cover image

Ever caught yourself saying “I’m reading a great book” only to awkwardly correct yourself with “…well, actually I’m listening to it”? That guilty pause says a lot. But you have nothing to feel bad about. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy break down […]

cover image

Forget fear of public speaking. A lot of people now shy away completely from speaking to anyone in public. But if we learn to do this it’s enriching, for ourselves and society

cover image
Question behind the question
18 Feb 2026
newsletter.weskao.com

Your ability to answer questions is a competitive advantage. Here’s how to uncover the deeper underlying question.

cover image
Thermostats | Another Rodeo
27 Nov 2025
another.rodeo

Tuning team temperature

cover image

Master the ultimate communication skill, useful in almost any scenario.

cover image
(PDF) Types of Dialogue and Burdens of Proof.
22 Apr 2025
researchgate.net

PDF | Burden of proof has recently come to be a topic of interest in argumentation systems for artificial intelligence (Prakken and Sartor, 2006, 2007,... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

cover image

A good first impression can make or break an opportunity or connection. Here's how to make an instant connection with anyone.

cover image

“Icebreaker of the Week” is a recurring feature of the newsletter The Art of Noticing (robwalker.substack.com). Some are icebreakers I made up or experienced or found somewhere; many are submitted by TAoN readers. After many requests, I am collecting & sharing all the icebreakers here. If you ...

cover image
Breaking Through
29 Mar 2025
nytimes.com

Icebreakers are corny, corporate get-to-know-you exercises. But there’s something thrilling in dispensing with small talk.

cover image
PNAS
19 Oct 2024
pnas.org

Do conversations end when people want them to? Surprisingly, behavioral science provides no answer to this fundamental question about the most ubiq...

cover image
[REPOST] Good conversations have lots of doorknobs
24 Sep 2024
experimental-history.com

Or "Spiderman Is My Boyfriend"

cover image

Talking to someone who gets defensive can be frustrating. So, what can you do? Here's how to sidestep someone's personal fortifications.

cover image
Hidden ways people drain another's energy
8 Nov 2022
betterhumans.pub

Examples of hidden ways people drain one other’s energy in social interaction—and what to do about it

cover image

Because telling someone to shut the heck up isn’t ‘gentlemanly’ or ‘civilized’ or ‘appropriate for a 5-year-old’s birthday party, Brian, Jesus.

The Church of Interruption | Sam Bleckley
22 Aug 2022
sambleckley.com

A conversation with a Wizard

cover image
What’s Your Listening Style?
3 Jun 2022
hbr.org

We may have learned that we need to let people speak without interrupting but taking turns talking does not truly denote listening. And unintentionally hijacking conversations to advise, inject humor, empathize, prioritize efficiency, or insert ourselves into the speaker’s narrative is often done with good intentions, but may instead disrupt the human connection we think we’re forging. Recognizing when to shift out of our habitual styles and consciously apply alternative styles of listening and responding may allow for more effective and meaningful interactions.

cover image
The Endgames of Bad Faith Communication
13 Apr 2022
consilienceproject.org
cover image

Hint: It’s all to do with empathy.

cover image
How to Give the Gift of Generative Thinking
13 Dec 2021
betterhumans.pub

If you want to help people, don’t give them advice. Do this instead.

cover image

And once you do get them to open up, don’t betray their trust.

cover image
Are You Really Listening?
12 Mar 2021
hbr.org

Senior leaders, particularly CEOs, confront a central paradox in their work: They generally have access to more lines of communication than anybody else, but the information that flows to them is suspect and compromised. Warning signals are tamped down. Key facts are omitted. Data sets are given a positive spin. All of it isolates leaders in a dangerous information bubble. But they can escape that bubble, the authors argue, by working actively to create a more expansive “listening ecosystem.” They first have to learn how to listen actively themselves, without distraction or judgment, purely for comprehension; then they have to create systems and processes all around them that elevate listening to a constant state of hypervigilance. This sort of sustained attention to listening allows leaders to pick up on early signs of both danger and opportunity—and that, in turn, allows them to do their jobs and serve their organizations better. The authors conclude this piece by sharing advice—gleaned from interviews and personal experience—about how leaders can learn to listen better.

cover image
How to Talk to People You Disagree With
25 Jan 2021
getpocket.com

Bridge the divide with thoughtful conversation techniques, next-level listening, and a dip into the science of changing minds.

cover image

Learning to “hear offers” like an improviser can turn obstacles into opportunities.

cover image

Want to strengthen your listening skills? Here's a simple but powerful tool.