Can You Mind Read? with Nick Epley

 

Today we’re talking to Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business whose research explores social cognition, and how people think about other people, to understand why smart people so routinely misunderstand each other. His research has appeared in more than two dozen empirical journals, has been featured by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal among many other media outlets and he’s the author of Mindwise, How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel and Want.

In this episode, we discuss how your brain’s ability to understand what others think, believe, feel and want helps you to connect with others.  Nick also explains how this often goes wrong at work due to over-confidence that results in interpersonal misunderstandings and what you can do to improve your ability to mind read when it comes to your relationships.

Connect with Nick:

Website:  http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/nicholas.epley/

 

You’ll Learn:

• [01:57] - Nick explains how we all have a sixth sense that can help us to read each other’s minds.
• [03:28] - Nick shares why our ability to read the minds of others is vital for our ability to thrive in the world.
• [05:08] - Nick explains how our ability to read each other’s minds can often go wrong at work.
• [07:48] - Nick shares what his research has found about how our tendencies for social interpersonal misunderstandings can shape our relationships and our actions at work.
• [09:57] - Nick explains why interpreting people’s intent in our relationships can be so challenging.
• [11:31] - Nick explores how our ability to mind read at work could impact people’s levels of psychological safety.
• [13:15] - Nick shares what his research has found can help us to mind read more effectively.
• [18:09] - Nick explores how staying out of judgment, and sitting in curiosity might help us to get perspective and be better mindreaders.
• [19:33] - Nick outlines the findings from his recent research on why people are often reluctant to express gratitude to each other.
• [23:53] - Nick completes the lightning round.

Your Resources:

• MPPW Podcast on Facebook
• Nudge by Richard H. Thaler
• The Wisest One in the Room by Tom Gilovitch

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.

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Until next time, take care!  Thank you Nick!