Supercommunicators with Charles Duhigg 3. How to Have the Hardest Conversations
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Mar 12, 2025 Vernā Myers, former vice president for inclusion strategy at Netflix, shares her insights on navigating challenging conversations. She recounts the fallout from an executive's use of a racial slur and the subsequent internal discussions at Netflix about workplace language and racial sensitivity. Myers emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and personal storytelling in fostering understanding during tough dialogues. Listeners gain strategies for transforming difficult discussions into opportunities for growth and inclusivity.
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Netflix N-Word Incident
- A Netflix executive used the N-word during a meeting while discussing offensive language in a comedy special.
- This sparked internal conflict, with some defending him and others deeply offended, highlighting differing perspectives on race.
Misjudging Conversations
- People are bad at predicting how difficult conversations will go, often overestimating negativity and leading to avoidance.
- However, conversations usually go better than anticipated, revealing more common ground than expected.
Ground Rules for Disagreement
- Accept that complete agreement is rare; focus on establishing ground rules for disagreements.
- These rules, spoken or unspoken, help manage conflict constructively, like Jay Van Bavel and his brother's political debates.
