Communication is about a lot more than the words coming out of our mouths. We often hear each other, but don’t really listen. Or we understand the literal meaning of what someone is saying, but we seem to miss the point and fail to connect. What’s happening in our brains in those situations? And why is it sometimes so hard to do something we’ve been doing since we were children? New Yorker writer Charles Duhigg set out to find the answers to these questions in his latest book, “Supercommunicators: The Science of Conversation and Connection.” In this talk at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, Duhigg explains that there aren’t any secret talents required in becoming a supercommunicator. All you have to do is understand a few concepts and learn and practice a few basic skills. He breaks down what’s going on when two people are talking to each other and demonstrates the methods he’s researched with some audience participation exercises.

aspenideas.org