How to Be Awesome at Your Job

992: How to Break Free from Cynicism and Reclaim Hope with Jamil Zaki

Sep 5, 2024

Jamil Zaki, a Stanford psychology professor and director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, dives into the surprising power of hope. He discusses how a hopeful mindset can lead to personal and professional success, challenging the notion that cynicism is a protective stance. Zaki illustrates how environments influence trust and generosity with illuminating stories, including transformative school practices. He emphasizes reclaiming hope through kindness and offers practical strategies to counteract negativity, reminding us to celebrate our shared human goodness.

44:30

Episode guests

Jamil Zaki

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Hope is essential for success as it encourages positive perceptions and opens opportunities for growth and connection.

Distinguishing between cynicism and skepticism enables healthier expectations and promotes trust, improving relationships and collaboration in workplaces.

Deep dives

The Connection Between Hope and Success

Hope and success are deeply intertwined, challenging the common notion that hope is a naive perspective. Instead of viewing hope as a form of unrealistic optimism, it's more accurate to see it as a clearer lens through which to perceive the world. This shift in perspective allows individuals to recognize the potential for positive outcomes and the inherent goodness in others. Ultimately, fostering hope can create numerous opportunities for connection and growth that are often overlooked when one is operating from a place of cynicism.

Intro

2min

The Power of Hope in Human Connections

10min

Transforming School Culture

5min

Cynicism, Trust, and Hope in the Workplace

22min

The Impact of Environments on Trust and Generosity

4min

Reclaiming Hope: Overcoming Cynicism through Kindness

2min

Jamil Zaki shows you that there’s much reason to hope–even for the most hardened cynics.

— YOU’LL LEARN —

1) Why hope equals success

2) Why to be skeptical of your own cynicism

3) How your gut instincts can lead you astray

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— ABOUT JAMIL —

Dr. Jamil Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the Director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. He trained at Columbia and Harvard, studying empathy and kindness in the human brain. He is interested in how we can learn to connect better.

• Book: Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

• Lab Website: Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab

• Website: jamil-zaki.com

— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW —

• Book: A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster by Rebecca Solnit

• Book: Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber

• Cynicism Test: Cook-Medley Hostility Scale

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