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The Diary of a CEOThe Diary of a CEO

Alison Wood Brooks: Why most people quietly hate small talk

How a Harvard framework she calls TALK reframes conversation; it shows that anxiety, better questions, and the topic pyramid drive real connection.

Steven BartletthostAlison Wood Brooksguest
Dec 15, 20252h 31mWatch on YouTube ↗

CHAPTERS

  1. 0:00 – 2:20

    Intro

  2. 2:20 – 4:24

    People Need This to Communicate Well

  3. 4:24 – 6:09

    Giving Wrong Impressions

  4. 6:09 – 11:17

    Being a Better Speaker and Group Conversations

  5. 11:17 – 12:26

    Experimenting With Communication Skills With My Identical Twin

  6. 12:26 – 18:33

    The Science on How to Reframe Anxiety

  7. 18:33 – 20:02

    If You're Nervous, You're More Likely to Make a Bad Decision

  8. 20:02 – 24:26

    Asking for a Salary Raise

  9. 24:26 – 32:31

    The Conversational Compass

  10. 32:31 – 37:17

    How People Should Really Apologize and When It's Too Much

  11. 37:17 – 41:46

    The Validation Trick in Any Dispute

  12. 41:46 – 47:53

    Don't Do This When You Disagree

  13. 47:53 – 49:48

    How to Be Liked

  14. 49:48 – 51:33

    The T-A-L-K Framework

  15. 51:33 – 54:59

    Easy Ways to Have More Casual Conversations

  16. 54:59 – 59:10

    If You Want to Be Liked, Don't Do This

  17. 59:10 – 1:03:13

    The Importance of Asking in Conversations and Dates

  18. 1:03:13 – 1:07:13

    Never Do This on a Date

  19. 1:07:13 – 1:09:14

    The Meeting Mistake You Shouldn't Make

  20. 1:09:14 – 1:11:48

    Poor Communication Skills Might Be Holding Back Your Career

  21. 1:11:48 – 1:12:39

    Ads

  22. 1:12:39 – 1:17:06

    The Importance of Kindness in Any Conversation

  23. 1:17:06 – 1:23:42

    When to Incorporate Levity

  24. 1:23:42 – 1:27:03

    The Science Behind Introverts and Extroverts — Is It Real?

  25. 1:27:03 – 1:41:46

    Your Contribution Score in a Conversation

  26. 1:41:46 – 1:43:42

    Ads

  27. 1:43:42 – 1:52:43

    The Male Crisis: Ask These Questions to Make Friends

  28. 1:52:43 – 1:56:29

    10 Questions to Be Liked

  29. 1:56:29 – 1:58:33

    How to Persuade People and Be a Better Salesperson

  30. 1:58:33 – 2:09:07

    People Confuse Agreement With Listening

  31. 2:09:07 – 2:14:44

    This Is the Only Conversation That Feels Real

  32. 2:14:44 – 2:19:09

    What Happens When Replacing Myself With AI

  33. 2:19:09 – 2:25:01

    Show Your Real Self at Work: Yes or No?

  34. 2:25:01 – 2:31:33

    How to Teach Your Kids to Speak

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