158. Hope for Cynics: Building Trusting Relationships through Communication

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart

Communicating, Influence, Career Skills, Career, Business, Education, Leadership, Careers, Communication, Career Growth, Public Speaking, Language Learning, Improv

4.7 • 711 Ratings

🗓️ 3 September 2024

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“Acts of trust are the bedrock on which relationships are formed.”

There’s a lot in the world to make us cynical about other people and their motives and intentions. But by “trusting loudly,” Professor Jamil Zaki believes we can renew our faith in one another.
Zaki is a professor of psychology at Stanford, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience lab, and author of several books, including his most recent, Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness. While many people feel suspicious of others and are reluctant to trust them, Zaki finds that relying on other people is a necessary part of forming relationships.

“Acts of trust are the bedrock on which relationships are formed,” Zaki says. “The only way that strangers become friends and friends become best friends, the only way that we can build partnerships is through a willingness to count on one another.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Zaki joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss practical strategies for fostering trust and challenging our cynical assumptions, offering a hopeful perspective on human nature, backed by surprising scientific insights.

Episode Reference Links:

Jamil Zaki
Jamil’s Lab: Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab
Jamil’s Book: Hope for Cynics
Ep.84 Quick Thinks: How Others Define Us
Ep. 129 Connect Deeply: How to Communicate So People Feel Seen and Heard

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Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:06) - Defining Trust and Its Importance
(02:57) - Building Better Trust
(04:27) - Understanding Cynicism
(06:50) - The Cynicism Spectrum
(09:10) - Fostering Hopeful Skepticism
(11:23) - Challenges of Overcoming Cynicism
(16:13) - Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
(18:34) - The Final Three Questions
(25:39) - Conclusion

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, Matt here. You've invested in your education to grow, advance, and unlock new career opportunities.
0:07.0	But here's the challenge. How do you position yourself to stand out in a competitive job market?
0:13.0	It's not just about what you know. It's about how much you communicate your value, build strategic relationships, and take decisive action.
0:21.7	That's where today's sponsor, Strawberry.me, career coaching, comes in.
0:26.2	They match students and professionals with certified career coaches who will help you refine
0:31.1	your personal brand to confidently articulate your skills and experiences,
0:35.3	to develop a results-driven strategy and stay accountable so you
0:39.8	follow through on networking, applications, and negotiations. Because knowing what to do is one thing.
0:46.4	Having a coach to push you forward, that's how you create real momentum in progress.
0:51.9	Visit strawberry.m.m.m. TFTS and claim your $50 credit. That's strawberry.
0:59.0	dot me slash TFTS. It doesn't take much to see how cynical we are in the world today. We doubt.
1:08.8	We lack trust. What if we could develop hopeful skepticism where we trust
1:14.8	loudly? My name's Matt Abrahams, and I teach strategic communication at Stanford Graduate School of
1:21.4	Business. Welcome to Think Fast, Talk Smart, the podcast. Today, I look forward to speaking with Jamil Zaki.
1:30.1	Jamil is a professor of psychology at Stanford
1:32.3	and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab.
1:36.0	He studies empathy and kindness,
1:38.3	both at the interpersonal and neuroscience level.
1:41.7	He has a new book out that I really enjoyed.
1:44.6	It's called Hope for Cynics,
1:46.8	the surprising science of human goodness.
1:50.2	Jamil, I am so excited for our conversation.
	...

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