Supercommunicators

About this book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ONE OF NPR’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE SABEW BEST IN BUSINESS BOOK AWARD From the bestselling author of The Power of Habit, a fascinating exploration of what makes conversations work, and how we can all learn to be supercommunicators at work and in life We all know people who seem capable of connecting with almost anyone. They’re the ones we love talking to, who we turn to for advice, who hear what we are trying to say and make us feel seen. What do they know about conversation that makes them so special? Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg argues, understand that whenever we speak, we’re actually having one of three conversations: practical (What’s this really about?), emotional (How do we feel?), and social (Who are we?). If you don’t know what kind of conversation you’re having, connection is hard. Skilled communicators know the importance of recognizing—and then matching—each kind of conversation, and how to hear the complex emotions, subtle negotiations, and hidden beliefs that color so much of what we say and how we listen. Our experiences, our values, our emotional lives, and how we see ourselves and others shape every discussion from who will pick up the kids to how we want to be treated at work. With his trademark clarity and storytelling, Duhigg shows readers how to recognize these three conversations—and teaches us the skills we need to navigate them more successfully. Communication is a superpower. By bringing readers into jury deliberations and fraught CIA recruitments, into Netflix’s company-wide conversations about equity and the writers’ room of The Big Bang Theory, Duhigg uncovers why some people are able to make themselves heard—and hear others—so clearly. We learn how to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every conversation. In the end, we learn a simple but powerful lesson: With the right tools, we can connect with anyone.