Often it feels like the only thing we can agree on is that we can't agree on anything. World debate champion Julia Dhar offers three techniques to reshape the way we talk to each other so we can take our disagreements somewhere fruitful — over family dinners, during work meetings, and in our national conversations. Plus host Modupe Akinola explains why better arguments might start not with arguments at all, but with better questions.

When promising projects crash and burn, it's not always because of glaring mistakes. Venture capitalist John Doerr reveals it's often because those projects were linked to the wrong objectives. Get Doerr's practical guidance on how to set and execute on audacious goals with "Objectives and Key Results," or OKRs — a goal-setting system that's been employed by the likes of Google, Intel and Bono — plus host Modupe Akinola's twist on the importance of timing.

You know you need a mentor to advance your career, but have you ever considered who your sponsor is? Carla Harris, vice chairman at Morgan Stanley, explains the crucial importance of identifying a person who will speak on your behalf in the top-level, closed-door meetings you're not invited to (yet). Learn why your pool of potential sponsors is bigger than you might think—and how to think carefully about how to present yourself to them.

When confronting huge challenges, sometimes the greatest strength a leader can show is to admit uncertainty. Former Danone North America CEO Lorna Davis learned that the hard way, then discovered the power of publicly committing to big, bold goals—and then inviting others to help her meet them. Host Modupe Akinola shares the benefit of being a collaborative leader—no matter where you are in your career.

TED Business is re-launching Oct. 12 in audio with a fresh new sound and a terrific new host, Columbia University's Modupe Akinola. New weekly episodes every Monday will bring you the best talks on business delivered on the TED stage, AND a post-talk lesson that helps you apply these ideas to your own life. Get a first slice of the new sound here.