Join Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor and author, as she unpacks the secrets to effective conversation. Discover the TALK framework—Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness—essential for captivating your audience. Learn how to conquer small talk struggles, enhance feedback mechanisms, and navigate group dynamics in meetings. With science-backed strategies, Alison helps you transform awkward exchanges into meaningful connections, leaving you feeling more confident in every interaction.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Twin Insights
Alison Wood Brooks's fascination with conversation stems from being an identical twin.
Observing her twin, Sarah, interact socially gave her unique insights into communication.
insights INSIGHT
Wicked Feedback
Conversation is a "wicked feedback environment" with limited feedback opportunities.
This lack of feedback contributes to feelings of awkwardness and uncertainty in social interactions.
insights INSIGHT
Conversation as a Coordination Game
Conversation is a constant coordination game where individuals make micro-decisions without direct communication.
This "gaminess" adds complexity and requires navigating uncertainty.
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Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves
Alison Wood Brooks
This book, written by Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks, delves into the complex and delicate task of conversation. It highlights how conversations can be a source of joy and connection, yet are often fraught with misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Brooks introduces the TALK Maxims—Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness—to help readers better understand, learn from, and delight each other in conversations. The book covers various aspects of conversation, including managing emotions, sparking creativity, navigating conflict, and being more inclusive, making it a thoughtful guide for improving relationships and leading a more purposeful life.
Radical Candor
Be a Kick-ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
Kim Scott
Radical Candor by Kim Scott offers a practical approach to management by emphasizing the importance of caring personally and challenging directly. The book argues that effective managers must find a balance between being empathetic and providing clear, honest feedback. Scott draws from her experiences at Google and Apple to provide actionable lessons on building strong relationships, giving feedback, and creating a collaborative work environment. The book introduces the concept of 'radical candor' as the sweet spot between obnoxious aggression and ruinous empathy, and provides tools and strategies for managers to implement this approach in their daily work[1][2][5].
Ditch the awkwardness and start owning every conversation.
Talking to people shouldn’t feel like a struggle—but let’s be honest, it often does. Maybe you’re stuck in small talk hell, getting ignored in meetings, or watching conversations die mid-sentence. Why is this so hard? Amy sits down with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, to expose the hidden science behind great conversations—and why most of us are getting it wrong. They break down the TALK framework (Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness) and unpack the subtle mistakes that make people tune out, disengage, or just not like talking to you. Whether you want to command the room, sound sharper in meetings or just stop replaying every interaction in your head, Alison delivers straight-shooting, science-backed strategies to help you talk better, connect faster, and stress less.
Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Amy Sandler welcomes Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation. (00:01:44) The Power of Connection in Conversation How small, personal connections can create deeper conversations. (00:02:53) What Inspired Talk? Dr. Wood Brooks shares how she became fascinated with conversation science. (00:07:25) Giving Conversation Feedback Why most people receive little feedback on their conversational skills. (00:13:17) The Hidden Coordination Game How small, unconscious decisions shape every conversation. (00:18:54) The TALK Framework Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness—the four keys to better conversations. (00:20:24) Practicing Listening Guided exercises and listening techniques from the Talk course. (00:21:39) The Science Behind Mind-Wandering Why we tune out during conversations and how to stay present. (00:29:06) The Challenges of Group Conversations Why group conversations are harder to manage than one-on-one talks. (00:34:05) Digital vs. In-Person Talk How virtual communication changes conversations. (00:36:51) Designing Better Meetings Strategies for leaders to create inclusive and effective meetings. (00:39:37) Boomer Asking The conversational habit that makes people disengage. (00:44:28) Where to Find Dr. Wood Brooks Dr. Wood Brooks shares where to find her work and book tour details. (00:45:32) Conclusion
Radical Candor: Communication at Work 
