In a video lesson, entrepreneur Chip Conley discusses how to help narcissists overcome their self-absorption and entitlement by fostering compassion and encouraging new habits that prioritize others over themselves.

Game theory analyzes projects, organizations, or negotiations as games where players pursue their interests under constraints, emphasizing the importance of understanding their motives, available options, and likely actions to effectively predict and respond to their moves.

Game theorist Kevin Zollman emphasizes that many competitive situations can yield mutual benefits through trust and collaboration, urging negotiators to seek outcomes that favor both parties while ensuring enforceability to prevent broken promises.

The human mind tends to become lazy and routinized, leading to a phenomenon called “einstellung,” but Barbara Oakley suggests strategies like exposing oneself to novel stimuli and engaging with diverse opinions to foster mental flexibility and overcome this limitation.

Metaphorical thinking enhances learning by linking new concepts to familiar patterns, fostering creative problem-solving among non-experts, and aiding memory retention through vivid imagery, while expanding one’s metaphor store through diverse topics can boost creativity in specialized fields.

Nancy Duarte emphasizes that effective storytelling starts with listening to your team, understanding their challenges, and using their insights to create a narrative framework that fosters resilience and drives transformation within the organization.

In a lesson by Ian Bremmer, he emphasizes the importance of recognizing paradigm shifts in our work lives, encouraging us to challenge traditional mental models and engage with diverse perspectives, particularly as the digital world increasingly influences international relations and everyday interactions.

To achieve a well-rounded understanding of current events, political scientist Ian Bremmer advises diversifying news sources with curious and impartial perspectives, encouraging consumers to engage with global viewpoints while being mindful of the motivations behind corporate media.

Regular stretching enhances flexibility and quality of life, yet many avoid it due to discomfort; similarly, political scientist Ian Bremmer emphasizes that strategic thinkers must regularly challenge their worldviews to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.

Restaurateur Will Guidara emphasizes that passionate disagreements can lead to innovation, advocating for empathy and collaboration by switching perspectives, seeking third options, or occasionally allowing one person to lead, to navigate conflicts effectively.

Uncomfortable conversations can be eased by clearly stating your intent from the start, admitting uncertainty, and assuming good intent in others, which fosters a collaborative atmosphere and reduces awkwardness.

To quickly connect with someone new, understand your own inquiry style, listen to the other person’s perspective, and find common ground to ensure both parties feel heard and valued.

Optical illusions, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, highlight how easily our perceptions can be distorted by light, angles, and personal experiences, prompting art historian Amy Herman to encourage viewers to critically assess their own interpretations of what they see.

In this video lesson, former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante reveals how to move beyond small talk to uncover deeper insights through “elicitation,” a technique that uses open-ended questions to encourage others to share their thoughts and motivations naturally.

In a video lesson, former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante explains how understanding people’s core motivators—through the RICE method—can inspire genuine action and build rapport, transforming motivation into a powerful tool for achieving results with integrity.

A significant 80% of men lie about their height on dating profiles, often adding two inches, influenced by sexual dimorphism and societal biases favoring taller males, which primatologist Frans de Waal suggests must be addressed to promote gender equality in the workplace.

Primatologist Frans de Waal explains that the term “alpha male,” often misunderstood in popular culture, refers to a leader in social hierarchies, characterized by empathy and support, rather than personality type, with both alpha males and females deriving power from social relationships and group dynamics.

In a lesson on leadership, primatologist Frans de Waal argues that true alpha males, exemplified by a classmate helping a bullied child, demonstrate empathy rather than aggression, a trait he believes is essential for effective leadership in both social and corporate environments.

Philosopher Judith Butler argues that public mourning for individuals like George Floyd and Mahsa Amini can serve as a catalyst for social justice, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging loss, whether personal or impersonal, to challenge societal perceptions of who is deemed “grievable.”

In her video lesson, philosopher Judith Butler emphasizes the interconnectedness of our actions and urges a shift from individualism to solidarity, highlighting how our interdependence shapes our relationships with each other and the world around us.

The term “democracy,” derived from Greek meaning “rule by the people,” encompasses evolving principles of freedom, equality, and justice, as discussed by Judith Butler, who emphasizes the necessity of challenging societal norms to foster progress and redefine these ideals over time.

Philosopher Judith Butler emphasizes the importance of adopting a growth mindset to understand and accept diverse gender identities, encouraging patience and active listening to navigate the complexities of individual experiences that may challenge our fixed assumptions.

Emma Watson advocates for viewing gender as a spectrum rather than a binary, a perspective supported by Judith Butler’s theory, which emphasizes the fluidity of gender identity shaped by societal norms, cultural influences, and historical contexts.

In her video lesson, philosopher Judith Butler emphasizes that productive civil discourse requires understanding opposing views rather than shutting them down, advocating for respectful conversations that enhance mutual understanding, even when faced with disturbing ideas.

Philosopher Judith Butler argues that true wisdom lies in recognizing the limits of one’s knowledge and embracing humility, emphasizing that philosophy involves questioning our beliefs and understanding diverse perspectives on life’s fundamental issues.

In this video lesson, Chris Voss emphasizes that slowing down negotiations can lead to better outcomes by fostering effective communication, strategic concessions, and relationship-building, ultimately avoiding unproductive conversations and costly mistakes.

Successful negotiation focuses on collaboration for mutual benefit rather than simply achieving “yes,” with FBI negotiator Chris Voss advocating for starting with “no” to foster trust and open communication, ultimately leading to a more productive dialogue.

In negotiations, addressing and preemptively diminishing your counterpart’s negative emotions through tactical empathy—by acknowledging their fears and labeling their concerns—can shift focus from potential losses to positive outcomes, as explained by Chris Voss.

Jargon can obscure communication and create barriers, but by humanizing it and simplifying language, we foster better connections and understanding, as emphasized by Alan Alda in his lesson on effective communication.