Conversational Intelligence by Judith E. Glaser Summary
Overview of Conversational Intelligence
Unlock the neuroscience of powerful communication with Judith Glaser's "Conversational Intelligence," featured in Harvard Business Review and Wall Street Journal. What separates routine exchanges from transformative dialogues? Discover the C-IQ framework that top leaders use to build trust and drive unprecedented collaboration.
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Key takeaways
When Words Wound: The Hidden Chemistry of Failed Conversations
Have you ever watched a simple conversation spiral into disaster before your eyes? One moment you're discussing project deadlines, the next you're locked in a battle of wills, hearts racing, defenses up. What just happened? The answer lies not in what was said, but in what happened inside your brain the moment threat replaced trust. Judith E. Glaser spent three decades unraveling this mystery, discovering that our conversations aren't just exchanges of words-they're neurochemical events that physically reshape our brains and bodies. When she coached Anthony, a difficult client, their relationship deteriorated despite her expertise. She saw him as arrogant and impossible; he likely saw her as incompetent. They created competing mental movies where each played the villain in the other's story, ultimately "firing each other" in mutual failure. This wasn't a communication problem-it was a brain problem. Within .07 seconds of contact, our bodies detect electrical signals from others up to ten feet away, triggering instant friend-or-foe assessments. When conversations threaten us, the amygdala hijacks our executive functions, flooding us with cortisol that lingers for 26 hours. We stop listening to understand and start defending our territory. The gap between what we intend and what others experience becomes a chasm where relationships fall and die.
The Two Neural Highways: Where Trust and Fear Live
Rebuilding What's Broken: The TRUST Reset
The Three Levels: From Transaction to Transformation
The Addiction to Being Right: Breaking Corporate Toxicity
Priming the Brain: Creating Spaces Where Trust Flourishes
The Leadershift: From Fear to Transformation
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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