Mathew Syed’s latest book, Rebel Ideas, brilliantly encapsulates why cognitive diversity is fundamental to team success. Mathew combines insightful research with wonderful anecdotes - ranging from Bletchley Park, to Mt Everest, nutritional science to snow clearing in Sweden - to illustrate why only collaborative thinking can unlock human potential and help us solve some of the burning problems we face today.

In this episode Samie and James discuss the above elements of the book. James expands on his central message (Cognitive diversity and constructive dissent drives team performance) and both share their own experiences and takeaways.

Mathew Syed’s latest book, Rebel Ideas, brilliantly encapsulates why cognitive diversity is fundamental to team success. Mathew combines insightful research with wonderful anecdotes - ranging from Bletchley Park, to Mt Everest, nutritional science to snow clearing in Sweden - to illustrate why only collaborative thinking can unlock human potential and help us solve some of the burning problems we face today.

In this episode Samie and James discuss the above elements of the book. James expands on his central message (Cognitive diversity and constructive dissent drives team performance) and both share their own experiences and takeaways.

In this book Alain de Botton explores the joys and perils of the modern workplace, illustrating through 10, self-contained, case-studies what other people get up to all day – and night – to make the frenzied contemporary world function. Ultimately the author is looking to understand what make jobs either fulfilling or soul-destroying!

Samie shares his central message of 'the future of work is human' and why this is an important theme for the challenges of today.

In this book Alain de Botton explores the joys and perils of the modern workplace, illustrating through 10, self-contained, case-studies what other people get up to all day – and night – to make the frenzied contemporary world function. Ultimately the author is looking to understand what make jobs either fulfilling or soul-destroying!

Samie shares his central message of 'the future of work is human' and why this is an important theme for the challenges of today.

"Negotiation is a fact of life" and in their classic book ‘Getting to Yes’ the authors Roger Fisher and William L. Ury suggest that, despite its importance, many of us are still not that good at it!

In this episode James and Samie talk about the difference between the way we traditionally negotiate, referred to as positional bargaining, and the approach proposed by the authors called ‘Principled Negotiation’. Through four key elements (1. Separating the people from the problem, 2. Focusing on interests not positions, 3. Looking for mutual advantage and 4. Using objective standards) there is the potential to achieve better outcomes, more efficiently and with improved or, at least, maintained relationships between the parties. 

"Negotiation is a fact of life" and in their classic book ‘Getting to Yes’ the authors Roger Fisher and William L. Ury suggest that, despite its importance, many of us are still not that good at it!

In this episode James and Samie talk about the difference between the way we traditionally negotiate, referred to as positional bargaining, and the approach proposed by the authors called ‘Principled Negotiation’. Through four key elements (1. Separating the people from the problem, 2. Focusing on interests not positions, 3. Looking for mutual advantage and 4. Using objective standards) there is the potential to achieve better outcomes, more efficiently and with improved or, at least, maintained relationships between the parties. 

Cialdini opens his best-selling book on Influence with the words 'I can admit it freely now. All my life I've been a patsy.' These are words that resonated for both James and Samie and, throughout this book, there are 'lightbulb moments' which help explain how we have fallen for people using the six rules of influence outlined by Cialdini.

In this episode Samie outlines his Central Message and we discuss some of the different examples outlined by Cialdini as well as instances from our own experiences.

Cialdini opens his best-selling book on Influence with the words 'I can admit it freely now. All my life I've been a patsy.' These are words that resonated for both James and Samie and, throughout this book, there are 'lightbulb moments' which help explain how we have fallen for people using the six rules of influence outlined by Cialdini.

In this episode Samie outlines his Central Message and we discuss some of the different examples outlined by Cialdini as well as instances from our own experiences.

Are we currently living through a black swan event? Taleb, in recent articles, argues this is actually a 'white swan' event but either way it is an interesting time for James and Samie to talk about Nassim Taleb's groundbreaking book (described by The Sunday Times as one of the twelve most influential books since World War II) 'The Black Swan'.

James and Samie discuss Taleb's views on the 'Scandal of Prediction', his insights around why our inbuilt biases make us more susceptible to Black Swans and how to maximise our exposure to positive serendipity. James explains why his central message from this book is 'don't become the Turkey'.

Are we currently living through a black swan event? Taleb, in recent articles, argues this is actually a 'white swan' event but either way it is an interesting time for James and Samie to talk about Nassim Taleb's groundbreaking book (described by The Sunday Times as one of the twelve most influential books since World War II) 'The Black Swan'.

James and Samie discuss Taleb's views on the 'Scandal of Prediction', his insights around why our inbuilt biases make us more susceptible to Black Swans and how to maximise our exposure to positive serendipity. James explains why his central message from this book is 'don't become the Turkey'.