Brainfluence

Email has become a seemingly inescapable feature of our modern lives - but it doesn't have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. In this interview, writer Jocelyn Glei shares some great email-busting tips from her new book Unsubscribe: How to Kill Email Anxiety, Avoid Distractions, and Get Real Work Done

Jocelyn begins by talking about the psychology and neurochemistry of email and the two things that make it particularly addictive: random rewards and completion bias. Jocelyn also shares some of her best tips for cutting down on time spent writing emails, and how to conserve time and energy when writing e-correspondence. She even leaves us with some advice about how to make your emails stand out amongst the clutter of your recipient's inbox.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2l1VpwN 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE151.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Change is one of the few things you can rely on in life, in the personal, technological, and business realms alike. Today's guest, Dave Gray, explores how we can intentionally harness change in his new book Liminal Thinking: Create the Change You Want by Changing the Way You Think, using quirky, engaging illustrations to help him explain the concept of liminal thinking.

We start off discussing Dave's first career as a news illustrator and why drawings can be such an effective teaching tool. Dave also explains the concept of liminal thinking that he explores in his new book, including how you can intentionally create liminal phases in your life to spur change. Dave and I also relate liminality and illustration to the business sector, and talk about why managers are often the obstacle to turning around failing companies.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2lJ4z15 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE150.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Do bigger bonuses or fatter paychecks lead to greater effort and better results? Dan Ariely answers these and other questions as he explains the science of motivation.

Dan's first book, the NYTimes bestseller Predictably Irrational, refuted the idea that people make fundamentally rational choices in their lives and purchases. His newest book Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations, pulls together myriad studies to help us better understand motivation, its limitations, and how we can better harness it.

Dan and I talk about the state of social science research today, including how his work has shaped the field and the replication crisis we're currently experiencing. He also talks about the importance of trust in work and society, and how we can impact even our best people as we attempt to weed out bad apples. We also chat about some of the experiments from his new book and why money isn't the all-powerful motivator we think it is.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2knuY6J 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE149.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Paul Zak has created waves throughout his career, first with his fascinating research on oxytocin and its effects on the relationships, trust, and morality that make us human. His latest book, Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High Performance Companies, uses neuroscience and practical actions to help you measure and manage your organizational culture and inspire teamwork and accelerate business outcomes.

Trust Factor is one of the most science-based books I've seen on what makes companies tick and what separates the high performers from the rest.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2jNDU5b 

Direct download: BRAINFLUENCE148.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

1