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Best Of: How To Become A Supercommunicator

1A

NPR

News

4.44.3K Ratings

🗓️ 17 April 2024

⏱️ 48 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Imagine you're at a dinner party and the conversation turns to the latest news. Everyone has a different opinion. People begin raising their voices.

You notice the person beside you isn't talking, they're just watching. They turn to you and make a joke and you immediately relax. You hadn't even realized how tense you were.

They then ask what you think about the news. When you respond, they're attentive. When they look at you, you feel seen. They ask you another question and another. Before you know it, an hour has passed, and the arguing has died down around you.

Your dinner party partner is what journalist Charles Duhigg calls a supercommunicator. In his new book, "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection," by the same name, he explores what makes conversations work and how we can all be better at them.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

In this country, some truths aren't self-evident.

0:05.0

And NPR's Black Stories Black Truths, a collection of stories as wide-ranging and real

0:10.0

is the people who tell them, we celebrate the black experience for all its soul and richness.

0:16.4

Search NPR Black Stories, Black Truths, wherever you get podcasts. podcast. Imagine you're at a dinner party and the conversation turns to the latest news.

0:35.0

Everyone has a different opinion. People begin raising their voices and you notice

0:40.1

the person beside you isn't talking.

0:42.8

They're just watching.

0:44.6

They turn to you and make a joke.

0:47.2

And you immediately relax.

0:48.6

You hadn't even realized how tense you were.

0:51.3

Then they ask you about the last movie you saw or maybe an album you bought. And

0:57.2

eventually they ask you what you think about the news. And when you respond, they're attentive.

1:03.0

When they look at you, you feel seen.

1:05.0

They ask you another question and another,

1:08.0

and before you know it, an hour has passed,

1:10.0

and the arguing has died down around you.

1:12.0

Your dinner party partner is what journalism is. and the arguing has died down around you.

1:13.0

Your dinner party partner is what

1:15.0

Charles DuHick calls a super communicator.

1:18.0

They're all around us and there's a good chance

1:20.0

you know exactly who's a super communicator in your life.

1:24.0

Hi my name is Sarah and I'm calling about your request for stories about

...

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