Michael Mauboussin returns for a fascinating encore interview on the Knowledge Project. We geek out on decision making, luck vs. skill, work life balance, and so much more.

***

Michael Mauboussin is back as a returning guest on the Knowledge Project!

He was actually the very first guest on the podcast when it was still very much an experiment. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to continue with the show. (If you missed his last interview, you can listen to it here, or if you’re a member of The Learning Community, you can download a transcript.)

Michael is one of my very favorite people to talk to, and I couldn’t wait to pick up right where we left off.

In this interview, Michael and I dive deep into some of the topics we care most about here at Farnam Street, including:

• The concept of “base rates” and how they can help us make far better decisions and avoid the pain and consequences of making poor choices.
• How to know where you land on the luck/skill continuum and why it matters
• Michael’s advice on creating a systematic decision-making process in your organization to improve outcomes.
• The two most important elements of any decision-making process
• How to train your intuition to be one of your most powerful assets instead of a dangerous liability
• The three tests Michael uses in his company to determine the health and financial stability of his environment
• Why “algorithm aversion” is creating such headaches in many organizations and how to help your teams overcome it, so you can make more rapid progress
• The most impactful books that he’s read since we last spoke, is reading habits, and the strategies he uses to get the most of every book
• The importance of sleep in Michael's’ life to make sure his body and mind are running at peak efficiency
• His greatest failures and what he learned from them
• How Michael and his wife raised their kids and the unique parenting style they adopted
• How Michael defines happiness and the decisions he makes to maximize the joy in his life

Any one of those insights alone is worth a listen, so I think you’re really going to enjoy this interview.

***

For comprehensive show notes on this episode and more go to https://www.fs.blog/podcast/

Our free weekly email, Brain Food, helps you get better results through intelligent preparation and offers great reading recommendations. Don't miss out, sign up at https://www.fs.blog/newsletter/

Follow Shane on Twitter (https://twitter.com/farnamstreet) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FarnamStreet/) to go to bed smarter than you woke up. 

In this episode, we get negotiation coaching from Chris Voss, former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI.

***

Whether you’re buying a car, requesting a raise at work, or just deciding where to eat out with your spouse or partner, your negotiating skills will determine how pleased you are with the outcome.

Today, we have the special opportunity to learn some of the most effective tactics and strategies from a true master, Chris Voss.

Chris is the former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI and author of the excellent book, Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As Though Your Life Depended On It.

In this fascinating conversation, Chris shares how you can use the same techniques that have been field tested in some of the most high-stakes, pressure cooker situations, in your daily life.

If you want to become a better haggler, a better communicator, or a better listener, don’t miss this episode. It’s packed with actionable insights you can start using today to be more persuasive and grab hold of more of what you want in life.

Here are just a few things we cover:

• What it really takes to be great at negotiating (most people approach it all wrong)
• How to keep your emotions in check in a negotiation
• The three different voices you use to connect with your counterpart and put them at ease
• How many of us “take ourselves hostage” in a negotiation and ruin it before it starts
• The biggest time-waster (and profit-killer) that plagues so many negotiations
• The main problems with traditional negotiation techniques (BATNA etc) and how they’re leaving lots on the table
• The “negotiation one-sheet” Chris uses before entering into any negotiation (and how you can use it to)
• How to use an “accusations audit” when you’re structuring winning deals (this is brilliant)
• One technique to get your counterpart to spill their guts when they’re trying to be tight-lipped. “Prospect theory” and how to use it to your advantage
• Maximizing employee satisfaction in the hiring process so you get the best talent...and keep them!
• How empathy saves time and makes you more likely to get what you want in a negotiation
• The power of deference (and when to use it)
• Chris’ go to tools that work best on all personality types, in nearly any situation
• How intentionally getting the other party to say “no” substantially increases the success rate of a negotiation

And much more.

An edited transcript is available to members of the Farnam Street Learning Community or for purchase separately ($9).

***

For comprehensive show notes on this episode and more go to https://www.fs.blog/podcast/

Our free weekly email, Brain Food, helps you get better results through intelligent preparation and offers great reading recommendations. Don't miss out, sign up at https://www.fs.blog/newsletter/

Follow Shane on Twitter (https://twitter.com/farnamstreet) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FarnamStreet/) to go to bed smarter than you woke up.