The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

497: More Effective Leadership Through Conversations with Topaz Adizes

Nov 4, 2024

Topaz Adizes, an Emmy Award-winning writer and the mind behind The Skin Deep, shares his insights on fostering meaningful conversations in work and relationships. He discusses the art of asking well-constructed questions and creating safe spaces for dialogue. Topaz emphasizes the power of deep listening and the importance of setting intentions for impactful conversations. He also touches on building connections in our digital age and how genuine interactions can lead to personal and professional growth.

48:47

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Topaz Adizes

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Quick takeaways

Topaz Adizes emphasizes the significance of asking open-ended questions to foster deeper connections and understanding in conversations.

Creating a safe environment for dialogue is essential, as it allows participants to express emotions and engage authentically in discussions.

Deep dives

Building an Authentic Online Presence

Topaz Adizis discusses the importance of authenticity over seeking vast numbers of followers on social media. He emphasizes that his intention was never to create clickbait content for virality, but rather to focus on meaningful connections and conversations. His project, called The And, centers on fostering relationships by encouraging participants to ask deep questions, thereby illuminating the humanity that exists between individuals. By prioritizing the value these interactions bring to people's lives, Adizis believes his platform has organically attracted a community that resonates with this approach.

Intro

2min

Cultivating Connection in a Digital Age

10min

Creating Intentional Conversation Spaces

29min

Exploring the Art of Deep Listening

2min

The Power of Consistency and Connection

4min

Exploring Resources for Relationship and Professional Growth

2min

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 497, an interview with the author of 12 Questions for Love: A Guide to Intimate Conversations and Deeper Relationships, Topaz Adizes.

Topaz After a decade of exploring human connections through 1,200+ conversations in his Emmy Award-winning experience design studio, Topaz Adizes founder of The Skin Deep, popular on TikTok (1.2M) and Youtube (905k), is bringing his knowledge of the power of questions to the workplace.

In this episode, Topaz shares his filmmaking journey leading to creating "The And," a project focused on deep, human conversations. He emphasizes that in order to have meaningful conversations, we need to consider giving well-constructed questions, avoiding binary ones, and fostering a safe space for dialogue. Topaz also touched on creating impactful conversations by setting intentions, using connective questions, and ensuring participants feel safe and heard. He also highlights the significance of deep listening, which involves engaging the whole body and feeling, and how these types of conversations enhance relationships and personal growth.

Topaz Adizes is an Emmy Award-winning writer, director, and experienced design architect. He is an Edmund Hillary fellow and Sundance/Skoll stories of change fellow. His works have been selected to Cannes, Sundance, IDFA, and SXSW; featured in New Yorker magazine, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times; and have garnered an Emmy for new approaches to documentary and Two World Press photo awards for immersive storytelling and interactive documentary. He is currently the founder and executive director of the experience design studio The Skin Deep. Topaz studied philosophy at UC Berkeley and Oxford University. He speaks four languages and currently lives in Mexico with his wife and two children.

Get Topaz’s book here: https://shorturl.at/lj2Ro

12 Questions for Love: A Guide to Intimate Conversations and Deeper Relationships

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The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

497: More Effective Leadership Through Conversations with Topaz Adizes

Episode guests