Brainfluence

Although it might seem counterintuitive that businesses would fear innovation, today's guest makes an excellent case for why they do (and why they shouldn't). Building on a career of research into creativity and leadership, professor Jennifer Mueller illuminates decision makers' biases against innovation in her new book Creative Change: Why We Resist It . . . How We Can Embrace It

Jennifer and I talk about several of her recent published papers, including one that's been affectionately dubbed the "why men don't ask for directions" project. Jennifer discusses the punishment leaders often face for seeking help with crises, and why the qualities that might make you an outwardly convincing leader don't guarantee any actual skill in leadership. We then dig into precisely why decision makers in companies are often fearful of innovative or creative ideas and end up squashing them, to the detriment of both their employees and their business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2jpFkAd 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE147.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Companies are always looking for new ways to understand their customers, but few might think to look to the science of anthropology for those insights. Dr. Andi Simon, author of the new book On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights, shares some of the anthropological tools and strategies she uses to help businesses solve their most pressing problems.

Dr. Andi Simon is a corporate anthropologist and the founder of Simon Associates Management Consultants. She has over twenty years of experience as a senior executive in the financial and health care spaces, and now she helps companies & non-profit institutions develop their purpose, brand positioning, and redesign their culture. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2j2yIr5 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE146.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Heard the comment that "SEO is dead?" - guess again! Stephan Spencer, co-author of the 1,000 page Art of SEO, explains why search engine optimization is still one of the most important and flexible ways to drive traffic to your content online. This episode is packed with takeaways that will boost your traffic.

In this interview, Stephan Spencer and I talk in depth about SEO and how it's changing in light of new technology. He answers the question of which search engines other than Google you should think about. Stephan also shares some of his favorite tools for optimizing your site, and we talk about the evolution of SEO as it's been shaped by psychology and persuasion. Stephan also offers a way for you to get a free copy of one of his books, so be sure to listen!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2jc9E1i 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE145.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Have you ever thought of marketing and meeting a romantic partner as two sides of the same coin? It might sound a bit strange (and maybe even funny), but today's guest makes a great case for why the same persuasion principles apply whether you're selling a product or trying to ask someone out.

Jonathan Mall, a computational neuropsychology expert, and I volley back-and-forth in this episode, comparing the surprisingly similar processes of communicating with people and marketing to them. We go step-by-step through the journey of capturing someone's attention, how to hold it, and how to persuade them to buy in to what you're offering. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2iFRyY6 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE144.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

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