400: How to Reclaim Conversation, with Cal Newport

Coaching for Leaders

Dave Stachowiak

Management, Careers, Business

4.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2019

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Cal Newport: Digital Minimalism

Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University who studies the theory of distributed systems. In addition to his academic work, he writes about the intersection of technology and culture. He’s the author of six books including Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World and Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World.

Key Points

The human brain is very sophisticated in how it navigates social dynamics using voice and visual cues. Digital interactions bypass the brain’s ability to see these cues.
Social media interactions might make you think you’re being social, but you can still lonely because your brain doesn’t count these interactions the same as person-to-person interactions.
Digital interactions are not bad, but they can crowd out more important real-world interactions.
Make sure tech is serving the things that are important in your life, rather than just using it as an escape from your life.
Small steps tend not to work when transitioning to digital minimalism. A better way is to take a 30-day break from consuming digital content and then rebuild your digital life from scratch.

Resources Mentioned

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World* by Cal Newport
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age* by Sherry Turkle
Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other* by Sherry Turkle

Book Notes

Download my highlights from Digital Minimalism in PDF format (free membership required).

Related Episodes

How to Make Deep Work Happen, with Cal Newport (episode 233)
The Power of Solitude, with Mike Erwin (episode 308)
Have Conversations That Matter, with Celeste Headlee (episode 344)
How to Create Meaningful Gatherings, with Priya Parker (episode 395)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Connection is nice, but conversation is where human relationships thrive.
0:06.0	On this episode, Cal Newport returns to the show to help us reclaim conversation.
0:12.0	This is coaching for Leaders, Episode 400.
0:15.7	Produced by Innovate Learning, Maximizing Human Potential. Greetings to you from Orange County, California. This is coaching for leaders and I'm
0:29.3	your host Dave Stahovia. Leaders aren't born. They're made and this weekly show gives you access to the practical wisdom that will empower you to become a better leader.
0:41.0	Virtually every leader needs to dive in deep on great conversation.
0:48.0	To have the intentionality to build relationships, to strengthen relationships, and be able to
0:56.7	discover what's next for themselves, for the people that they have the privileged influence,
1:02.4	and of course for the organization too.
1:04.6	Today's guest has done some amazing work on helping people to be more effective and to utilize technology effectively and appropriately today
1:16.4	but also to not lose sight of the human element. I am so glad to welcome
1:22.0	back to the show Cal Newport.
1:24.2	Cal is a computer science professor at Georgetown University who studies the
1:28.7	theory of distributed systems. In addition to his academic work he writes about the intersection of technology and culture.
1:36.0	His work has been published in over 20 languages and has been featured in many major publications,
1:41.0	including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, Washington Post,
1:45.3	and The Economist. He's the author of six books including Deep Work, which he spoke to us
1:50.5	about on his last appearance and most recently the New York Times bestseller
1:54.8	Digital Minimalism choosing a focused life in a noisy world.
1:59.4	Cal, it's so glad to have you back on the show.
2:02.0	Oh, Dave, it's my pleasure.
2:04.0	So this is a bit of a follow-up to your work on deep work,
	...

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