Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Issue 275 – May 2023
This is your final chance to register for my Knowledge Café workshop happening next week on May 16th. During the workshop, you will gain valuable insights into designing and hosting your own Knowledge Cafés.
Contents
- How Talking to Strangers Boosts Happiness
The Power of Conversations - Jazz improvisation is “musical conversation”
The Jazz of Conversations - The Impact of Cognitive Biases in Conversations
Communicating more effectively - The Four Pillars of Cognition
Embodiment, Embeddedness, Extension, and Enaction - Conversational Leadership FAQ
Misconceptions and myths - Help Keep My Work Alive
- Unsubscribe
- Gurteen Knowledge Letter
How Talking to Strangers Boosts Happiness
The Power of Conversations
The Fortune Magazine article, titled A Team of Scientists Explains How to Get Measurably Happier by Doing One Simple Thing, highlights the positive impact of brief conversations with strangers on happiness, even for those who experience anxiety.
Engaging with strangers appears to disrupt the cycle of loneliness and depression, and we often underestimate the value and enjoyment derived from such interactions while needlessly fearing rejection.
I find it quite amazing that talking with a stranger is such a simple yet powerful way to increase our happiness.
Jazz improvisation is “musical conversation”
The Jazz of Conversations
When we converse, we are improvising. The exact words we use are not pre-planned; they depend on what our companion says and how we respond to them, and the conversation continues in this back-and-forth manner.
Similarly, jazz musicians improvise with their instruments. Instead of using words to express their thoughts and emotions, they use music to communicate in what could be called "musical conversation."
I have written more about the comparison between conversation and jazz in my blook.
The Impact of Cognitive Biases in Conversations
Communicating more effectively
Cognitive biases are mental shortcuts our brains use to quickly and efficiently process information. While much has been written about them, their role in conversation is not as well-explored.
However, cognitive biases can significantly affect how we interpret and respond to information in conversations, often leading us to make judgments or decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate data.
As a result, I have spent some time researching and thinking about this issue and have also been exploring ways to mitigate its impact. By becoming more aware of our biases and actively seeking out diverse perspectives, we can overcome these biases and communicate more effectively in our conversations.
I have written more about the impact of cognitive biases in conversations in my blook.
A cognitive bias is a way of thinking that deviates from logic and can lead to flawed or irrational judgments. These biases are often caused by the brain’s desire to simplify the way it processes information.
Tag: cognitive bias (27)
The Four Pillars of Cognition
Embodiment, Embeddedness, Extension, and Enaction
Cognition is a complex process that involves not just our brain but also our physical body, environment, and actions. This is the idea behind 4E cognition, which encompasses the four factors that shape cognition: embodiment, embeddedness, extension, and enaction. We commonly think that our cognitive processes occur solely in our mind or brain, but this is a limited and potentially dangerous perspective.
By understanding the multidimensional nature of cognition, which includes the brain, mind, body, environment, and action, we can appreciate the complex interplay of these factors in shaping our thoughts and experiences.
I have written more about 4E Cognition in my blook.
Conversational Leadership FAQ
Misconceptions and myths
I have written an informative FAQ that you may find helpful to dispel the numerous misconceptions and myths surrounding the practice of Conversational Leadership. It is far more than having better conversations, and it is not just for managers; everyone can practice Conversational Leadership.
Help Keep My Work Alive
For almost 25 years, I’ve been sharing the Gurteen Knowledge Letter each month, and many of you have been reading it for five years or more. My Knowledge Café also reached a milestone, celebrating its 20th anniversary in September 2022.
If my work has made a difference to you, I’d be grateful if you could consider supporting it. A small monthly donation or any one-off contribution would greatly help cover some of my website hosting costs.
Thank you to the 50+ patrons who already support me – your generosity means a lot.
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Gurteen Knowledge Letter
The Gurteen Knowledge Letter is a free monthly email newsletter designed to inspire thinking around Conversational Leadership and Knowledge Management. You can explore the archive of past issues here.
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David Gurteen
Gurteen Knowledge
Fleet, United Kingdom
