Supercommunicators

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Habit, an investigation of what makes conversations work, and how we can all learn to be supercommunicators at work and in our lives

The right conversation, at the right moment, can change everything.

We all know people who seem capable of connecting with anyone. They are the ones we turn to for advice, who ask the best questions—but who are also able to hear what goes unsaid, what we are really trying to say.

Why are these people so good at connecting? And what can they tell us about how communication works?

Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg argues, understand—some by intuition, some by hard-won experience—that there is a science to how human beings connect. They understand that every time we speak to someone, we’re actually engaging in one of three conversations: What is this really about? How do we feel? And, Who are we? They know the importance of identifying what kind of conversation we’re having, and then matching it, so that we become aligned. They recognize that our past experiences, values, and affiliations — our identities and the things we hold dear — shape every interaction we have, from deciding who will pick up the kids to navigating fraught topics across vast political divides to hearing, instead of lecturing to, a friend in need.

With his trademark insights, useful tips, and vivid, memorable storytelling, Duhigg shows readers how to recognize which kind of conversation we’re having—and teaches us the skills we need to navigate it successfully.

Effective communication may be a superpower, but it is not magic. By bringing readers into tense jury deliberations and CIA recruitments of foreign spies, into Netflix’s company-wide conversations about equity and the writers’ room of The Big Bang Theory, Duhigg shows us why some people are able to make themselves heard—and hear others—so clearly. And in the end, he delivers a simple but powerful truth: With the right strategies and tools, deeper, more meaningful connection is possible for everyone.