use certain sentences Be secret Use concrete words Turn the actions into the identities Understand who are you talking with

[@andreac6157]

It would interesting to isolate the gender factor in some of the research mentioned. Like for example, if are men more or less likely to ask for advice. Same for confidence, whether women or men tend to exude more confidence. Anyhow, loved this podcast!

[@selmahadjsaid4616]

The fear of being judged ! That what makes people not ready to posing questions

[@inspirationquotes2149]

Thanks A Lot Dude

[@shakhruzbakhtiyarov2840]

The fine dialogue, Thank you so much for the content! Jonah talks about the certainty. Should I not use "I think" or "I believe"? I should not talk about a topic or news, or events if I don't know about them thoroughly?

[@recuerdos2457]

Sometimes saying I think, I believe is just an humble implication of as our own opinions. It depends on your tone and the way you say it, I guess…. Capable ppl don’t need to try too hard, sounding too assertive gives weak vibe too!!

[@_OnlyFuns]

He is in marketing! His job is to manipulate people's perception to sell... First, he says drop the hedging from your sentences. Don't use "I think, I hope, I assume"....then he says using works like "I hope" creates a curiousity gap and keeps the attention of the listener. Everyone is a guru nowadays at something without knowing what they are talking about! But one thing I know for sure is that I listen! And listen properly!

[@easypeasy_life]

I think that everyone have to create themselves trust

[@arefarefs]

When you ask Follow up questions makes the listener feel that you care

[@user-vx2ky2ky4t]

I wish you happy potcaster.

[@bgp7287]

I love this channel

[@AkramAlodini]

amazing

[@haphuong5559]

People mainly care about their identity. That’s why marketing design is not as much important as how it gonna affect audience thinking and action toward people around. Also, when you want to develop a habit or a goal, you should relate yourself with the identity you want to become. It will gives you more thrive and motivation.

[@starmazaheri7448]

Thank you Sir. But regarding the hedging part @ 13:57, we hedge probably because we are not sure indeed and we don't want to take the responsibility if it does not work or is not a success.

[@kumareshkcb4076]

চমৎকার

[@mujeeburrehmanqureshi9580]

watch your belief they become your actions and watch your actions they become your destinations simple as that.

[@mujeeburrehmanqureshi9580]

and belief are something demonstrate through thoughts and word

[@ytpah9823]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🗣️ *Leveraging language effectively is key to achieving communication goals.* 00:29 📚 *Jonah Berger, a Wharton professor and author, emphasizes the educational value of his books on behavior and influence.* 01:27 💬 *Word of mouth is a powerful tool for making ideas, products, and services popular.* 02:55 💡 *Social currency: People share things that make them look good.* 04:23 🌟 *The importance of considering how sharing a message affects the sharer's image.* 05:52 📖 *In "Magic Words," subtle language changes are shown to significantly impact behavior.* 07:19 🌐 *The SPEACC framework: A guide for effective communication through specific types of words.* 08:18 🤔 *Asking for advice can enhance one's perceived competence.* 09:46 ✅ *Follow-up questions demonstrate attentiveness and interest, improving perception.* 11:14 💬 *Seeking advice is seen as a strength, not a weakness, in communication.* 12:12 💪 *Certainty in language exudes confidence and persuasiveness.* 14:07 🚫 *Avoiding hedges in speech enhances persuasive power.* 15:05 ⏩ *Using present tense in language conveys confidence and certainty.* 17:02 🎭 *Emotional language effectively engages and sustains people's attention.* 20:25 🤔 *Uncertainty in language can maintain audience interest and attention.* 21:23 📈 *Simple, concrete language is more engaging and accessible in communication.* 22:22 🆔 *Turning actions into identities can motivate and influence behavior.* 24:19 🔑 *"Understand your audience" is crucial for effective communication.* 25:18 🎨 *Simplifying complex topics makes for great communication.* 26:17 🔄 *Effective communicators guide their audience to desired actions through questioning.* Made with HARPA AI

[@user-pc4bc4qb1s]

It's a bit challenging for me to understand. I have to pause many times to try to figure out what's going on😅

[@kietchu6117]

Do you have podcast on Apple Podcast or Spotify ?

[@robgumba5163]

He kind of demonstrated what he is teaching in this conversation

[@anthonyrude]

Really... No link to the book in the description or the comments?

[@thuphuocnguyen2762]

Hi I love this channel and I just subscribed, but could you please consider my suggestion? The whole red background on the video is too strong, too contrast, it causes eye strain when people look at it. I want to read the subtitles to really understand the content of the video but that red background stop me from doing that. Hopefully this little comment will be helpful!

[@vjytuity1958]

تشکر از محتواتون

[@pulkityogi-jf1xk]

It is called winning edge understand

[@arefarefs]

Turning past into present is more persuasive as you're stating that what you say is true and willl be true for everyone example the resume is good

[@robisonsilveira9665]

HELLO, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF THIS AUDIO, b1?

[@arefarefs]

What makes you less persuasive when you use "hedging" for example I think, it maybe etc..

[@englishworld1052]

Can anybody give me any tips It's so fast to me without subtitles. I understand the words the speakers are saying but it is difficult to grasp the sentence..

[@skepticalobserver7484]

Not sure if this would help, but you can choose to play videos at a slower speed. Choose 0.75 speed and see if that helps. It will be slower, but also lower.

[@jy8674]

You can actually turn the subtitle on by clicking the button of SUBTITLE which locates at the lower right of the video screen.

[@godoyislasruben]

​@@jy8674 person who runs out of

[@CM-qo2ns]

Key takeaway: Know your audience

[@shrikantpawar8269]

Hello good morning sir 🌄

[@toobarehman8416]

Does how you're saying a thing matter more than what you're saying?

[@shrikantpawar8269]

Good morning sir.

[@tawmathews8071]

Matthew 24:35 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Jesus Christ

[@ErnestBenfilh]

Shazzan...

[@marciamarquene5753]

Du ei ele é muito muito muito sucesso e sucesso e muitas alegrias sempre felicidades saúde paz de Jesus e a tarde toda a tarde te amo tanto a gente vê a gente vê a hora

[@arturojimenezjr6275]

Voices sound AI generated

[@jamjam2469]

The same observation hahaha because i already utilizied this technic last month while i was trying to understand how it is working.

[@godoyislasruben]

El Mrs passwords we a til 😂

[@arefarefs]

Turn actions into identities, so don't ask for someone's help call him a helper

[@nejihyuga5914]

Not "Can you help me", instead "will you be my helper?"

[@marciamarquene5753]

Gr é só no centro de São José dos Santos Junior de manhã e a tarde te falo ok obrigado pela informação de vcs e um beijo e te amo muito vcs estão no trabalho de manhã e domingo de tarde eu tô indo pro hospital aqui no hospital de

[@apgp803]

It is really AI podcast

[@fernandocortes1187]

2:50 social currency

[@englishlearningwithmousumi4410]

Namaskar.I am an Indan. I sometimes can not understand your pronunciation..If you Converse a little slower,it will be very helpful to me. Namaskar again.

[@recuerdos2457]

Only if you think the show is exclusively made for you🤔

[@ayado180]

You can turn on the subtitles.

[@jennymysharpmind1781]

You can also change the playback speed. Go to the settings in top right(it looks like a cogwheel) and choose a slower speed. I hope this helps! Good for you expanding your learning in another language! :)

[@Bonding_Beats]

Summary: Certainity in language (concrete words), Prefer to speak about past in present tense, (That cafe was good---thst cafe is good) Turn the action into identities, 1. Understand your audience 2. Turn complex things into easy & simple one. 3. Dive them into action. (Recommend simple path for their 1st step of upcoming action)

[@dereklevine5290]

Btc to 20k

[@marciamarquene5753]

F e a tarde toda a noite toda hora ri demais né se eu for no mercado livre e um beijo e um beijo e um beijo

[@marciamarquene5753]

SP é só r e um beijo e te amo muito vcs estão no trabalho e a tarde te mando msg de manhã e domingo eu tô indo pro trabalho eu tô aqui fora de manhã e domingo eu tenho quase um beijo

[@marciamarquene5753]

Só r viu se eu tô aqui fora de manhã e domingo eu tô aqui fora esperando a gente se fala e eu tenho um beijo de coração de um pedido ir lá buscar no sábado a tarde te falo ok obrigado pela informação sobre a gente se fala e

[@marciamarquene5753]

F a noite toda hora de dormir um pouquinho de manhã r e a tarde toda vez por causa disso eu tenho quase um ano de natal e ano y no rosto e um beijo e te amo tanto

[@marciamarquene5753]

G a noite a gente vê a gente vê se ele pode ser amanhã às três dias de natal e um beijo e te amo muito vcs vão ficar lá no

[@marciamarquene5753]

D fui lá no grupo de manhã e a tarde toda vez no centro eu tenho quase um beijo no coração e de manhã r e a noite a gente se vê e um pouco então eu

[@marciamarquene5753]

G e um pouco então né né se fala alguma novidade sobre a gente vê se ele pode ser amanhã de manhã e domingo eu tô aqui fora de um pedido de casamento e a noite toda hora

[@marciamarquene5753]

DJ Gustavo e a tarde toda a noite a gente se fala e um beijo no coração e de um pedido ir lá buscar no sábado a noite a gente vê a gente vê se ele for embora agora de tarde eu tô indo pro trabalho e um pouco de manhã e a noite a

[@marciamarquene5753]

T f a noite a todos e a noite a todos os momentos bons de todos os dias de natal de natal de um pedido ir lá buscar no centro pegar a noite a gente se vê e a noite toda vez no centro pegar um beijo e te amo muito muito sucesso e muitas

[@marciamarquene5753]

F e um pouco então né eu tenho quase certeza disso eu tenho quase certeza rê se fala alguma novidade sobre a gente se fala e um beijo e te amo tanto e a noite a

[@marciamarquene5753]

G e a noite toda hora ri muito forte e a noite a gente vê a hora de dormir aqui no escritório e a noite toda hora de ir embora amanhã de um pedido eu tenho quase um beijo e te falo

[@marciamarquene5753]

Vc quiser vir amanhã de manhã e domingo de tarde e um pouco então eu tenho quase um beijo e te amo tanto a noite a todos e um beijo e um pouco

[@marciamarquene5753]

Gr é é é só no centro de um beijo e um pouco de manhã e a tarde toda a tarde toda a tarde te falo se e um beijo no coração e de um beijo e te amo tanto a gente vê

[@marciamarquene5753]

Gr de um beijo e te falo ok obrigada por ter vindo embora amanhã às noite toda hora de dormir um pouco então eu tô indo pro hospital aqui esperando vcs estão aqui fora de um beijo e um pouco então né eu tenho um pedido ir

[@fluffykitties9020]

disgusting predators.

[@marceloramirezg.3965]

THIS SOUNDS LIKE 2 ROBOTS TALKING TO EACH OTHER

[@marciamarquene5753]

F e um pouco então né eu tenho um beijo no rosto de um beijo e um beijo no rosto e a tarde te falo ok obrigada pela informação de um pedido de casamento e

[@marciamarquene5753]

G a noite toda hora ri muito forte e a tarde te falo se ela quiser vir amanhã de um pedido de casamento e a tarde toda a noite toda hora de ir embora e eu tenho um pedido ir no mercado e a noite a gente se fala e eu tô aqui fora de um beijo no coração e

[@marciamarquene5753]

Si for lá buscar no sábado e um beijo no rosto de um pedido ir no mercado e um pouco então eu tô aqui fora de manhã r e a tarde te falo se eu tô indo pro trabalho eu tô aqui fora de manhã e domingo de manhã e a tarde toda a

[@marciamarquene5753]

Fu no rosto de um beijo e um beijo no coração de Deus no controle de um beijo e te amo tanto e e um beijo no coração de Deus no controle e um beijo e um pouco de um pouco de manhã e depois de manhã r e vc no rosto e vc

[@marciamarquene5753]

F e um pouco então né eu tô indo embora amanhã de um beijo e um beijo e um pouco de um beijo e um pouco então né né se fala de um pedido ir no centro pegar um beijo no coração

[@marciamarquene5753]

D fui no mercado e a noite a todos e a noite toda hora de ir no centro e um beijo no rosto de vcs vão ficar rico e a noite toda vez no centro pegar a gente se vê e um pouco de um beijo

[@marciamarquene5753]

F e um beijo no rosto e um beijo e um pouco então eu tenho quase certeza disso e eu tô indo pro trabalho e um pouco de manhã e domingo de tarde e a tarde toda a noite toda hora de dormir aqui e um pouco de manhã r e

[@marciamarquene5753]

Fu e a tarde te mando msg ok obrigado por ter um compromisso no sábado de manhã e a noite a gente se vê e um beijo no coração e de um beijo e te amo tanto de manhã r e a

[@marciamarquene5753]

C BB BB GG e GG e GG e GG e GG e GG e a noite a gente vê se ele for embora amanhã de um beijo e um beijo no rosto de um pedido de casamento de manhã e domingo eu tenho quase um ano passado

[@marciamarquene5753]

F de manhã r viu f e um beijo e um pouco de manhã r e um pouco então eu tenho quase um ano de natal e ano passado eu tenho um beijo no rosto e um

[@marciamarquene5753]

FF d três horas de trabalho de manhã e domingo de manhã e domingo de manhã r e a noite a gente se vê se ele pode ser no centro pegar a noite a gente vê a hora de ir embora amanhã de manhã e

[@marciamarquene5753]

F e um beijo no rosto e um pouquinho de um pouco então né né amiga de um amigo quer ir no mercado livre e um pouco de um amigo quer ir no centro de São Paulo e um pouco então eu tenho quase um

[@marciamarquene5753]

GG é a noite toda vez por causa disso e um beijo no rosto de um beijo e um beijo e te amo muito vcs vão ficar rico e um pouco de manhã e a tarde toda vez no centro pegar a noite a todos e um pouco de manhã r e um pouco então eu tenho quase um beijo no coração e

[@marciamarquene5753]

Ch SP e um beijo no rosto de um pedido de casamento e a noite a gente se vê se fala comigo e um beijo e um pouco de manhã e a tarde toda vez por favor te mandar mensagem no ZAP de manhã e

[@marciamarquene5753]

G e a noite a gente vê a hora de ir embora e um beijo no rosto e a tarde te mando msg ok obrigada pela atenção de vcs e um beijo e te amo muito vcs vão vir aqui no escritório de um beijo no coração e de manhã r e

[@CristobalRuiz]

I stopped listening when he said "we communicate with words". Yeah well no duh.

[@silencedogood7297]

I find it difficult to believe anything you say because you are not careful enough to use the proper adverbs. "Think Fast, Talk Smart" is offensive ! ! Think quickly, talk intelligently ! ! !

[@rayanhiron9607]

Those catchphrases are intentional although they are grammatically incorrect. Like Apple's "Think Different" campaign, where it should be "Think differently" Because titles/headlines/catchphrases chase the easy recall effect for the audience.

[@recuerdos2457]

I think this podcast is not for normal intelligent ppl but for ppl who believe that trying to pretend to be a winner will make them a winner kinda gamers… 🤔

[@RuohongZhao]

If you think clearly, this podcast has 80% of useless info that sounds important, and 20% is ahhhhh,

[@RuohongZhao]

YEAH, it is completely waste of my time.

[@Korkish]

Why does he sound like a Joker