Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and the author of The Power of Habit, which spent over three years on New York Times bestseller lists. His second book, Smarter Faster Better, was also a New York Times bestseller. His latest book is Supercommunicators – How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection.

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The Learning Leader Show

  • Ask deep questions – A deep question asks about someone’s values, beliefs, judgments, or experiences, rather than just facts.
    • A deep question asks people to talk about how they feel.
    • Asking a deep question should feel like sharing.
  • NASA listened to how people laughed and if they possessed a genuine matching quality. Not performative or inauthentic, but people who connect with others by matching their energy.
  • The 4 Rules of a learning conversation:
    • Pay attention to what type of conversation is occurring
    • Share your goals, ask what others are seeking
    • Ask about others’ feelings and share your own
    • Explore if identities are important to this discussion
  • The How Do We Feel conversation: What can we learn about listening from Nicholas Epley? (Psychology Professor). (Everyone knows how to listen deeply. If a podcast or something is interesting, nobody struggles to listen). Epley didn’t teach them how to listen. He urged them to have more interesting and meaningful conversations. To talk about feelings. When we talk about feelings, something magical happens. Other people can’t help but listen to us.
  • Practical actions to take:
    • Ask Deep Questions: Instead of sticking to surface-level topics, ask questions that invite people to share their values, beliefs, or significant experiences. For instance, if someone mentions they are a doctor, ask them what inspired them to pursue medicine.
    • Prove You’re Listening: Demonstrate that you are actively listening by asking follow-up questions or repeating back what the other person has said to ensure understanding.
    • Match Emotional Tone: Pay attention to the other person’s emotional state and match it appropriately. If someone is sharing something emotional, respond with empathy rather than attempting to offer solutions immediately.
    • Understand the Social Identity: Be mindful of the social identities that might be important in a conversation. This awareness can enhance understanding and connection by showing respect for the experiences and viewpoints shaped by those identities.
  • Charles shared that understanding whether a conversation is emotional, social, or practical is crucial, especially in leadership and educational settings. Teachers, for instance, are taught to ask students if they want to be helped, heard, or hugged—a reminder that recognizing the intent behind communications is key to providing appropriate support and connection.
  • Time Stamps
  • 01:06 Educational Choices and Parental Guidance
  • 02:03 Reporting from Iraq: A Journalist’s Perspective
  • 03:41 The Bike Messenger Experience
  • 05:47 The Harvard Study and Its Impact
  • 09:23 Felix Sagala: The Art of Deep Communication
  • 13:30 Mastering the Skills of Super Communication
  • 20:25 Connecting with Strangers: Nicholas Epley’s Experiment
  • 21:20 Emotional Intelligence in Space: NASA’s Challenge
  • 24:51 The Matching Principle: Authentic vs. Fake
  • 32:27 Insights from The Big Bang Theory Writers
  • 35:36 The Art of Learning Conversations
  • Apply to be in my Learning Leader Circle
Resources:

Time Stamps

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