Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

Charles Duhigg on the Secret Power of Storytelling in Communication

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Aug 29, 2025

Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of 'Supercommunicators', shares his insights on mastering the art of connection in our digital age. He discusses the importance of aligning conversation types to avoid misunderstandings and highlights supercommunicator habits like active listening and vulnerability. Duhigg emphasizes creating psychological safety in discussions, especially in high-stakes environments. The conversation also underscores how storytelling and empathy can transform interactions, making communication not just clearer, but deeply meaningful.

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INSIGHT

Match The Conversation Type

Many conversations fail because participants are having different kinds of conversations simultaneously.
Charles Duhigg explains that aligning whether a talk is practical, emotional, or social is essential to be heard.

ADVICE

Ask More Deep Questions

Ask many more questions, including deep questions that probe values and experiences.
Use these questions to invite vulnerability and build reciprocal trust through authentic sharing.

ANECDOTE

Recruiting Through Radical Honesty

CIA officer Jim Lawler stopped recruiting and became honest about his flaws, which led the recruit to cry and offer help.
That moment of authenticity produced one of the Middle East's best assets over 20 years.

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This week, we’re revisiting one of our most impactful conversations—with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Charles Duhigg, about his latest book Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. In a world where remote work, digital communication, and polarized conversations are the norm, knowing how to truly connect is more important than ever. This episode couldn’t be more timely.

In this updated revisit, we explore:

The Secret to Better Conversations: Charles explains why so many discussions go off-track—often because we don’t recognize what kind of conversation we’re actually having.
Three Types of Conversations: We break down the crucial distinction between factual, emotional, and values-based conversations—and how misalignment can cause friction.
Supercommunicator Habits: Charles reveals practical skills used by great communicators, from mirroring and labeling to vulnerability and listening with intention.
How to Build Psychological Safety: Learn how to create space for trust, openness, and productive dialogue, especially in high-stakes work or family conversations.
Why This Matters Now: As digital communication accelerates and meaningful connection becomes harder to come by, these tools aren’t just helpful—they’re essential.

Whether you’re leading a team, navigating personal relationships, or just trying to be a better listener, this conversation is packed with insight on how to communicate with empathy, clarity, and intention.

Learn more about Charles and his work at charlesduhigg.com, and pick up Supercommunicators wherever books are sold.

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