Podcasts about what your employees need

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer dives into the fascinating world of personal biases, exploring how our brains are wired to perceive ourselves and the world around us. This episode, originally aired in April 2019, provides a rapid-fire overview of various biases that impact our personal and professional lives. Melina discusses optimism bias, planning fallacy, naive realism, false consensus effect, and more, offering insights into how these biases shape our decisions and interactions. Through practical examples and relatable anecdotes, Melina helps listeners understand the complexities of their own biases and how to leverage this knowledge for better decision-making and improved interactions with others. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the importance of recognizing and addressing personal biases, and how doing so can lead to greater success in both personal and professional contexts. This episode serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the hidden forces that influence our thoughts and actions, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their self-awareness and communication skills. In this episode: Identify and understand various personal biases and their impact on decision-making and interactions. Leverage knowledge of biases like optimism bias and planning fallacy to set realistic goals and expectations. Improve communication and collaboration by recognizing and addressing biases such as naive realism and false consensus effect. Utilize insights from biases to enhance marketing strategies and customer interactions. Foster better relationships and teamwork by acknowledging and mitigating the influence of biases like egocentric bias and social comparison bias. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces the topic of personal biases and sets the stage for a deep dive into how these biases affect our lives and careers. 00:02:00 - Optimism Bias Discussion on optimism bias and how it leads people to believe they are more likely to experience positive outcomes than others. 00:04:00 - Planning Fallacy Exploration of planning fallacy, the tendency to underestimate how long tasks will take, and its implications in personal and professional settings. 00:06:00 - Naive Realism Melina explains naive realism, the belief that we see the world objectively while others are biased, and its impact on communication and collaboration. 00:08:00 - False Consensus Effect Examination of the false consensus effect, where people overestimate how much others agree with them, and strategies to overcome it. 00:10:00 - Illusion of Asymmetric Insight Discussion on the illusion of asymmetric insight, where individuals believe they understand others better than others understand them. 00:12:00 - Illusion of Transparency Melina explores the illusion of transparency, where people overestimate how well they understand others and are understood in return. 00:14:00 - False Uniqueness Bias Analysis of false uniqueness bias, where individuals believe their experiences and problems are unique compared to others. 00:16:00 - Forer Effect Introduction to the Forer effect, also known as the Barnum effect, where people believe vague, general statements are highly accurate for them. 00:18:00 - Illusion of Control Discussion on the illusion of control, the tendency to overestimate one's influence over external events, and its impact on behavior and decision-making. 00:20:00 - Egocentric Bias Exploration of egocentric bias, where individuals believe they do more work than others, and strategies for overcoming it. 00:22:00 - Social Comparison Bias Examination of social comparison bias, where individuals favor candidates who are not in direct competition with their own strengths. 00:24:00 - Spotlight Effect Discussion on the spotlight effect, where people overestimate how much others notice their appearance or behavior. 00:26:00 - Overconfidence Effect Melina explains the overconfidence effect, where people are more certain in their answers than they should be, and its implications in business. 00:28:00 - Pro Innovation Bias Analysis of pro innovation bias, where individuals have excessive optimism about their innovations or products. 00:30:00 - Hindsight Bias and Post Purchase Rationalization Discussion on hindsight bias and post-purchase rationalization, where individuals justify their decisions after the fact. 00:32:00 - Choice Supportive Bias and Illusion of External Agency Examination of choice supportive bias and illusion of external agency, where people believe their choices were more informed than they were. 00:34:00 - Illusion of Validity and Conservatism Belief Revision Melina explores the illusion of validity and conservatism belief revision, where individuals stick to their beliefs despite new evidence. 00:36:00 - Continued Influence Effect Discussion on the continued influence effect, where people continue to believe misinformation even after it has been corrected. 00:38:00 - Conclusion What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes You Have More Influence Than You Think, by Vanessa Bohns What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Mentoring, by Dr. Ruth Gotian and Andy Lopata The Success Factor, by Ruth Gotian Top Recommended Next Episode: Planning Fallacy (ep 346) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Optimism Bias (ep 34) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Biases Toward Others (Including Groups) (ep 314) Vanessa Bohns Interview (ep 318) Hindsight Bias (ep 396) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Exploring the “Planning Fallacy”: Why People Underestimate Their Task Completion Times Five Most Daunting NFL Stadiums for Visiting Teams Scarlett Johansson & Brie Larson Play ‘Who Saves the World? Girls!' The Trouble With Overconfidence

In this enlightening episode of The Brainy Business podcast, host Melina Palmer revisits a compelling conversation with Matthew Confer on the three essential steps to better decision-making. As the VP of Strategy at Abilitie, Matthew brings a wealth of knowledge on leadership development and decision-making frameworks. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their decision-making skills, both personally and professionally, especially in the context of business leadership and management. Melina and Matthew delve into the importance of challenging constraints, embracing pre-mortems, and checking the basics to make more informed and effective decisions. They discuss the value of simulation training for corporate leaders, drawing parallels to pilot training to emphasize the importance of experiential learning. With practical examples and insightful stories, this episode offers actionable strategies to improve decision-making processes in any organization. In this episode: Learn the three critical steps to making better decisions: challenging constraints, embracing pre-mortems, and checking the basics. Understand the significance of simulation training in developing leadership and decision-making skills. Explore practical examples of how to implement these strategies in real-world business scenarios. Discover the importance of adaptability and flexibility in decision-making, especially in uncertain times. Gain insights into the psychological aspects of decision-making and how to overcome common biases. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces the episode and the topic of three steps to better decision-making with Matthew Confer, highlighting the relevance of this discussion for the upcoming episode with Melaina Vinski. 00:04:12 - Matthew Confer's Background Matthew shares his background and his role at Abilitie, explaining how simulation training helps leaders develop critical decision-making skills. 00:09:30 - Simulation Training Examples Matthew provides examples of simulation training scenarios, including people management and financial acumen, and how these simulations help leaders practice decision-making in a controlled environment. 00:14:46 - Importance of Experiential Learning Melina and Matthew discuss the difference between thinking about doing something and actually doing it, emphasizing the value of experiential learning in improving decision-making skills. 00:20:15 - Step 1: Challenge the Constraints Matthew explains the first step in the decision-making framework: challenging the constraints. He shares examples of how successful teams take a step back to identify and challenge the constraints that might be holding them back. 00:25:22 - Step 2: Embrace a Pre-Mortem Matthew introduces the concept of a pre-mortem, explaining how it helps teams anticipate potential failures and plan accordingly. He discusses the psychological benefits of considering why a plan might fail before it is implemented. 00:30:45 - Step 3: Check the Basics Matthew highlights the importance of checking the basics, especially as decisions become more complex. He shares a notable example from NASA to illustrate how small details can trip up even the most advanced projects. 00:35:51 - Practical Examples and Applications Matthew provides practical examples of how these three steps have been applied in real-world scenarios, including the challenges and adaptations faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. 00:45:30 - The Press Release Method Matthew introduces the press release method, a decision-making technique used by Amazon, and discusses its potential benefits and applications in business decision-making. 00:50:12 -  Conclusion, What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Matthew: Matthew on LinkedIn Matthew on Twitter Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman The Friction Project, by Robert Sutton and Huggy Rao Friction, by Roger Dooley Sludge, by Cass Sunstein Top Recommended Next Episode: Time Discounting (ep 328) Already Heard That One? Try These:  The Most Important Step In Applying Behavioral Economics: Understanding the Problem (ep 126) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Scarcity (ep 270) The Science of Time Pressure (ep 366) Status Quo Bias (ep 376) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Matthew's Ted Talk Learn to Lead Podcast Amazon “Press Release” Method To Reach Your Goals, Imagine You Already Tried and Failed What a 5-Step Checklist at Johns Hopkins Can Teach You About Life and Business  

Welcome to the 400th episode of The Brainy Business podcast! In this milestone episode, Melina Palmer delves into the intriguing concept of survivorship bias, a critical thinking error that can significantly impact decision-making in business and personal life. Through engaging storytelling, Melina takes us back to World War II to uncover the origins of this concept and how it played a crucial role in military strategy.  She then brings the concept into contemporary contexts, illustrating how survivorship bias leads us to overvalue success stories while ignoring the vital lessons from failures. This episode not only celebrates our podcast's journey but also equips you with practical insights to recognize and overcome survivorship bias in your ventures. Join Melina as she explores this bias's profound implications on entrepreneurship, business strategies, and everyday decisions, helping you make more informed choices.  In this episode: Understand how survivorship bias impacts business success and decision-making. Explore the powerful influence of behavioral economics on shaping strategic choices in business. Discover effective strategies to overcome survivorship bias and drive more informed decision-making. Differentiate between correlation and causation in business strategies to make more impactful choices. Uncover the success factors that extend beyond survivorship bias and drive sustained business growth. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces the concept of survivorship bias and its relevance to business decisions. She emphasizes the impact of this bias on entrepreneurs and its influence on decision-making in various roles across industries. 00:04:08 - Abraham Wald and World War Two Melina delves into the story of Abraham Wald, a mathematician who discovered survivorship bias during World War Two. She highlights the significance of Wald's analysis of bullet holes on planes and the crucial insights it provided on reinforcing strategic spots. 00:09:16 - The Fallacy of Survivorship Bias The discussion focuses on the fallacy of survivorship bias in seeking advice for success. Melina provides examples of how survivorship bias leads to misconceptions about causation and correlation, using narratives of successful individuals as illustrations. 00:11:31 - Business Applications of Survivorship Bias Melina explores the business applications of survivorship bias and its implications for decision-making. She emphasizes the complexity of success and the dangers of assuming a one-size-fits-all approach based on survivorship bias. 00:13:56 - Correlation vs. Causation The conversation delves into the distinction between correlation and causation, highlighting the misconceptions that arise from survivorship bias. Melina illustrates the importance of discerning causation for making informed decisions in business and life. 00:15:46 - Survivorship Bias in Conclusions Not all successful CEOs wake up at 05:00 a.m. Correlation doesn't imply causation. It's important to consider all data points and not draw conclusions based on one aspect. 00:16:21 - Success and Failure in Publishing For every popular book, there are a million unsuccessful books and authors. It takes trial and error and hard work to succeed. Learn from others' experiences and determine what works for your goals. 00:18:07 - The Illusion of the Best Product The best products don't always lead the market. Being the best or first doesn't guarantee success. Look at all possible data points and consider what's missing for your business venture. 00:19:55 - Customer Feedback and Satisfaction Customer satisfaction surveys may not capture all feedback. Consider the concerns of those who didn't choose your business. Look beyond extreme examples and aim for a complete data set for feedback. 00:23:49 - Openness to Unexpected Findings Be open to the things you aren't looking for. Anomalies and unconventional ideas could lead to valuable insights. Consider reframing questions and exploring untested areas to avoid survivorship bias. 00:24:48 - Conclusion What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: How to Change, by Katy Milkman What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland The Invisible Gorilla, by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons Nobody's Fool, by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons Top Recommended Next Episode: David McRaney Interview (ep 336) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Hindsight Bias (ep 167) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Jonah Berger Interview (ep 301) Warren Berger Interview (ep 340) Cass Sunstein Interview (ep 371) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter What Every Founder Needs to Know About Survivorship Bias Why It's So Hard To Succeed – The Survivorship Bias You are missing something! – Survivorship bias 7 Lessons on Survivorship Bias that Will Help You Make Better Decisions How the Survivor Bias Distorts Reality Survivorship Bias: The Tale of Forgotten Failures Missing what's missing: How survivorship bias skews our perception The College Dropout Problem Hilarious Graphs Prove That Correlation Isn't Causation The 10 Most Bizarre Correlations

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, host Melina Palmer dives into the importance of choosing between quality and value when it comes to your brand strategy. She talks about how businesses can be successful with either approach, but it's crucial to pick one and stick with it. Melina shares real case studies of brands like Supreme and Costco to illustrate how they've excelled by aligning their pricing strategies with their brand messaging.  She emphasizes that understanding how customers perceive your brand is key to making informed decisions about your positioning in the market. If you're an entrepreneur looking to establish a clear brand identity and nail down consistent brand messaging and pricing strategies, this episode is a must-listen. Melina's insights and examples make a convincing case for the impact of your brand strategy on customer perception and decision-making. For those looking to elevate their branding approach and make strategic decisions, this podcast episode offers valuable takeaways and practical advice. In this episode: Understand the Importance of Choosing Brand Strategy: Uncover the critical role of brand strategy in business success. Analyze Quality vs Value in Branding: Explore the dynamic balance between quality and value within brand development. Align Pricing with Brand Values: Learn how to harmonize pricing strategies with the core values of your brand. Explore the Impact of Brand Identity on Consumer Perception: Discover the profound influence of brand identity on consumer attitudes and behaviors. Establish Consistent Brand Messaging: Master the art of crafting and maintaining a cohesive brand message across all platforms. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces the critical decision every business needs to make: what type of company they are. She explains that this decision is foundational to pricing strategy and can be boiled down to two main paths: quality or value. 00:04:11 - Quality Business Melina defines quality businesses as those that set higher prices due to factors like higher quality materials, expertise, or innovative methods. These businesses focus on higher margins and making fewer sales. Melina emphasizes the importance of consistency in messaging and pricing for quality brands. 00:09:03 - Value Business Melina describes value businesses as offering bargains, great value for money, and selling by volume with smaller margins. These businesses run sales, discounts, and promotions as a key part of their strategy. She highlights the need for alignment between the brand's perception and how customers see them. 00:11:42 - Aligning Business Perception Melina shares an example of a client who faced a disconnect between their perceived quality and value brand image. She emphasizes the importance of aligning the company's identity with customer perception and the impact on brand positioning, products, services, and pricing. 00:14:52 - Holding the Line on Business Type Melina discusses the challenge of staying true to the chosen business type and making consistent decisions. She addresses the pressure to conform to other strategies, the potential damage of diluting a brand's perceived value, and the importance of getting everyone in the organization on board. 00:16:17 - Choosing Between Quality and Value Melina discusses the importance of choosing between quality and value for your brand, emphasizing the need to stick with one approach to achieve success. She urges listeners to consider their vision for their business and commit to a path. 00:19:26 - Case Study: Quality Brand - Supreme Melina shares a case study on the streetwear brand Supreme, highlighting their extreme scarcity model and the success they've achieved through high demand and resale market. She emphasizes the importance of challenging industry norms and being different in business. 00:23:59 - Case Study: Value Brand - Costco Melina presents Costco as a value brand that focuses on providing high-quality items at the best possible price. She discusses Costco's effective scarcity model and the impact of their commitment to saving members money on their overall brand strategy. 00:29:21 - Examples of Quality and Value Brands Melina introduces four case studies of quality and value brands, including Serendipity3, Hermes, Ryanair, and Old Navy. She mentions the depth and detail provided in the book and invites feedback for potential future behavioral economics analysis episodes. 00:31:41 - The Importance of Value Statement Melina discusses the vital aspect of brand identity - the value statement. It encapsulates core beliefs, creates consistency, and influences customer perceptions. 00:32:19 - Impact of Branding on Decision Making Melina explains how a precise brand message and promise are essential for making buying decisions easier for customers. The alignment of brand values and prices is crucial for creating a clear memory and influencing behavior. 00:33:51 - Priming and Brand Image Melina delves into the concept of priming, where word choice and images influence decision-making. She provides examples of how brands like Apple and Disney prime customers' behavior and perceptions through their logos. 00:35:41 - Aligning Brand Identity with Business Type Melina contrasts the mission statements of Costco and Louis Vuitton to illustrate the importance of aligning brand identity with the type of business. She encourages listeners to evaluate their own mission, vision, and values for alignment. 00:40:10 -  Conclusion Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Truth About Pricing, by Melina Palmer What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland Marketing to Mindstates, by Will Leach Top Recommended Next Episode: Truth About Pricing (ep 355) Already Heard That One? Try These:  What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Bundle and Stack Your Offers (ep 84) How to Raise Your Prices (ep 354) Get the Ultimate Pricing Confidence (ep 66) What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You (ep 147) Jo Evershed and Gareth Harvey Interview (ep 353) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter The Truth About Pricing Freebies

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, host Melina Palmer delves into the psychology of pricing strategy, drawing from her experiences at a conference for female entrepreneurs and her expertise in behavioral economics, which also served as the foundation for her book, The Truth About Pricing. Melina emphasizes the importance of understanding the subconscious influences that drive consumer behavior and how businesses can leverage sensory cues and anticipation to shape purchasing decisions.  She shares insights on creating an irresistible introduction, utilizing the five senses, and leveraging principles of behavioral economics to capture customers' attention and drive sales. By discussing anchoring and adjustment, relativity, and the power of presenting multiple options, Melina provides practical strategies for entrepreneurs to apply in their retail businesses. Her engaging storytelling and relatable approach make this episode a valuable resource for entrepreneurs looking to increase consumer engagement and drive higher sales through effective pricing strategies. In this episode: Uncover the psychology behind pricing strategies to gain a competitive edge in the retail market. Craft an irresistible introduction to captivate customers and leave a lasting impression. Leverage the five senses to create a memorable and immersive shopping experience for your customers. Implement anchoring and adjustment techniques in pricing to influence consumer behavior and drive sales. Understand the importance of presenting multiple options to increase consumer engagement and boost sales. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina Palmer introduces the podcast episode and mentions that it is releasing on the same day as the launch of her third book, The Truth About Pricing. She discusses how this episode was the basis for the book and encourages listeners to order a copy. 00:02:18 - Pricing Strategy and Selling Techniques Melina talks about observing how people position their offers and discuss their services at conferences and events. She mentions that skilled presenters follow a pattern and are able to subtly make the audience want their offer. This pattern is based on the same foundation as pricing strategy. 00:07:47 - Subconscious Evaluation Melina discusses how she constantly evaluates advertisements and messaging around her, even though she may not consciously realize everything her subconscious is taking in. She emphasizes that subconscious evaluation plays a significant role in selling techniques, such as the anticipation created by the smell of freshly baked cookies. 00:11:41 - Order of Events Melina explains the importance of the order in which events occur in a selling experience. She contrasts a positive experience of smelling cookies, receiving a special offer, and enjoying a free sample with a negative experience of being interrupted by a salesperson and feeling irritated. The same offer can result in different outcomes based on the order of events. 00:17:02 - The Core Takeaway on Pricing Customers will find a way to pay for your product if it solves a real problem and is positioned effectively. Delivery and understanding behavioral economics are important factors in getting customers to take action. 00:20:08 - The Scent of the Cookies To capture your ideal client's attention, you need something nearly irresistible. Use all five senses to create an engaging and memorable experience through platforms like social media, podcasting, or visuals. 00:23:13 - Give Them Something to Keep Them Interested Offer something of value to your potential customers. For services, provide lead magnets. For physical products, allow customers to sample or experience the product to create a sense of ownership and desire. 00:24:30 - The Power of Touch and Scarcity Utilize touch to stimulate the brain's ownership response. Incorporate scarcity by creating a sense of urgency and fear of missing out. Countdowns and limited-time offers can motivate customers to take immediate action. 00:34:13 - The concept of anchoring and adjustment Anchoring and adjustment is when the brain latches onto a number and then adjusts up or down based on that initial anchor. This concept can influence our decision-making, as demonstrated in scenarios like buying Snickers bars at the grocery store. 00:36:08 - The concept of relativity Relativity plays a role in decision-making by comparing options. In an example from an advertisement for subscriptions to the Economist, removing a seemingly undesirable option led to a shift in people's choices. Understanding relativity can help marketers create effective pricing strategies. 00:39:11 - Building pricing options When setting prices, it's recommended to provide three options: the best offer, a decoy with worse value, and a third item for balance. This approach allows for value comparisons and caters to different customer preferences. The presentation and order of pricing options can influence decision-making. 00:42:22 - Mastering pricing strategy Mastering pricing strategy requires an understanding of the principles and how they work together. Each product or service may require different tweaks and adjustments. Incorporating these learnings into pricing strategies can lead to better customer engagement and profitability. 00:43:52 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Truth About Pricing, by Melina Palmer What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Nudge, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein Friction, by Roger Dooley Top Recommended Next Episode: Behind the Scenes, The Truth About Pricing (ep 355) Already Heard That One? Try These:  What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Bundle and Stack Your Offers (ep 84) How to Raise Your Prices (ep 354) Get the Ultimate Pricing Confidence (ep 66) What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You (ep 147) Jo Evershed and Gareth Harvey Interview (ep 353) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

Are you a value or quality based? You can be both, but your pricing can't be! This week we are joined by Melina Palmer, author of The Truth About Pricing to gain ideas and insights about how your pricing plays a pivotal role in how you present your product or service to your customers. And, if you find yourself struggling to figure out your pricing plans, , it might be time to give Hamish a call.    You can now also catch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WDQu75LOyhg   What you'll learn: What is "Time-Discounting"? How to price your product for value How to price your product for Quality Why you can't price for both What is anchoring, and how you can benefit from it.   -=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=- AI is here.  Is your sales team ready? Technology is changing the way buyers and sellers interact. Clear, concise communication is more important than ever and personalizing that communication will be the difference between winning and losing deals. Download this guide to learn how to use technology as a weapon. Not only the words and topics of conversations, but the nuance of how to tailor communications, both written and spoken to match the desires of the buyer. This guide will discuss: Using AI to Profile the buyer Identify Behavioral Data Target Buyers and Influencers Get your free whitepaper at Fullfunnelfreedom.com/ai -=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=--=+=- Resources:   Get a free chapter from any (or all!) of Melina's books -thebrainybusiness.com/fullfunnelfreedom   What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You: Adapting to Change with the Science of Behavioral Economics - by Melina Palmer   What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You: Unlocking Consumer Decisions with the Science of Behavioral Economics - by Melina Palmer   The Truth About Pricing: How to Apply Behavioral Economics so Customers Buy - by Melina Palmer   Melina Palmer's Website - The Brainy Business   Full Funnel Freedom https://fullfunnelfreedom.com Sandler on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sandler_yyc/  Sandler in Calgary - www.hamish.sandler.com/howtosandler Connect with Hamish Knox on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishknox/ Sponsorship or guest inquiries - podcast@fullfunnelfreedom.com      

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer unveils the backstory of her latest book, The Truth About Pricing: How to Apply Behavioral Economics so Customers Buy. By tracing her path from book concept to publication, Melina underscores the significance of pricing confidence for businesses. The episode delves into the challenges businesses encounter in pricing and how Melina's book offers actionable advice to cultivate that essential confidence.  With a focus on unraveling the psychology and behavioral economics underpinning pricing decisions, Melina's book aims to empower businesses to enhance their sales strategies and cultivate customer loyalty. For business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to elevate their pricing acumen and drive profitability, this episode is a valuable resource. Melina's expertise and pragmatic insights make it an indispensable guide for navigating the complexities of pricing strategy. In this episode, you will be able to: Mastering the Book Publishing Process: Unveiling the intricacies and essentials of publishing a book for aspiring authors and entrepreneurs. Optimizing Pricing Strategy for Businesses: Maximizing profitability and competitiveness through strategic pricing methodologies tailored to your business. Leveraging Behavioral Economics in Pricing: Harnessing consumer psychology and decision-making behaviors to drive sales and revenue. Cultivating Confidence in Pricing Decisions: Developing the expertise and assurance needed to make sound pricing choices for your products or services. Incorporating Psychology into Pricing Strategy: Understanding the psychological triggers that influence consumer purchasing decisions and using them to your advantage. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces the episode, discussing the launch of her new book. She provides an overview of what listeners can expect in the episode. 00:04:16 - The Journey to Writing The Truth About Pricing Melina shares the journey of writing The Truth About Pricing, from connecting with a book agent to finalizing the contract for the book. She discusses the process of pitching the book to publishers and the serendipitous events that led to its publication. 00:09:30 - The Problem with Pricing Melina delves into the common struggles and stress associated with pricing for businesses. She highlights the pressure to get pricing perfect, the tendency to procrastinate, and the overwhelming amount of information available on pricing strategies. 00:11:33 - Gaining Confidence in Pricing Strategy Melina emphasizes the importance of confidence in pricing and its impact on customer behavior. She discusses the value of gaining confidence in pricing strategy and presents the book as a guide to achieving this confidence. 00:15:36 - Overcoming Procrastination and Setting the Right Price Melina addresses the common pitfalls of procrastination in setting prices and the cognitive biases that contribute to this behavior. She highlights the book's focus on overcoming these challenges and setting prices with confidence. 00:16:05 - Setting the Stage Melina explains that the book focuses on understanding the pricing problem and how behavioral economics is the key to success. It covers the science behind pricing and the steps to optimize pricing using behavioral economics and psychology. 00:19:25 - The Golden Octopus Melina introduces a short story about the purchase of a golden octopus to illustrate how pricing really works. This section also provides insights on pricing placement and psychology, outlining the brain tricks that impact pricing. 00:21:06 - Building a Foundation This part focuses on the importance of the factors that come before the price itself. It emphasizes the need to create a seamless buying experience for customers and highlights the significance of choice architecture in pricing strategy. 00:25:22 - Applying the Framework Melina introduces the It's Not About the Cookie framework, which consists of six categories of behavioral science to consider when applying the foundation of the pricing strategy. It also discusses the value of properly structuring a choice in pricing. 00:30:06 - Case Studies Melina discusses four case studies of well-known global businesses to inspire readers on how to apply the concepts to their specific business types. The case studies cover quality and value-based product and service businesses, offering practical insights for readers. 00:31:40 - The Importance of Pricing Strategies Melina emphasizes the importance of making pricing decisions efficiently and confidently. She offers a guide to streamline the process and highlights the value of incorporating psychology and behavioral economics into pricing strategies. 00:32:38 - Freebies and Resources Melina discusses the complimentary items available, including a virtual glossary and a pricing mastery checklist. She invites listeners to visit thebrainybusiness.com for a free sample chapter and provides links for ordering the book. 00:33:47 - Availability and Formats Melina shares that the book is available for purchase on various platforms and mentions the upcoming ebook and audible versions. She encourages preordering and assures that the audiobook is professionally narrated. 00:34:48 - Audiobook and Book Content Melina addresses the suitability of the audiobook for learning, highlighting that the book's tasks are not heavily reliant on visual aids. She provides links to order all her books and emphasizes the value of the book's content. 00:36:19 -  Conclusion Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Truth About Pricing, by Melina Palmer What Your Customers Want and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Marketing Mess to Brand Success, by Scott Miller Finding Confidence in Conflict, by Kwame Christian Top Recommended Next Episode: Truth About Pricing (ep 5) Already Heard That One? Try These:  What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Bundle and Stack Your Offers (ep 84) How to Raise Your Prices (ep 354) Get the Ultimate Pricing Confidence (ep 66) What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You (ep 147) Jo Evershed and Gareth Harvey Interview (ep 353) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you'll hear an insightful conversation between host Melina Palmer and guests Jo Evershed and Gareth Harvey. Jo and Gareth discuss the power of behavioral data in personalizing shopping experiences and nudging consumers towards more desirable choices. The conversation also delves into the impact of default options and the potential for personalization in branding. Overall, this episode highlights the potential of data-driven personalization in improving shopping experiences and pricing strategies. Whether you're an online retailer or marketer, this episode provides valuable insights on how to engage customers and increase conversions through personalized nudges. In this episode, you will: Maximize your online sales with behavioral data insights. Boost customer engagement with personalized nudges and recommendations. Increase conversions by leveraging data-driven decision-making in pricing strategies. Improve the shopping experience by understanding consumer behavior in supermarkets. Optimize your online grocery store for success with insights into online shopping trends. Discover the impact of book jacket colors on consumer purchasing decisions. Uncover the secrets to driving sales through data-driven pricing experiments. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina introduces the guests, Jo Evershed and Gareth Harvey, and discusses their work in behavioral science and consumer psychology. 00:04:34 - Gorilla Experiment Builder and Consumer Psychology Jo explains the purpose of Gorilla Experiment Builder, a platform for running behavioral research online. Gareth discusses his background in consumer psychology and how he applies academic research in the commercial sector. 00:07:07 - Applying Behavioral Insights in Grocery Stores Gareth shares his experience in designing supermarket layouts and how psychological principles can be applied to improve marketing strategies. He discusses the importance of finding the right stimuli and placement to influence consumer behavior. 00:09:40 - The Impact of Smell in Retail Gareth explains the effectiveness of using scents like chocolate in retail environments. He highlights the importance of placing the scent in the right location to maximize its impact on consumer behavior. 00:11:48 - The Truth About Pricing Melina mentions her upcoming book, The Truth About Pricing, and discusses an experiment she conducted with Jo and Gareth for the book. The experiment involved testing different pricing strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. 00:14:21 - The Psychology of Supermarket Aisles The group discusses the importance of positioning items in supermarket aisles to encourage impulse buys and prolong shopping trips. They explain the strategy of making customers far enough in the aisle to see the next one and entice them to continue walking and making more purchases. 00:15:40 - Changes in Supermarket Design The group mentions how supermarkets are adapting their store layouts to cater to different types of shoppers, such as grab-and-go shoppers and those doing big stock-up shops. They discuss the need to avoid antagonizing shoppers and the potential for redesigning stores to meet changing shopping habits. 00:16:39 - Online Shopping and Impulse Buys The group explains how supermarket apps can still encourage impulse purchases and replicate the in-store experience. They mention the use of personalized advertisements and offers based on past purchases. Additionally, they discuss the importance of optimizing product images and descriptions for online shoppers. 00:18:20 - Nudging Towards Healthier Choices The group introduces the concept of "swaps" in online supermarkets, where healthier alternatives are offered as substitutes for less nutritious products. They discuss the potential for making small nudges towards healthier options and the role of personalized recommendations in influencing consumer choices. 00:20:12 - Challenges in Online Product Display The group highlights the challenges of displaying products effectively in online supermarkets. They explain how industry guidelines and mobile optimization constraints limit the amount of information and advertising that can be displayed. 00:27:42 - The Difficulty of Finding Gluten-Free Options Melina discusses the challenges of finding gluten-free options due to having celiac disease. They mention how it would be helpful if stores and online supermarkets could offer personalized recommendations based on dietary restrictions. 00:29:20 - Opting Out of Irrelevant Advertisements The group suggests that online supermarkets should have an option for users to opt out of seeing certain products, such as gluten-containing items. This would save time for both the consumer and the store, and provide valuable data for the store to make better recommendations. 00:30:05 - Data Privacy and Opt-In Options The group acknowledges the need for careful handling of shopper data and the importance of opt-in options. They discuss how consumers may feel nervous about having their data collected but might be more willing if they have control over what data is used and how it benefits them. 00:31:46 - Nudging Consumers Towards Healthier Choices The group discusses an example of a study where labels on Coca Cola products were used to nudge consumers towards healthier options. They highlight the potential for supermarkets to use data to help shoppers make better choices and become the best version of themselves. 00:35:11 - Default Options and Personalized Recommendations The conversation explores the idea of default options and personalized recommendations within online supermarkets. By offering healthier alternatives and giving shoppers the ability to customize their default options, retailers can support customers in making better choices. 00:41:22 - Setting up the Experiment Melina and her team created an online shop to test different book covers and their impact on sales. They ran a four-way between-subject experiment, including a control condition without Melina's books. They gathered data from participants, including Melina's audience and small business owners recruited through Prolific. 00:43:26 - Behavioral Decision Making Gareth explains that visual saliency is crucial in decision making, both in physical stores and online. People tend to go with what catches their attention immediately. Online shoppers spend only a few seconds reviewing multiple products. The study aimed to understand how people's decisions differ when seeing a book cover on a shelf versus in isolation. 00:44:37 - Challenges and Solutions The initial data showed a strong preference for the red book cover, but Melina and her team suspected it was due to the small sample size. To overcome this, they collaborated with Prolific to collect data from a larger and more diverse group. The final results revealed that the green book cover performed the best, aligning with both the behavioral and focus group data. 00:48:00 - Importance of Data and Uncertainty Melina values running experiments to gather data and validate her assumptions. Despite feeling uncertain about the outcomes, she is willing to follow what the data suggests. The study helped her understand that the green book cover performed well within her audience, but not necessarily among those interested in pricing books for businesses. 00:55:37 - Importance of Openness and Learning Being open to different outcomes and learning from the results is crucial. The Amazon description and keywords play a significant role, and testing and optimizing them is essential. Feedback and participation from hundreds of people have been valuable. 00:57:17 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Jo and Gareth: Jo Evershed Twitter Gareth Harvey LinkedIn Jo Evershed LinkedIn Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Truth About Pricing, Melina Palmer What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, Melina Palmer Designing for Behavior Change, Stephen Wendel Engaged, Amy Bucher   What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, Melina Palmer Top Recommended Next Episode: The Truth About Pairing (ep 5)  Already Heard That One? Try These:  iMotions (ep 352) Jez Ripple (ep 131) Mars and KIND Project (ep 215) Dilip Soman Interview (ep 241) Behaviorally (ep 166) Michelle Niedziela Interview (ep 168) CloudArmy Interview (ep 183) Sense of Smell (ep 298) Anchoring (ep 11) Meet GAABS (ep 121) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Decide's website Prolific's website  Gorilla's website 

Welcome to Compromising Positions! The tech podcast that asks non-cybersecurity professionals what we in the industry can do to make their lives easier and help make our organisations more prepared to face ever-changing human-centric cyber threats! Join your hosts, Lianne Potter, Cyber Anthropologist and Head of Security Operations for a major retailer, and Jeff Watkins, Cybersecurity enthusiast and CTO for a software consultancy as they interview this week's guest!This week our guest is Melina Palmer, a renowned keynote speaker in behavioural economics and the CEO of The Brainy Business, as well as hosting one of the best podcasts on the subject of the practical application of behavioural economics.In this episode, we're going to discuss the art of influencing both up and down, and how to tailor your cybersecurity message to different audiences. Melina teaches us that it's not about the cookie - that is, it's not just about the product or cybersecurity awareness and controls themselves, but it's about how we frame information and communicate change.With her expertise in behavioural economics, Melina shows us how to make change easier, reduce decision fatigue, and increase social capital through understanding and compromise.What you'll learn in this episode:Effective communication is key to influencing both up and down in an organization. Tailoring your message to the audience and framing it in a relatable way can make you a more thoughtful communicator.Cybersecurity awareness and controls are crucial for preventing breaches, but the way you "sell" the experience matters. By making engagement positive and impactful, you can increase social capital and encourage people to follow the rules.Change can be overwhelming, especially when we're already dealing with a lot of decisions and cognitive load. To make change easier, it's important to focus on what matters in the moment and avoid overwhelming people with too many changes at once.By understanding how our brains work and tailoring our communication and change management strategies accordingly, we can make a positive impact on our organizations and help drive progress.If you're interested in understanding the behavioural science behind cybersecurity and how we can communicate more effectively, then you're in the right place. Links to everything Melina discussed in this episode can be found in the show notes and if you liked the show, please do leave us a review. Follow us on all good podcasting platforms and via our YouTube channel, and don't forget to share on LinkedIn and in your teams.It really helps us spread the word and get high-quality guests, like Melina, on future episodes. We hope you enjoyed this episode - See you next time, keep secure, and don't forget to ask yourself, ‘Am I the compromising position here?' Show NotesMelina has created a fantastic It's Not About The Cookie worksheet so you can start using it in your organisation todayAn article on delivering bad news on a Friday. It isn't the book Lianne mentioned (she can't remember what book that was!) but this article covers why bad news from leadership on a Friday is a bad move! By Korn FerryAn article on Decision FatigueABOUT MELINA PALMERMelina Palmer is a globally celebrated keynote speaker showing companies how they can easily get customers to buy and employees to buy in by leveraging the power of behavioural economics.She is the CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioural economics training and consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world.Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 170 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioural economics to many universities and businesses. Melina teaches applied behavioural economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab and obtained her master's in behavioural economics from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.A proud member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists, Melina has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and writes on Behavioral Economics & Business for Inc Magazine.Her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You (2021), won first place in the Chanticleer International Book Awards in its category, of which her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (2022), was also a finalist. Her highly anticipated third book, The Truth About Pricing, is scheduled to be published in January 2024.LINKS RELATED TO MELINA PALMERThe Brainy Business (Website)The Brainy Business PodcastLinkedIn

Welcome to Compromising Positions! The tech podcast that asks non-cybersecurity professionals what we in the industry can do to make their lives easier and help make our organisations more prepared to face ever-changing human-centric cyber threats! Join your hosts, Lianne Potter, Cyber Anthropologist and Head of Security Operations for a major retailer, and Jeff Watkins, Cybersecurity enthusiast and CTO for a software consultancy as they interview this week's guest!This week our guest is Melina Palmer, a renowned keynote speaker in behavioural economics and the CEO of The Brainy Business, as well as hosting one of the best podcasts on the subject of the practical application of behavioural economics.In this episode, we discuss how silos and tribal mentalities occur in the workplace due to confirmation bias and how we can expand the circle of empathy to create a more cohesive team.We'll also delve into the issue of time discounting, availability bias and optimism bias to understand why people are drawn to the easy option in the moment.We shall explore how the cybersecurity team's curse of knowledge can be a barrier to effective communication, and the need to create easier-to-digest content that enables 'buy-in.' Key takeaways for this episode are:Understanding the behaviour that leads to insecure cybersecurity behaviour is crucial in developing effective cybersecurity strategies. Silos and tribal mentalities in the workplace can be detrimental to team dynamics and productivity. Leaders should work towards creating a 'team company' culture. Confirmation bias and focusing illusion can lead to negative relationships and narrow perspectives. It's important to listen and build positive connections. Cybersecurity messages should be framed in a way that resonates with users and takes into account their knowledge and habits. To effectively communicate cybersecurity information, it's important to get into the mind space of the person you're communicating with and provide easy-to-digest content.If you're interested in understanding the behavioural science behind cybersecurity and how we can communicate more effectively, then you're in the right place. Links to everything Melina discussed in this episode can be found in the show notes and if you liked the show, please do leave us a review. Follow us on all good podcasting platforms and via our YouTube channel, and don't forget to share on LinkedIn and in your teams.It really helps us spread the word and get high-quality guests, like Melina, on future episodes. We hope you enjoyed this episode - See you next time, keep secure, and don't forget to ask yourself, ‘Am I the compromising position here?' SHOW NOTESThe original, and arguably the best book on Nudge Theory - Nudge: The Final Edition: Improving Decisions About Money, Health, and the Environment by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein. This is a must read book to learn about influencing behaviour changeThe Power of Us: Harnessing Our Shared Identities for Personal and Collective Success by Jay Van Bavel and Dominic J. PackerA short video on the philosophy of Ayn RandMelina's episode on Confirmation BiasMelina's episode on Focusing IllusionWe couldn't find the exact study Melina mentions in regards to teachers bias and the impact on grades but we did find another similar study that shares almost the same results - (Biased) Grading of Students' PerformanceMelina's episode on Availability BiasMelina's episode on Time DiscountingMelina's episode on Optimism BiasABOUT MELINA PALMERMelina Palmer is a globally celebrated keynote speaker showing companies how they can easily get customers to buy and employees to buy in by leveraging the power of behavioural economics.She is the CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioural economics training and consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world.Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 170 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioural economics to many universities and businesses. Melina teaches applied behavioural economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab and obtained her master's in behavioural economics from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.A proud member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists, Melina has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and writes on Behavioral Economics & Business for Inc Magazine.Her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You (2021), won first place in the Chanticleer International Book Awards in its category, of which her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (2022), was also a finalist. Her highly anticipated third book, The Truth About Pricing, is scheduled to be published in January 2024.LINKS RELATED TO MELINA PALMERThe Brainy Business (Website)The Brainy Business PodcastLinkedIn

In this podcast episode, host Roger Dooley interviews Melina Palmer, author of What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, about change initiatives in companies. They discuss the misconception that 70% of change initiatives fail and the importance of approaching change thoughtfully. Melina emphasizes the significance of small, everyday changes and micro-decisions that influence employees' reactions to change. They also explore the impact of employee engagement on successful change, the importance of creating the right environment for change, and the barriers to employee engagement. They touch on Elon Musk's approach to change at Twitter and the power of small steps in achieving change. The conversation also delves into cognitive biases and their impact on the change process, as well as conflicts and stereotypes between different departments within organizations. Melina suggests building connections across departments and fostering a sense of unity to overcome these challenges. Show notes, video, text, resources: https://www.rogerdooley.com/melina-palmer-employees/ Video: https://youtu.be/v_X5Cg6MniA Book: https://amzn.to/3YHPJvb Melina Palmer is the founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world. She has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and runs the Behavioral Economics & Business column for Inc Magazine. Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 170 countries and was named the #1 psychology podcast people in business should listen to by Psychology. Melina's first book is What Your Customer Wants (And Can't Tell You).

The principle of unity, now featured as Robert Cialdini's 7th Principle of Persuasion in the New and Expanded version of Influence, is important for anyone in business to understand. Fundamentally, it is about fostering a communal sentiment between the communicator and the audience, making them feel as if they are part of the same group. This unity transcends mere similarities and taps into shared identities such as nationality, family, or political affiliation. More than being an effective tool for persuasion, creating a sense of unity also helps build stronger, more meaningful connections with others. Throughout the interview, Dr. Cialdini explains all seven principles of persuasion: reciprocity, authority, liking, consistency/commitment, social proof, scarcity, and unity. He provides thought-provoking examples and tips that anyone in business can learn from and start being more influential (and persuasive) immediately! Don't miss this one. In this episode: Uncover the basic principles of persuasion and their impressive influence on human behavior. Learn about the (now) 7 Principles of Persuasion from the godfather of influence himself. Hear some questions from listeners like you, that Melina asked Dr. Cialdini! Embrace ethical persuasion and the responsible handling of influence strategies. Discover a little about what Bob is doing now, as Melina mentions the Cialdini Institute, a new initiative that has launched since this refreshed episode originally aired. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, The episode introduces Dr. Robert Cialdini, a renowned persuasion scientist, and discusses his iconic book "Influence" and its new and expanded version, which includes the seventh principle of persuasion, Unity. 00:03:15 - Cialdini's Background and Research, Dr. Cialdini shares his background as a persuasion scientist and his early research, which involved immersive observational studies of various professions that rely on influencing others. He emphasizes the importance of studying naturally occurring environments and the common principles of persuasion he discovered. 00:06:41 - The Original Six Principles of Persuasion, Bob presents the six original principles of persuasion: reciprocity, liking, social proof, authority, commitment and consistency, and scarcity. He explains each principle and how they influence people's decision-making processes. 00:15:55 - The Seventh Principle: Unity, Dr. Cialdini introduces the seventh principle of persuasion, Unity, which focuses on creating a sense of shared identity between the communicator and the audience. He explains how unity can break down barriers to influence and strengthen the impact of persuasive messages. 00:19:45 - The Cuban Missile Crisis and Reciprocity, The conversation begins with a discussion of the Cuban Missile Crisis and how the commonly held belief that Kennedy stood firm against Khrushchev was not entirely accurate. It was actually a reciprocal exchange of concessions, with Kennedy promising to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey in exchange for Khrushchev removing missiles from Cuba. 00:23:05 - Problem-Free vs. Problem-Freed Experience, The conversation shifts to the importance of resolving problems for customers in business. It is argued that a problem-freed experience, where a problem is resolved in favor of the customer, can lead to increased loyalty and advocacy. Customers appreciate when problems are quickly and effectively addressed. 00:29:40 - Principles of Influence in a Digital World, The conversation explores how the principles of influence adapt to a digital world, such as social media. While the platforms may change, the principles themselves remain consistent. Social proof, in particular, has gained traction with the availability of online reviews and testimonials. 00:33:53 - The Effectiveness of Persuasion Principles, Melina asks a question from a listener on whether or not the principles are less effective now that people are aware of them and the landscape is changing. Dr. Cialdini explains his thoughts on this question. 00:39:32 - Reader Letters and Social Proof, The inclusion of reader letters in the book was not initially intended as a social proof strategy, but rather as a way to engage with readers. However, the readers' reports became a popular feature, providing social proof of the principles of the book in everyday situations. 00:41:46 - Future Book Plans, Dr. Cialdini mentions his plan to write his next book as a collection of readers' reports, with his thoughts on each. This format has been well-received by readers and provides valuable insights into how the principles of persuasion work in various contexts, so he thinks it could make a good full book. 00:42:41 - The Power of Unity, Dr. Cialdini shares a personal story of how the principle of Unity helped him obtain data for a grant application from a colleague who is known to be less-than-helpful. By emphasizing their shared history and belonging to the same department, he was able to persuade his colleague to provide the necessary data. 00:45:30 - Learning More from Dr. Cialdini, To learn more from Dr. Cialdini, listeners can visit the Influence At Work website, where they can access his other books and also find information on training programs. Dr. Cialdini emphasizes the importance of ethical persuasion and offers resources to help individuals become effective and ethical persuaders. 00:45:57 - Reflecting on Influence, Melina reflects on her conversation with Dr. Cialdini and highlights the power of reciprocity, liking, and social proof and how they can all be achieved in one act – in this case, the endorsement he provided for her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. Melina also shares a bit of what Dr. Cialdini is up to now, including the newly launched Cialdini Institute (links below). 00:46:54 - Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Influence, by Robert Cialdini Presuasion, by Robert Cialdini Influence Is Your Superpower, by Zoe Chance You Have More Influence Than You Think, by Vanessa Bohns What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Connect with Robert:  Robert Cialdini on Twitter Follow Robert Cialdini on LinkedIn Cialdini Institute Website Top Recommended Next Episode: The Unity Principle (ep 216) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Reciprocity (ep 238) Social Proof (ep 87) Influence Is Your Superpower, with Zoe Chance (ep 308) Framing (ep 296) You Have More Influence Than You Think, with Vanessa Bohns (ep 197) Priming (ep 252) Magic Words, with Jonah Berger (ep 301) 5 Years, 299 Episodes, These Are Your Favorites (ep 299) The Power of Scarcity, with Mindy Weinstein (ep 271) Precommitment (ep 120) Scarcity (ep 270) Familiarity Bias (ep 149) Friction, with Roger Dooley (ep 274) Negative Reviews and How to Deal with Them (ep 163) Episode 76: The Brainy Benefits of Gratitude What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Influence At Work, Cialdini's website

The manner in which we communicate plays an essential role in contributing to or easing microstress. With the proliferation of remote work and numerous communication channels, it is vital to be mindful and intentional in our communication with colleagues and acquaintances. Establishing positive communication norms can alleviate microstress and create a more collaborative and productive work environment. Rob Cross highlighted the need for thoughtful communication in his conversation with Melina Palmer. He shared that teams should establish clear communication norms, such as using bullet points rather than lengthy paragraphs, avoiding unnecessary CC in emails, and refraining from sending messages after a particular time. By adopting such positive communication practices, teams can work towards fostering a supportive workplace culture and minimizing the impact of microstress on all members. Unveil the methods for recognizing and neutralizing everyday workplace microstressors to elevate your work experience. Comprehend the ramifications of toxic relationships on your well-being and establish pathways for transformation. Benefit from Rob Cross's research on the microstress effect and its applications to your personal and professional sphere. Refine your communication skills to address microstress mindfully and cultivate enriching connections. Bring about small alterations that result in remarkable betterment of your holistic well-being. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Host Melina Palmer introduces Dr. Rob Cross, who is the Edward A. Madden Professor of Global Leadership at Babson College and the co-founder and director of the Connected Commons. The episode is about the new book he co-authored with Karen Dillon, The Microstress Effect. 00:03:02 - Background, Rob Cross talks about his background and his work with the Connected Commons, a consortium of over 150 leading organizations that sponsor research into ways of looking at networks and relationships in organizations. 00:06:32 - The Impact of Negative Relationships, Social psychology has shown that the negative interactions we have tend to have 3x to 5x the impact of the positive. Rob Cross shares his thoughts on the best practices for organizations to cultivate relationships that positively impact their employees' wellbeing. 00:08:15 - Resilience and Connections, Resilience is not just about grit and fortitude. It's about how we fall back on others in difficult times. Rob Cross discovered that there are eight predictable things we get from others when we have the connections in our lives. Without these, it's harder to navigate through difficult times. 00:12:23 - Understanding Microstress, Rob Cross shares how he stumbled onto the idea of microstress through his research. He found that there are 14 pretty consistent types of microstress that tend to accumulate around us each day and week at a pace and volume our brains just aren't designed to handle. These microstresses grow behind the scenes in a way that sneaks up on us until they become overwhelming. 00:14:55 - The Impact of Microstress, Rob discusses the impact of microstress on one's life, particularly when they are not aware of it. He talks about how the stress is just beneath the surface of awareness and can be creeping up on us. 00:17:09 - Types of Microstress, Rob explains that microstressors can come from different sources, including emails, instant messaging applications, and team collaborative spaces. He shares that it affects the metabolism differently, and people under this form of stress metabolize their meals differently. 00:22:44 - Cascading Effects of Microstress, Rob shares that microstressors can lead to cascading effects that people don't often think about. For example, a leader or stakeholder that shifts expectations can cause extra work, and employees may have to protect their team and go back into the team to keep engagement high. 00:24:24 - Tips on Dealing with Microstress, Rob suggests a table in the book with the 14 microstressors and categories of people where they come from, and answering three questions around them. He advises people to think about which stressors have become systemic in their lives and what stress they are creating for others. Rob also mentions the importance of finding groups outside of one's profession that they can be an authentic part of. 00:27:15 - Avoiding Getting into the Minutiae, Rob suggests focusing on getting out of the minutiae by finding groups outside one's profession that one can be an authentic part of. He shares that people who are happiest in this work typically have at least two or three groups outside their profession. 00:28:27 - The Impact of Traumatic Events, When experiencing a traumatic health diagnosis or event, people often reflect on what previously seemed important and realize it was insignificant. Those who maintain dimensionality in their life are better equipped to handle such events. Reflecting on interactions and adapting them can have a significant impact on how one feels day-to-day. 00:30:24 - The Impact of Communication on Stress, Poor communication habits, such as overdramatizing gossip or sending excessive emails, can lead to unnecessary stress and negative work interactions. Thoughtful and intentional communication, such as establishing positive norms and reducing unnecessary communication, can help reduce microstressors. 00:34:06 - Decreasing Collaboration Overload, Collaboration overload, where the amount of collaboration outweighs the increase in work, is a significant source of microstressors. By creating positive norms, such as bullet points instead of long paragraphs, or agreeing on a set number of emails per day, the collaborative footprint of work can be reduced. 00:37:36 - The Impact of Small Communication Habits, Small communication habits, such as sending vague or poorly-worded emails or leaving a negative aftertaste in interactions, can accumulate and have a significant impact on work stress levels. Thoughtful interactions, such as being intentional with emails or setting clear expectations for team collaborations, can help reduce microstressors. 00:41:20 - The Impact of Trust and Expectations, Lack of trust and unclear expectations can lead to stress when working on collaborative projects. People often work harder to compensate for small misses from team members, perpetuating the cycle of stress. Setting clear expectations and building trust can help reduce microstressors in collaborative work environments. 00:42:12 - Drains to Capacity, The 14 microstressors that affect our ability to get work done can be categorized as drains to capacity that hit us emotionally (such as worry or concern for people we care about), or value disconnects, where we slowly feel interactions moving us away from who we set out to be. 00:43:28 - Counterfactual Thinking, Dwelling on what had happened or what might happen in the future can be a big contributor to microstress. This can be interactions abroad where we are trying to protect our team, family, or friends. It can also be a conflictual conversation that needs to happen, which can cause disproportionate stress. 00:45:23 - Specific Ways to Manage Conflictual Conversations, Conflictual conversations can be cathartic and good for people if we keep things data-driven and do specific things. We tend to think a lot about it before, during, and after the interaction, and this can cause stress. There are specific ways to handle conflictual conversations that can reduce stress. 00:47:10 - Importance of Small Stuff, Small stressors in our lives and those of people around us can cause massive amounts of stress that are totally unnecessary. Often, we don't realize the impact that our actions are having on others. The book, The Microstress Effect, provides charts and mockups of questions to ask and ways to work through microstress to have an impact on our lives and those around us. 00:49:31 - Closing Thoughts, Melina's top insights from the conversation, and items for you to consider as you implement what you learn. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.   Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Microstress Effect, by Rob Cross and Karen Dillon The Fun Habit, by Mike Rucker Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Getting Along, by Amy Gallo  What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer   Connect with Rob:  Rob on Twitter Rob on LinkedIn Rob's Website Top Recommended Next Episode: Counterfactual Thinking (ep 286) Already Heard That One? Try These:   The Fun Habit, with Mike Rucker (ep 251) Happier Hour, with Cassie Holmes (ep 257) Negativity Bias (ep 223) Find Your Purpose, with Gina Bianchini (ep 263) The Importance of Connection, with Nick Epley (ep 265) Framing (ep 16) IKEA Effect (ep 112) Prefactual Thinking (ep 232) The Speed and Economics of Trust, with Stephen M.R. Covey (ep 148) Reciprocity (ep 238) Getting Along, with Amy Gallo (ep 269) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

Melina Palmer is the founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes worldwide. Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 170 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioral economics to many universities and businesses. She teaches applied behavioral economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab and writes a column on behavioral economics for Inc Magazine. Her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, was published in May 2021 and was a finalist in two categories of the International Book Awards. Her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, is out now! Find out more at thebrainybusiness.com. Christy Ford is the co-founder of The Scout Guide. She started her career as a photographer and later moved to Charlottesville, opening a Georgian antique and home store with her mother. As the business grew, Christy realized there was a lack of successful advertising opportunities for local small businesses. She was driven to find a solution, so The Scout Guide was born. Today she and her partner have more than 79 cities where their franchise publications are printed and shared to support the local business community. Christy leads creative direction and branding across the business. For more information, you can check out TheScoutGuide.com. Tracey Gordon has served as a pillar of change for Philadelphian constituents for over 20 years. Her organizing and legislative success as a block captain and committeewoman in her modest Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood have propelled her from the ranks of local grassroots leadership and advocacy to an established city-wide activist. Now she serves at Philadelphia's first African American Register of Wills. To learn more, go to phila.gov/wills. Three amazing guests – Melina Palmer, Christy Ford, and Tracey L. Gordon – join me simultaneously for a fun, lighthearted, rapid-fire round of my favorite business questions.This week on SmallBizChat Podcast:Our guests' favorite podcasts.Their favorite business app.Their favorite old-school marketing tip.Plus a few other questions about great resources for up-and-coming business leaders.Resources Mentioned:BossQuiz: https://bossquiz.com/ SmallBizLady University: https://smallbizladyuniversity.com/ Podcasts Mentioned:The Brainy Business PodcastNegotiate Anything by Kwame ChristianHow I Built ThisMillion Dollaz Worth of GameApps Mentioned:FacebookInstagramCanvaBooks Mentioned:A More Beautiful Question by Warren BergerPowerNomics by Dr. Claud AndersonThe Success Principles™ by Jack CanfieldDisrupt You! by Jay SamitConnect with Melina Palmer:Website: https://www.thebrainybusiness.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebrainybiz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinapalmer/ Connect with Christy Ford:Website: https://thescoutguide.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-ford-0101578b/ Connect with Tracey L. Gordon:Website: https://www.phila.gov/departments/register-of-wills/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mstraceygordon YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYfWw8B1hPs2vYIDe-tzEag

Melina Palmer is the founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes worldwide. Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 170 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioral economics to many universities and businesses. She teaches applied behavioral economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab and writes a column on behavioral economics for Inc Magazine. Her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, was published in May 2021 and was a finalist in two categories of the International Book Awards. Her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, is out now! Find out more at thebrainybusiness.com. Tonight's show is about digging in and learning more about your customers and why they buy. If you're looking for ways to build a deeper relationship with your target customers, you're in the right place because we will discuss behavioral economics. "What I do is help people to see how you can take those common rules and then apply them in a way that's going to make it more likely to be successful, more likely for people to choose you, and to feel good about those decisions." – Melina PalmerThis week on SmallBizChat Podcast:How Melina got her start in behavioral economics. Why making decisions is like riding an elephant. B2B vs. B2C buyers. Understanding our habits and the way brains make decisions. It's not about the cookie. Secrets of pricing your brand or product. The one word that increases sales by 33%. Top 5 mistakes small businesses make when writing copy or creating ads.Resources Mentioned:BossQuiz: https://bossquiz.com/ Connect with Melina Palmer:Website: https://www.thebrainybusiness.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebrainybiz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinapalmer/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebrainybiz Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebrainybiz

Today I welcome Roger Dooley to The Brainy Business podcast for a refresh of our conversation about his book Friction. Featuring this discussion was inspired by Richard Shotton's new book The Illusion of Choice, which has one chapter about “making it easy” and then another on “making it difficult” (and you'll hear all about it on Friday). This perfectly aligns with Roger's book, Friction, which is all about understanding the psychology of friction and how it can be used to optimize customer experiences. That made it the perfect refresh candidate for this week! While reducing friction is often best and what most businesses need, sometimes there is also value in adding friction in the right places. For example, in What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, I suggest introducing a 30 minute waiting period before sending emails can help to avoid mistakes.  As you listen today and think about Friction, consider your own experiences — where can they be easier? Where should they be more difficult? I know that seems a bit counterintuitive now, but some thoughtful friction is really valuable in the right places. Listen in to learn how you can use friction in your own business. Show Notes: [00:39] Today's episode is all about friction, specifically, a refresh of the conversation I had with Roger Dooley on his book Friction way back in November 2019. [01:44] As you listen today and think about friction, consider your own experiences — where can they be easier? Where should they be more difficult? [04:04] The cover of Roger's book, Friction, intentionally had a coarse / gritty texture. It was meant to convey a sense of friction. (Priming!) [05:35] Roger shares about himself, his background, and the work he does.   [07:40] The interaction of neuroscience, behavioral science, and business has always been fascinating to him. His blogging, podcast, and books have given him a chance to explore that and simplify it for people in business.  [09:22] There has been an increase in business interest in behavioral science. [11:46] Change is hard, especially when humans are involved.  [12:57] 95% of the time businesses have too much friction in their processes. [13:49] There are times when adding friction helps. In general, it is best to eliminate it. Amazon is a prime example of that.  [16:27] Friction is an unnecessary effort to complete a task.  [18:29] Amazon makes it so that 99% of the time or more you are simply using the one-click button to ship a product to your home address or office address.  That makes it a low-risk transaction.  [21:46] People don't look at the cost of the processes they create. When looking at the total time, cost, and effort compared to the amount you would lose, there's no comparison.  [23:29] Where there is high trust there is low friction.  [25:08] Often we create processes that are designed to make things easier but they don't really work that way.  [27:51] How many people are going to be affected by this and how can we make things easier?  [30:08] In general, if you are trying to maximize leads or sales, making the process as simple as possible is the way to go.  [33:08] By giving them that “out” you relieve the pressure and they are more comfortable complying with the request.  [35:54] Buffer took all the friction out of scheduling social media. They made it simple to get started.  [38:34] Rather than seemingly correct the person and imply that they didn't work at it hard enough they avoid the word “actually”. [40:46] Loyal customers are better and more valuable than new customers. Low-effort experiences drive loyalty.  [42:38] They are comparing you against their best, lowest effort customer experiences.  [43:57] You are endangering the loyalty of all those customers you can not handle in that instantaneous and efficient manner.  [46:54] Sometimes eliminating useless parts of the process is the best way. [48:34] As you look to decrease friction you will start to notice it all around you.  [50:27] Melina's closing thoughts [52:41] Remember, you are a human doing business with humans inside your company and with your customers — trust and humanness and a reduction in friction can go a long way in building an amazing business. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn More and Support The Brainy Business: Check out Melina's books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Friction, by Roger Dooley What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer How Customers Think, by Gerald Zaltman Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland Sludge, by Cass Sunstein  Connect with Roger:  Roger's Website Roger on LinkedIn Roger on Twitter Top Recommended Next Episode: Sludge (ep 179) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Relativity (ep 12) The Sense of Touch (ep 28) How To Set Up Your Own Experiments (ep 63) Surprise and Delight (ep 60) Framing (ep 16) Priming (ep 18) Nudges and Choice Architecture (ep 35) The Overwhelmed Brain and Its Impact on Decision Making (ep 32) Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Decision Fatigue (ep 132) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

Join the Priority Waitlist for Exclusive Perks With Melina Palmer:  https://thebrainybusiness.ac-page.com/breakthrough-experience The Brainy Business Breakthrough Experience https://thebrainybusiness.ac-page.com/breakthrough-experience Introducing The Brainy Business Breakthrough Experience! The Short Version: After the retreat, you will get more done AND ensure those things are taking your business toward your next, big, revenue generating strategy. Yes please! The perfect balance of mind wandering and focused work This event is for successful small business owners who are ready to take their business to its next level. That could be anything from adding a new product or service or "passive" income stream, to narrowing down the offers you already have so you can focus on achieving more with less. And don't worry about knowing what that is before we go -- that's the whole point!  Whether you are someone with too many ideas or if you struggle to do anything outside your "tried-and-true" business strategy, the process of identifying your next area of focus that will propel your business breakthrough is the same. Everyone needs to go through the process of zooming out to think differently about the problem you are solving, and then focusing in on the areas that will have the most impact for your company. I'll be there to guide you through this brainy process just like I have with all my clients over the years. At the end of the retreat you will be confident in:  1) insights into the four main biases that keep you "stuck in the muck" so you can be more productive every day   2) what to focus your business on for the next 1-3 years (and why that is your most important thing)  3) how to communicate it so others rally behind you Four days where everyone is a VIP This group is intentionally kept small so everyone gets tons of VIP attention from me throughout the retreat. That includes a meal (you get to select dinner or breakfast) with you, me, and one or two other attendees. When you claim your spot you also get: TWO 30-minute, one-on-one calls with me -- one to prime you for success before the event, and the other after to ensure everything is going as intended Access to an amazing cohort of small business owners like you to share brainy ideas with Plus, other brainy surprises you'll discover along the way  Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/services/workshops/ Follow Melina Palmer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinapalmer/ The Brainy Business LinkedIn page https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-brainy-business/ The Brainy Business website https://thebrainybusiness.com/ Buy her 1st book: "What Your Customer Wants." https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Customer-Wants-Cant/dp/1642505625/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10B4A80OU3YNV&keywords=melina+palmer+books&qid=1678446131&sprefix=melina+palmer+boo%2Caps%2C410&sr=8-1 Buy her 2nd book: "What Your Employees Need." https://thebrainybusiness.com/employees-need/ Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/ The Ultimate Negotiation Guide: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/guides/ultimate-negotiation-guide/ Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308/ref=pd_%5B%E2%80%A6%5Df0bc9774-7975-448b-bde1-094cab455adb&pd_rd_i=1637741308&psc=1 Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSW69L6ABTK&keywords=finding+confidence+in+conflict&qid=1667317257&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4xNCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=finding+confidence+in+conflic%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

Join the Priority Waitlist for Exclusive Perks With Melina Palmer:  https://thebrainybusiness.ac-page.com/breakthrough-experience The Brainy Business Breakthrough Experience https://thebrainybusiness.ac-page.com/breakthrough-experience Introducing The Brainy Business Breakthrough Experience! The Short Version: After the retreat, you will get more done AND ensure those things are taking your business toward your next, big, revenue generating strategy. Yes please! The perfect balance of mind wandering and focused work This event is for successful small business owners who are ready to take their business to its next level. That could be anything from adding a new product or service or "passive" income stream, to narrowing down the offers you already have so you can focus on achieving more with less. And don't worry about knowing what that is before we go -- that's the whole point!  Whether you are someone with too many ideas or if you struggle to do anything outside your "tried-and-true" business strategy, the process of identifying your next area of focus that will propel your business breakthrough is the same. Everyone needs to go through the process of zooming out to think differently about the problem you are solving, and then focusing in on the areas that will have the most impact for your company. I'll be there to guide you through this brainy process just like I have with all my clients over the years. At the end of the retreat you will be confident in:  1) insights into the four main biases that keep you "stuck in the muck" so you can be more productive every day   2) what to focus your business on for the next 1-3 years (and why that is your most important thing)  3) how to communicate it so others rally behind you Four days where everyone is a VIP This group is intentionally kept small so everyone gets tons of VIP attention from me throughout the retreat. That includes a meal (you get to select dinner or breakfast) with you, me, and one or two other attendees. When you claim your spot you also get: TWO 30-minute, one-on-one calls with me -- one to prime you for success before the event, and the other after to ensure everything is going as intended Access to an amazing cohort of small business owners like you to share brainy ideas with Plus, other brainy surprises you'll discover along the way  Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/services/workshops/ Follow Melina Palmer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinapalmer/ The Brainy Business LinkedIn page https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-brainy-business/ The Brainy Business website https://thebrainybusiness.com/ Buy her 1st book: "What Your Customer Wants." https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Customer-Wants-Cant/dp/1642505625/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10B4A80OU3YNV&keywords=melina+palmer+books&qid=1678446131&sprefix=melina+palmer+boo%2Caps%2C410&sr=8-1 Buy her 2nd book: "What Your Employees Need." https://thebrainybusiness.com/employees-need/ Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwamechristian/ The Ultimate Negotiation Guide: https://www.americannegotiationinstitute.com/guides/ultimate-negotiation-guide/ Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!: https://www.amazon.com/Have-Difficult-Conversations-About-Race/dp/1637741308/ref=pd_%5B%E2%80%A6%5Df0bc9774-7975-448b-bde1-094cab455adb&pd_rd_i=1637741308&psc=1 Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Confidence-Conflict-Negotiate-Anything/dp/0578413736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PSW69L6ABTK&keywords=finding+confidence+in+conflict&qid=1667317257&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQyIiwicXNhIjoiMC4xNCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMjMifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=finding+confidence+in+conflic%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Wendy Smith, coauthor of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. I don't think we realize it all that much, but our lives are full of paradoxes. Questions like: How can we each express our individuality and be a team player? How do we balance work and life? How can we take care of ourselves while supporting others? How can we manage the core business while innovating for the future? Believe it or not, these are some of the everyday paradoxes that make up our lives. And because our brains tend to default to either/or choices, we choose one option over the other. We deal with uncertainty by asserting certainty. BUT this is not the best way, as you will learn about in today's conversation with Wendy Smith, a co-author of one of my new favorite books: Both/And Thinking. Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and earned her Ph.D. in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory, yet interdependent demands. She is a wealth of amazing information and I can't wait for you to learn from her today. Show Notes: [00:42] In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Wendy Smith, coauthor of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. [01:46] Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, at the University of Delaware. [03:57] Wendy shares about herself, her background, and the work she does. She is a professor of organizational behavior and business leadership management.  [06:27] We all experience these tug of wars in our lives.  [09:37] Our decisions really have multiple layers to them. They show up for us as a dilemma - these competing ideas in which you feel like you have to make a decision.  [11:37] Underlying our dilemmas are these paradoxical tensions.  [14:23] It is not that we are constantly trying to choose between always trying to be super disciplined or always trying to be spontaneous. If we go extreme on one side it becomes problematic in so many ways.  [15:36] The goal is to recognize that there is a relationship between discipline and spontaneity and that discipline enables us to be spontaneous as long as we don't go so extreme. Spontaneity enables us to have more structure in our world.  [17:08] These tensions drive us into either/or thinking. That kind of thinking is limited at best and detrimental at worst.  [19:39] Often when change happens you feel like you have to change significantly and essentially you are throwing out the baby with the bath water by innovating everything. [21:44] Polarization is when you go down a path and you are sure that if you are right about the way you are thinking, someone else must be wrong. [24:35] Businesses should continue to be operationally successful as they move up their S curve. Continue to service your existing customers and be efficient with your existing products and at the same time be scanning, exploring, experimenting, and innovating to figure out what the new S curve looks like.  [27:09] The problem isn't the problem. The way we are framing and thinking about the problem is the problem.  [28:10] You have to change to stay the same.  [30:56] Wendy shares a story about a group that built an inn to honor and value what was key to the culture of Newfoundland.  [34:04] To keep what you have, you have to change and we should embrace that.  [35:35] Her number one tip for writing a book is just to sit and do it.  [38:04] Wendy and her co-author worked together to structure the ideas of the book.  [40:38] There is something deeply paradoxical about behavioral economics (and Wendy loves that!)  [43:02] Just changing the question will invite you into a whole different way of thinking.  [44:02] Melina's closing thoughts [45:55] Embracing paradoxes can have a huge impact. There is so much opportunity there.  Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Both/And Thinking, by Wendy Smith & Marianne Lewis The Paradox of Choice, by Barry Schwartz Paradoxes of Group Life, by Kenwyn Smith & David Berg A More Just Future, by Dolly Chugh A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger Connect with Wendy:  Wendy's Website Wendy on Twitter Wendy on LinkedIn Top Recommended Next Episode: Framing (ep 16) Already Heard That One? Try These:  A More Just Future, with Dr. Dolly Chugh (ep 247) Paradox of Choice (ep 171) Dunning-Kruger Effect (ep 198) Past, Present, and Future Biase (ep 246) Time Discounting (ep 51) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Change Management (ep 226) Confirmation Bias (ep 260) Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Functional Fixedness (ep 194) A More Beautiful Question with Warren Berger (ep 200) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

2022 was a great year for me and The Brainy Business. And, being this is a “best of” episode…here are some of my “best” moments from the year. I traveled to Amsterdam to speak at the fantastic IIEX Europe conference (thank you Greenbook!) and launched my second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, with an in-person event and book signing. I was honored to be a runner-up in three categories of the Habit Weekly Awards this year and was an honoree on Greenbooks Future List, as well as the ESOMAR Insights250 list. Amazing! I continued teaching and added a class in advanced concepts of behavioral economics to the certificate program, which I'm really proud of and students have really enjoyed. We started testing out a second episode per week. I also got to meet and connect with some amazing people – 46 of them came on the show as guests in 2022 – that meant reading really great books and papers and learning about what is going on in the field, which is one of my favorite aspects of the work I do. I'm so lucky and honored for this life and love every minute of it and am so excited for the books and episodes coming in 2023! BUT before we get fully moving forward into the future, we have to look back and celebrate the best of 2022. Show Notes: [00:45] 2022 was a great year for me and The Brainy Business. And, being this is a “best of” episode…here are some of my “best” moments and memories from the year. [03:33] I also got to meet and connect with some amazing people – 46 of them came on the show as guests in 2022. [06:36] Thank you all for listening, subscribing, sharing, connecting on social media, and reaching out to let me know your wins and the behavioral economics concepts you have applied in your own businesses. [07:44] In 2022, the show had more than a quarter of a million downloads from 170 countries. Thank you! [08:29] TOP DOWNLOADS BY COUNTRY - US, UK, Canada, Australia, which have remained in the top 4 pretty much since the podcast started. India is fifth, followed by Germany… and then we get into some new territory! South Africa has moved up to being 7th in the world in 2022.  We then have Spain in the number 8 spot followed by Mexico, and for the first time in the top 10 we have Taiwan! [10:08] TOP 10 STATES - Virginia, Massachusetts, Georgia, then Florida is 7, and Ohio holding out the # 6 spot again this year. Washington is in our number 5 spot with New York in number 4 and then Illinois with the third most downloads in 2022! Once again, we continue to have Texas at 2, and California still with the top most downloads of 2022. [12:37] With 249 episodes of content to choose from, we get our top 10 of the year, starting with episode 196 and my interview with Priscilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing. [14:32] If you are interested in human behavior and having better content that really resonates with people, you are going to love this next one, episode 201 – Creating Content People Can't Help But Engage With, featuring Katelyn Bourgoin, is next on our list. [17:43] We are to number eight, which is episode 192 – AI, Blockchain, Machine Learning, with Manuj Aggarwal. The intersection of human behavior and technology – specifically with AI and Machine Learning, has been a big topic of conversation in the past couple of years. [18:51] That brings us to the 7th most downloaded episode of the year, 190 – The Voltage Effect with John List. [21:06] Next on our list, is 187 – Motivation and Incentives at Work, with Kurt Nelson. [22:28] If you have ever taken or considered creating an online course, you must listen to episode 193 – How to Make Online Courses People Enjoy, with Chris Rawlinson of 42Courses. [23:57] Now, moving on to the fourth most downloaded episode of the year, 197 – You Have More Influence Than You Think, with Vanessa Bohns. [25:22] Yale professor Zoe Chance was on in episode 189 sharing about her fantastic book, Influence Is Your Superpower and that episode is the third most downloaded of the year. [26:52] That brings us to the second most downloaded episode of 2022. Our only non-interview in the top 10! This was episode 198 – The Dunning Kruger Effect. [27:24] Essentially, the Dunning Kruger effect looks at the interesting relationship of confidence and competence, and how when we know very little about something (low competence) we have ridiculously high confidence but once we get a little more competence and we start to see all that we don't know…confidence tanks, and it is a slow build back up to build it back as we learn. [30:06] We've made it to the most downloaded episode of the year. Are you ready? It is…186 – Get It Done, with Ayelet Fishbach! [32:11] Considering this episode is coming out right around the time of “Quitter's Day” which is when most people will have given up their resolutions, it seems like a good time to refresh your motivation by listening to this great episode with Ayelet. [34:08] There is a link to all the books featured on the show this past year right here in the show notes. [36:26] I can't wait to see what 2023 has in store. Right now…I'm most excited about speaking at SXSW which is coming up in Austin in March. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach Influence Is Your Superpower, by Zoe Chance You Have More Influence Than You Think, by Vanessa Bohns The Voltage Effect, by John List What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Top Recommended Next Episode: Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Dunning-Kruger Effect (ep 198) The Cobra Effect (ep 220) Influence Is Your Superpower with Yale's Dr. Zoe Chance (ep 189) You Have More Influence Than You Think, Vanessa Bohns (ep 197) How To Make Online Courses People Enjoy (And Complete) with Chris Rawlinson of 42 Courses (ep 193) Motivation and Incentives at Work with Kurt Nelson (ep 187) The Voltage Effect with John List (ep 190) AI, Blockchain, Machine Learning, & Behavioral Economics with Manuj Aggarwal (ep 192) Creating Content People Can't Help But Engage With featuring Katelyn Bourgoin (ep 201) Anthropology, Market Research & Behavioral Economics with Priscilla McKinney (ep 196) Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, with Annie Duke (ep 227) Using Motivation and Happiness Science to Make 2023 Your Best Year Ever (ep 249) Best of The Brainy Business in 2021 (ep 184) The Best of The Brainy Business in 2020 (ep 133) The Best Content from the Brainy Business in 2019 (ep 82) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  Best of 2021 Blog Post Best of 2020 Blog Post Best of 2019 Blog Post

You've heard him before discussing the “Science of Cool” in 2021, and I'm thrilled to say that Dr. Troy Campbell is back. And, because it's fun to keep things interesting, Troy and I are flipping the script in today's episode.  What does that mean? Troy is here to showcase his Define & Apply Framework, something he does with clients in his role as Chief Scientist at On Your Feet and has done in the past with his work -- including spots he has held with Disney, Netflix, Nike, and as a professor at the University of Oregon. Instead of just telling us about it, though, we are going to walk through and experience it and, he suggested that he be the one doing the interviewing with me as the one answering the questions today. This is the third time we have flipped the script like this on The Brainy Business podcast. You definitely don't want to miss handing over the reins so we can all learn to define and apply together. Show Notes: [00:42] In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Troy Campbell, who was on the show back in 2021 talking about the science of cool. [02:25] Troy is taking over the reins as host, and our beloved Melina is the guest on the show today.  [02:44] On this episode, we are going to deeply define ideas to be able to powerfully apply them across many areas. We will deeply define one idea from Melina's book What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You.  [04:07] Burnt popcorn is the aspect of priming when we are specifically talking about change management.  [07:03] Melina shares an example of a burnt popcorn email she received.   [09:52] It is so easy to create burnt popcorn. Burnt popcorn can poison the day (week, month, year…). [12:07] You can guarantee they are going to be looking at the worst possible context of whatever it is that you are saying if you prime and set it up in certain ways. (“Not to be rude, but…” “Don't take this the wrong way, but…”) [13:16] These mundane actions can create hours, days, and weeks of stress that can be avoided with a few seconds of better thought.  [14:33] There are small things you can easily adjust and very quickly see a positive impact.  [16:52] When it comes to a presentation, consider where you want people to be at the end. What is the most important thing you want from this one event? [19:07] Using really good images is important for priming in presentations.  [21:03] You can tell a lot in 90 seconds.   [24:13] Anchoring on something really bad to make the thing you are sharing seem better can definitely be burnt popcorn. The “not true” thing you said will not dissipate.  [26:28] If you give the brain a focus and then try to change that focus, it is still going to be stuck on that thing in most situations.  [29:45] Take the time to do the research and know who you are talking to. [31:44] We do really weird stuff that can come off as burnt popcorn.  [34:42] Through the book writing process there are glimmers of fun that Melina and other authors like to include.  [37:39] When you are not great with humor, many people lean toward self-deprecating humor.  Melina advises against that…especially if you are trying to build authority.  [39:14] She shares the Wizard of Oz reference from her book and what she meant by, “Glinda may have been a good witch, but she was a terrible manager.”  [41:29] Knowing where people are, where they are going, and the right points where you can be giving those nudges of encouragement, feedback, or support before they entered into a scary forest is something you can be doing as a manager to help.   [43:57] So many things become easier when you are thoughtful about how you present information.  [46:11] It doesn't take a lot to make it so that things are better for those around you and yourself.  [48:57] It is one thing to go to Disneyland and it is another thing to build Disneyland.  [49:56] Melina's closing thoughts [51:45] Troy's define and apply process is about teasing out what you do in a particular area and figuring out why it works. Get to the details about what makes it special and then expand it into other areas that may seem unrelated but are so relevant when you stop and make the effort. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer What Your Employee Needs and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland Buying Signals, by Nikki Rausch Connect with Troy: Troy's Website On Your Feet Troy on LinkedIn Top Recommended Next Episode: The Science of Cool, with Dr. Troy Campbell (ep 169) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Disney (ep 144) The Truth About Pricing (episode 5) Change Management (ep 226) Framing (ep 16) A Surprise Guest… (ep 152) Ultimate Pricing Confidence with Special Guest Interviewer Nikki Rausch (ep 66) Costco (ep 47) Amazon (ep 159) Starbucks (ep 73) A More Beautiful Question with Warren Berger (ep 200) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Tingen Industries

Today's episode is all about priming. This is something I talk about all the time, so if you have heard me speak or have read my books, or have been listening to the podcast for a while, chances are this isn't the first time you are hearing about this concept. Next to framing it is probably the thing I talk about the most. While framing's lesson is that how you say something matters more than what you say, priming shows us that whatever happens just before a moment of decision or action is very important in influencing the decision that is made. Yes, there are many examples as we get into the episode, so I won't get into it too much right now. In the “It's Not About the Cookie” framework, priming is the scent of the cookies or the burnt popcorn when we are talking about change management like in my second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. At the core of priming, we have the way that the brain filters information and how we make associations. These can be very literal like how we see an apple in the grocery store and are reminded of the company, and that can influence behavior or it can be more of a filter that impacts how we see people or think about a product or service.  We can be primed to buy using all of our senses, and it is important to consider them all as you think about your own messaging. As you listen to the episode today, I want you to consider all the senses and how they can impact behavior. Taking a step back and thinking holistically about your experience and looking for opportunities that are outside the norm, are great ways to incorporate priming and all the senses into your messaging. It may seem silly, but I encourage you to think with all your senses and wonder, “What might that look like? (or taste like or smell like...)  Show Notes: [00:37] Today's episode is all about priming. This is something I talk about all the time, so if you have heard me speak or have read my books, or have been listening to the podcast for a while, chances are this isn't the first time you are hearing about this concept. [01:56] We can be primed to buy using all of our senses, and it is important to consider them all as you think about your own messaging. [03:24] One of my favorite ways to start a foundations show is with a game or a series of questions to help you see how the concept works before I start explaining and today's episode is no different.   [05:33] Your brain is lazy and incredibly busy, so it takes these shortcuts all the time.  [07:45] The effects of priming wear off quickly as our brain is quickly churning through information. Primes are everywhere and it's not just about anchoring and adjustment. [09:05] Priming is about more than just numbers. It can also be done with words.  [12:43] Melina shares the results of a university study where people were primed with polite and rude words.  [15:25] Prime yourself and psych yourself up before you take any test. The brain can be very easily primed. An amazing example from Olympians. [17:11] The first step of visualization is to know what you want. Next, describe your vision in detail. Step three is to start visualizing and creating the emotions. Step four is to take daily action and step five is to have grit and preserve.  [18:31] We can be primed with physical objects as well. Melina share's a study about students holding an iced versus hot coffee.  [19:48] Always drink hot tea or coffee and get hot drinks for people you want to make a good impression on.  [21:48] Everything you do and say matters and similarly whatever was said or done right before everything you do or say matters.  [22:34] You can't control everything. It is worth looking at the things you can control. Take the extra step to evaluate if you are spending the money and buying things.  [24:29] Small things, just a few simple words, can make a huge difference.  [26:35] You are priming your brain to take on the traits of those outside influences.   [28:01] In all these studies, people said they were not influenced by the items, words, or numbers or that they didn't even see them. It may not register on a conscious level but it is getting in there even if people don't realize it.   [29:00] Marketing and advertising takes dedication and focus, consistent presence and messaging to break through the clutter, and making sure you are using the right primes to keep things moving in the proper direction instead of derailing the whole thing. Know your brand and who you are in the most simplest form.  [29:35] Melina's closing thoughts [31:24] One more thing that is so important to consider with priming, is to know that this isn't exacting and you should not expect the results to be fully generalizable. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Misbehaving, by Richard Thaler Neurobranding, by Peter Steidl The Buying Brain, by A.K Pradeep Top Recommended Next Episode: Sense of Smell (ep 25) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Framing (ep 16) Change Management (ep 226) The Truth About Pricing (ep 5) The Sense of Sight (ep 24) The Sense of Taste (ep 26) Sense of Touch (ep 28) Sense of Sound (ep 27) Anchoring & Adjustment (ep 11) What is Value? (ep 234) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Get Your D.O.S.E. of Brain Chemicals (ep 123) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  An Anchoring and Adjustment Model of Purchase Quantity Decisions Automaticity of Social Behavior: Direct Effects of Trait Construct and Stereotype Activation on Action Stereotype Susceptibility: Identity Salience and Shifts in Quantitative Performance “Math is Hard!” the Effect of Gender Priming on Women's Attitudes New To Visualization? Here Are 5 Steps To Get You Started Here's The Trick Olympic Athletes Use To Achieve Their Goals Who's Minding the Mind? Material priming: The influence of mundane physical objects on situational construal and competitive behavioral choice Apple's Logo Makes You More Creative Than IBM's

Happy (almost) New Year! This is the last episode of 2022, coming out on December 30 – and what a year it has been! My second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You came out in October, and I got to do a book signing at the Sam's Club Auditorium which was amazing! I also got to speak at some amazing conferences, including travel to Amsterdam and for multiple groups in Latin America, had students from around the world in the certificate program at Texas A&M, got to work with amazing clients and so much more. I can't wait to see what 2023 has in store. One of the things I am most excited about is speaking at SXSW in Austin in March.  Well, speaking of 2023 being an amazing year, that's what this episode is all about. I've done something a little bit different in this episode by bringing on two guests to do a panel of sorts. One of them you have met before, Ayelet Fishbach, Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago and author of Get It Done, which came out earlier this year. Our other panelist, Cassie Holmes, is a professor at UCLA who wrote the new book Happier Hour, which is so beyond fantastic. She specializes in the science of happiness and talks about time poverty and so many other amazing things. (Don't worry, we have a full interview that is all about Cassie and her work coming out in early 2023.) In today's episode, that topic is having the best, happiest year by understanding the science of motivation, goals, achievement, happiness, mindset, and more. Listen in to find out how you can make 2023 your best year yet!  Show Notes: [00:06] In today's episode, I am excited to welcome Ayelet Fishbach and Cassie Holmes to discuss how you can have the best year ever.  [01:15] Forty-six different guests have joined me on the show this year including those in today's interview. We also started testing out releasing two episodes a week.  [04:51] Today I have brought together two people from different universities studying somewhat different (but arguably related) topics to have a discussion about how their work compliments (or contradicts) one another. Today's topic is having the best happiest year by understanding the science of motivation, goals, achievement, happiness, mindset, our thoughts towards time, and more.   [06:21] Ayelet shares about herself, her background, and what she does. She is a motivational scientist.  [07:47] Cassie shares about herself, her background, and what she does. She is a professor that studies happiness and life satisfaction.  [10:25] We are talking about how to help people have better, more successful years in 2023.  [11:24] Around the time the year ends and the new year begins, people are thinking about what they want to achieve. However, there is a likelihood that you will forget about your resolution.  [13:27] You have a wonderful opportunity to reflect back on the prior year.  [16:08] When we feel like we are constantly rushing or hurrying, we are more reactive in how we invest our time instead of proactive and investing in those things that really matter.  [19:02] Looking back is often a way to reaffirm your commitment.  [21:58] Set goals that you can see yourself doing right now and what will make you feel good right now.  [22:41] A year is not the right time frame for many goals. A year has a very long middle. Often weekly and monthly goals are better.    [24:57] Folks who take a broader perspective of time report greater meaning and satisfaction and are happier in their days.  [26:44] Invest time in ways that are worthwhile. The particular activity you are engaging in and also how you are engaging in that activity are what makes the activity worthwhile.  [28:37] You constantly need to navigate the motivation and priorities of your goals.   [30:42] We often get stuck on the little stuff that doesn't really matter instead of focusing on the most important things that help us to move forward on a bigger goal. A to-do list can be a distraction from our higher-value goals.  [32:56] Melina shares four things that work against us: optimism bias, time discounting, planning fallacy, and bikeshedding.  [34:12] Progress is motivating – progress feels good – which is why we often love our to-do lists.  [36:18] You want to ask why you are doing the thing you are doing. You also want to ask how questions.   [39:29] Those who treated their weekend like a vacation were significantly happier when they returned to work and enjoyed the weekend more. Our weekends are meant to be breaks so we can return feeling refreshed and motivated.  [41:26] We need to be intentional and carve out spaces for true breaks during the week – at least once, ideally more.  [46:20] It is important to create the right balance between our goals and the activities that help us achieve the goals.   [49:31] Restructure your day in a way that makes more sense for the goals that you have for yourself for the week and year.  [51:32] It is often harder to learn when you are working from home and not with other people you can learn from. Connection and friendship have suffered between colleagues working from home during the pandemic.  [54:17] Developing friendships with colleagues can be so hard through Zoom, but figuring out ways to bring people together to foster those relationships is so important.  [57:16] Do our panelists set resolutions? Melina and Cassie say no (listen in on her upcoming episode to find out why). Ayelet sets New Year's resolutions because it is an opportunity to think about what she wants to achieve and where she wants to go.  [58:35] Melina's closing thoughts [59:54] Melina chooses a word annually. It is a theme to guide her and keep her centered throughout the year on what she wants to accomplish.  [61:36] Thank you for supporting The Brainy Business! I appreciate you more than I can ever say!  Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach How to Change, by Katy Milkman Power of Regret, by Dan Pink Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood Connect with Ayelet & Cassie:  Ayelet on LinkedIn Cassie on LinkedIn Ayelet on Twitter Top Recommended Next Episode: Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Resolutions and Keeping Commitments (ep 29) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 248) Temptation Bundling (ep 136) Motivation and Incentives at Work with Kurt Nelson (ep 187) Secrets of Motivation and Incentives, Tim Houlihan Interview (ep 109) The Brainy Benefits of Gratitude (ep 236) The Power of Regret with Daniel Pink (ep 214) Time Discounting (ep 51) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Good Habits, Bad Habits, with Dr. Wendy Wood (ep 127) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter Get it Done Happier Hour Ayelet Fishbach - University of Chicago Cassie Holmes - UCLA

In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Tessa Misiaszek, coauthor of Branding That Means Business. Tessa is an instructor with Harvard Professional Development Programs, as well as a Professor at Hult International Business School. She brings extensive experience developing human capital strategies to improve business communications. Previously she served as CEO of Empathetics, Inc. – a company that developed empathic communications training for healthcare professionals, and she is currently the Head of Research for Korn Ferry. She is also one of the hosts of The Happy At Work Podcast, which I was honored to be a guest on recently discussing my book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. Today, Tessa is here discussing her new book, Branding that Means Business, which she co-authored with Matt Johnson, who was on the show two weeks ago talking about the customer side of branding. Today, Tessa and I look a little more on the employee side of things and how much that matters for brands. Listen in to learn more. Show Notes: [00:43] In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Tessa Misiaszek, coauthor of Branding That Means Business. [02:41] Tessa shares about herself and the work she does.  [04:06] Tessa met Matt in England and they had an argument about empathy. [06:06] Her debate with Matt was if empathy had a scaling issue and if empathy can deplete you as a person.  [08:13] Tips for working with a co-author? If you go into business or create a start-up with a partner it is like a marriage. If it goes bad, it can go really bad. You want to make sure you have the right partner at the onset.  [11:04] Today we are going to talk about the internal functioning of marketing, branding, and culture.  [11:45] The function of marketing is value creation.      [13:45] A brand is not marketing. A brand is an asset to your marketing strategy. [16:17] Authenticity needs to tie through everything and the outward messaging to customers matters.   [18:41] At the end of the day it is the transparency that builds trust and once consumers have trust that you are doing what you say you are they are more likely to be loyal and forgiving if something happens.  [22:05] The more empathy you can have for the way that your consumers live their lives and think about how your product and service are integrated into the way they live their lives that will allow you to build a more authentic brand connected to them.  [23:42] Brand is really the great differentiator today.   [26:42] Empathizing with the customers is crucial.  [29:00] As a brand you can't be all things to all people so don't try to be.  [29:49] Companies are only as good as the people that run them. Being able to really connect that purpose to the employee organization and culture that you develop within the company is very important.   [31:50] Mission and values are just the beginning. Next, you have to think about the infrastructure and operations.  [33:54] Zappos worked on creating and building a culture that really engaged the employees and then delivered on that and drive everything about the company.  [35:28] Melina shares Zappos' ten core values. Tessa recommends that start-ups start with five unique authentic values. [37:14] If we all say we have the best service then nobody has the best service unless you are really living that. It is not enough to just say it, you have to show it.  [40:09] Values are not just words on a board. You have to think about how these values will evolve over time. To stay true to that as a company you have to continue to innovate based on those values.  [42:50] There should be an inventory once a year of company values.   [44:35] Tessa's podcast Happy At Work talks about organizational culture, employee engagement, and how to create a positive workplace environment.   [45:09] Melina shares her closing thoughts.  [46:03] Your brand promise may not be the same as your core values...and even if you don't have something written out anywhere (yet) or aren't really living those days in and day out (yet) consider this an opportunity to look at those and see how you can be doing better. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Branding That Means Business, by Matt Johnson and Tessa Misiaszek Blindsight, by Matt Johnson and Prince Ghuman What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey Delivering Happiness, by Tony Hsieh Connect with Tessa:  Tessa on LinkedIn Tessa on Twitter The Happy At Work Podcast Top Recommended Next Episode: Branding That Means Business with Matt Johnson (episode 231) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Neuroscience and Psychology in the Business World, An Interview with Matt Johnson  (episode 160) Why We Like the Things We Like, with Prince Ghuman, coauthor of Blindsight (episode 172) Introducing Kwame Christian and How to Use the Compassionate Curiosity Framework for Difficult Conversations (episode 107) What is Value? (episode 234) How to create a brainy brand (episode 230) That Time I Went Viral… with Dr. Daniel Crosby (episode 212) Reciprocity (episode 23) The Speed and Economics of Trust, an Interview with Stephen M.R. Covey (episode 148) IKEA Effect (episode 112) The Power of Us with Dr. Dominic Packer (episode 178) Bikeshedding (episode 99) Time Discounting (episode 51) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  Korn Ferry Empathy Company Zappos 10 Core Values Embracing Change: Melina's Episode on The Happy At Work Podcast Automatic Effects of Brand Exposure on Motivated Behavior: How Apple Makes You “Think Different”

You have to make so many decisions every day as an educator or educational leader. It's overwhelming and enough to drive you to burnout. Add to that the change that happens seemingly every minute in the classroom or the office.   We can't train on how to manage our brains around the constant disruptions and distractions. But you can change how you plan for and react to them.   This week on the podcast, I'm talking with Melina Palmer, a behavioral economist who consults with businesses all over the globe. She's the author of the new book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell you. We explore what your teachers (and students) need and want and why it's so hard to put that into words. We also talk about why the Golden Rule is antiquated and why we need to focus on the Platinum Rule instead.   Melina is the real deal when it comes to behavioral change and there are so many takeaways from this conversation. But don't make the mistake of trying to change everything at once. Instead, tune into some micro-shifts to make long-lasting changes. About Melina Palmer: Melina Palmer is founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world. Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 160 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioral economics for many universities and businesses. Melina obtained her bachelor's degree in business administration: marketing and worked in corporate marketing and brand strategy for over a decade before earning her master's in behavioral economics. A proud member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists, Melina has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and runs the Behavioral Economics & Business column for Inc Magazine. She teaches applied behavioral economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab and is the author of two books, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You and What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. Jump in the Conversation: [2:15] - What teachers need but we're not attending to [2:40] - Psychology of decision-making [3:03] - Change isn't what we think it is [4:30] - Every conversation is some sort of change [8:02] - Golden Rule and Platinum Rule  [11:35] - How can we unpack what teachers need or want [13:33] - Asking questions shows they're interested and want to know more [14:15] - Where can you help take repetitive items and take them off teachers' plates [15:52] - Teachers don't go into the profession for the pay [17:46] - Change is all about you and has nothing to do with you [19:20] - There's value in being empowered to change the way you respond to anything [22:38] - What we need to tune into to implement change [23:28] - It's not possible to remove bias from your life [25:36] - Micro-shift moments: Get a win and keep on going [28:36] - Pandemic was spotlight on institution of education [30:15] - The way change is presented makes all the difference [34:48] - Turbo Time [36:55] - What people need to know about interpersonal communication [39:37] - Making something more bite sized can you look more knowledgeable [40:58] - Melina's Magic Wand [42:41] - Maureen's takeaways Links & Resources Episode 56: Getting to the Brainy Business of School Change Melina's Books The Brainy Business Podcast Solving Modern Problems with a Stone-Age Brain: Human Evolution and the Seven Fundamental Motives by Dr. Douglas T. Kenrick and David E. Lundberg A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger Beautiful Questions in the Classroom: Transforming Classrooms into Cultures of Curiosity and Inquiry by Warren Berger Email Maureen Maureen's TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools The Education Evolution Facebook: Follow Education Evolution Twitter: Follow Education Evolution LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution EdActive Collective Maureen's book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids Micro-school feature on Good Morning America The Micro-School Coalition Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition LEADPrep

In Clear Focus: The advertising industry is constantly changing - yet managing change is hard. Our guest today believes that we can adapt to change more easily by leveraging the science of behavioral economics. Melina Palmer is the author of a new book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, which sets out a roadmap for managers tasked with instituting organizational change by reflecting how our brains work. The transcript includes a link to a free chapter of Melina's book.

Ever wonder why we have a hard time adapting to change? My guest today on Punk Rock HR, Melina Palmer, has the answer. Melina is a behavioral economist, the host of The Brainy Business Podcast and the author of “What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You: Adapting to Change with the Science of Behavioral Economics.” In this episode, Melina and I discuss all things change management and what it means for your workforce. We also discuss what it's like to be an author, behavioral economics and how it all transcribes to the world of customers.  Punk Rock HR is proudly underwritten by The Starr Conspiracy. The Starr Conspiracy is a B2B marketing agency for innovative brands creating the future of workplace solutions. For more information, head over to thestarrconspiracy.com. To read the full show notes for this episode, visit: https://laurieruettimann.com/adapting-to-change

Many companies and managers have prided themselves on being strong, always showing confidence in the face of any crisis, and ensuring that people never show weakness or vulnerability. But is this the best approach? Does unwavering strength make a team stronger? Does exposing your weakness increase the likelihood that people will use that against you? What is the best path for a company and how should it encourage its teams to act? That answer is coming to you as we dig into the episode and learn all about vulnerability loops and why they are so critical for fostering strong teams.  Show Notes: [00:40] Today is a very exciting episode talking about something really critical for fostering strong teams – the vulnerability loop [02:46] Before we get into the model and what a vulnerability loop is, I want you to take a moment and think about the people you are most closely linked to – those you have a really strong bond with. The people you trust wholeheartedly. Those who you know have got your back no matter what. [05:05] A shared experience where the participants were vulnerable creates a trust bond that is hard to break, even after decades and otherwise drifting apart. [06:57] There are five simple steps in the vulnerability loop, a concept that is attributed to Jeff Polzer, Harvard professor in the department of organizational behavior, but was really popularized by Daniel Coyle when he included it in his book, The Culture Code. Even though they may seem random, every vulnerability loop follows the same five steps. [08:47] To make it a LOOP you can't just acknowledge their vulnerability, it isn't enough to say, “Oh? Why is that?” or something…you can do that too, but you need to reveal something vulnerable about yourself. [09:51] And you don't have to share the exact same thing, but instead it needs to be something that makes you feel a little anxious or nervous to share, you need to feel vulnerable. I get that you want to be able to get trust and closeness without exposing yourself or having that discomfort, but it doesn't work that way. [11:08] You want to hear their vulnerability and then you share a little something to let them know they are not out on the ledge alone and that you are not going to let them fall. You want to show them that you are there to support them to create that ongoing loop of trust.  [13:57] The listeners feel more connected to me because I am willing to share those moments of vulnerability. It is a little uncomfortable but a really important part to be connected to all of YOU!  [15:05] Well, while we don't have to share our deepest, darkest secrets with our teams or be weepy, fragile messes, being strong, silent, unwavering, and confident all the time isn't going to build real trust and bond a team. We need to be willing to get vulnerable. [15:54] As Polzer said, “People tend to think of vulnerability in a touchy-feely way, but that's not what's happening.” “It's about sending a really clear signal that you have weaknesses, that you could use help. And if that behavior becomes a model for others, then you can set the insecurities aside and get to work, start to trust each other, and help each other. If you never have that vulnerable moment, on the other hand, then people will try to cover up their weaknesses, and every little microtask becomes a place where insecurities manifest themselves.” [17:01] The first person has to go out on the limb, to make the vulnerable leap to start the conversation – to trust that the other person will reciprocate and catch them…and to keep the moment from stopping and falling flat. The second person is key to keeping the loop going, to opening up a little more to show that they can be vulnerable too – and while it doesn't have to be only vulnerability all the time, this is something that needs a little boost back in – a continual jolt of vulnerability – to keep the loop going. [17:57] Our eyes scan the world around us constantly for potential threats and are perpetually bringing in and processing information – 3 times per second on average. So, if you have a blurred background on (or a really bad virtual one) it is, essentially, sharing continually that you don't trust people enough to let them see the real room you are in. I know that isn't your intention but that doesn't really matter as the brain is going to make its own association. [20:29] One more piece of good news is that you don't need to be vulnerable all the time! This isn't a constant state of uncertainty and stress, but a few key moments that can be paying trust dividends over time are really important.  [21:22] When there is increased trust, things take less time and cost less money. When there is decreased trust. or a lack of trust, they take more time and cost more money. Trust until people give you a reason not to and learn from it (don't be a doormat) but also have a short memory, especially for little stuff. [22:20] Trust is key to getting things done in business, and one of the best ways to build trust is with the vulnerability loop. [23:30] In this climate of people feeling undervalued at work, like they aren't appreciated and they don't matter, this is such an affordable way to help them to know that they do matter. You don't have to invest in expensive programs or wellness packages but if you don't have the budget for them it doesn't mean you can't do anything. You can encourage a little bonding and vulnerability and it can go a long way. [26:05] Coyle's questions are a good place to start as you think about question prompts for your team. But asking these types of questions were found to make people feel 24 percent closer to the strangers they went through the questions with than those who had the easier types of questions like in the first set.  [26:52] Melina shares some of the questions she really likes from the list of 36, especially for teams.  [29:59] You don't have to have the same exact item that you share with someone else, but the flip of that is that it is really important to not judge someone else's vulnerability. [30:28] Being the second person in the loop is key to it being able to form. Make an attempt to be more attentive to the way someone is sharing their message with you. [31:21] One other important thing to remember, is to trust first. Be ready and leap and know that the right people will catch you. Don't get discouraged if someone shuts you down – try again. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Influence (new and expanded), by Robert Cialdini The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey You're Invited, by Jon Levy What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown Top Recommended Next Episode: Using Behavioral Science to Build Connections, with Jon Levy, author of You're Invited (episode 150) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Unity (episode 216) Dr. Robert Cialdini and the (Now!) 7 Principles of Persuasion (episode 157) The Speed of Trust, with Stephen M.R. Covey (episode 148) Change Management: It's Still Not About the Cookie (episode 226) Reciprocity (episode 23) Biases Toward Others – Including Groups (episode 46) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (episode 225) Game Theory (episode 62) Herding (episode 19) Social Proof (episode 87) Time Pressure (episode 74) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  How showing vulnerability helps build a stronger team Activating Teams to Fight Burnout and Create Joy in Work

Today's episode is all about the fascinating world of game theory. This episode originally aired on August 23, 2019, and was episode 62 of the podcast. There are a couple of reasons I've selected this to be our refreshed episode this week. For one, with last Friday's episode featuring Annie Duke talking about her new book Quit…you can't think about Annie without thinking about poker, and game theory is so related to that.  One of my favorite insights from game theory, which you'll hear me talk about more during the episode, is the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. As you will hear today, these two things may seem similar, but they are actually very different. And as you reflect upon the episode today (whether it is your first time or something you're revisiting) consider your own life and work and let's build upon the lessons from Friday's episode with Annie about quitting, and how winners need to quit in order to win. Tip: understanding the rules and what it will take to win (so your emotions don't get the better of you) will help you to win any game you are playing. Show Notes: [00:37] Today's episode is all about the fascinating world of game theory.  [01:46] You need to know when to be gritty and when to quit.  [03:31] Humans aren't rational. Humans don't always make choices that are fully rational. We try to game the system or play the odds and choose routes that are not in our best interest – especially when we think someone may be treating us unfairly.  [05:19] In behavioral game theory we need to consider how revenge, fairness, and personal gain all play to the outcomes. The 3 main games in game theory are the ultimatum game, the prisoner's dilemma, and the dictator game. [06:37] In purely rational economic terms it is best to keep the full $10 for yourself. There is no consequence for keeping it and no one will know. In reality, people would give away an average of $3.  [08:19] You are playing the odds of being seen, feeling guilty, or whether or not that person will resent you. Whether or not you see each other or will see them again play a big part in your behavior.  [10:18] History has a lot to play in the actions people take. Existing relationships help determine actions.  [12:39] It is important to understand who has what power in each situation when you determine what to offer and think about how they might react.  [14:0312] You can make an extra gesture (surprise & delight) to make a big impact. That first interaction lays a foundation for what people expect and how they feel about you in all your future interactions. [15:58 It is important to understand all the options and variables before taking an action or making an offer.    [17:02] In the prisoner's dilemma, as a group they are better to both not say anything and take the one-year's sentence. If they look at their individual personal gain or personal loss they are of course better off with no prison time motivating them to say something.  [19:50] As it turns out, a tit-for-tat strategy consistently did best overall. In this way, you cooperate until someone deflects.   [20:31] A quick response and a short memory was the best strategy.    [21:19] In most real-life scenarios most of us are likely to choose to play fair until given a reason not to.  [22:40] As much as we wish it would be, dealing with people is never black and white. There is so much gray impacting every situation and decision.   [23:54] Always have written contracts and agreements. Document to ensure clarity.  [26:23] Game theory is truly around us all of the time.  Pretty much any time you interact with another person, business, or entity game theory comes into play. We play the odds whether we realize it or not.  [29:23] Companies used to be able to take advantage of customers much more if they wanted to. There wasn't an easy mechanism for them to be punished. Often the punishment hurts much more than if you did the right thing in the first place. [29:52] Melina shares a story about United playing the odds and losing big time.  [32:17] When emotions take hold it can cause people to make bad decisions that they may regret in the long run so try and get some distance and perspective before acting especially if you feel really betrayed and angry.   [33:19] When it comes to games many people are playing not to lose instead of playing to win. Winning is a long game. [36:02] Winners quit a lot of stuff because they know what winning looks like. They know the rules, they know the game, and they can see what is helping them reach their goals and what is a hindrance. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Quit, by Annie Duke Thinking in Bets, by Annie Duke How to Decide, by Annie Duke The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey Top Recommended Next Episode: Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, with Annie Duke (episode 227) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Color Theory (episode 61) Anchoring & Adjustment  (episode 11) Change Management: It's Still Not About the Cookie (episode 226) The Truth About Pricing (episode 5) What is Value? (episode 8) Framing (episode 16) Surprise and Delight (episode 60) Reciprocity (episode 23) Biases Toward Novelty and Stories (episode 54) Biases Toward Others – Including Groups (episode 46) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (episode 225) The Speed of Trust, with Stephen M.R. Covey (episode 148) You Have More Influence Than You Think, Vanessa Bohns (episode 197) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  United Breaks Guitars The Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma and The Evolution of Cooperation Behavioral Game Theory The Ultimatum Game - Are people rational? The Dictator Game The Psychology of Revenge (and Vengeful People) An Experimental Analysis of Ultimatum Bargaining Behavioral Game Theory: Plausible Formal Models That Predict Accurately (Behavioral) Game theory

In this week's episode of the SIMPLE brand podcast, I talk with Melina Palmer, author of What Your Employees Need But Can't Tell You!Melina is CEO of The Brainy Business, where she provides behavioral economics training and consulting to businesses all around the world.She's the host of The Brainy Business podcast. And she's the bestselling author of two books devoted to behavioral economics. In her latest book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, she helps readers better understand how the human brain works and how the human brain adapts to change. But, more importantly, Melina explains how your employees adapt to change.Melina and I talk through her roadmap to help you reduce any friction related to instilling organizational change. We also explore how to ensure that you can get your employees on board with any change in the simplest way possible.Some of the topics we discuss include:Why it's difficult for leaders to instill and implement change in their organizationsLeaders need to consider all the little changes their employees make, not just the big onesHow leaders can find out what drives and motivates their employeesInstead of eliminating biases, leaders should look for where they can work with existing biasesInvesting time upfront to look at the right problem will help you instill change more easilyHow you present change is just as important as how you develop the change, so you must take time to craft that communicationMelina's “It's Not About the Cookie” framework to help leaders deliver changeUsing simpler language to frame a change helps people more easily buy into change RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:Melina's siteMelina's book - What Your Employees Need But Can't Tell YouMelina's book - What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell YouMelina's podcast - The Brainy Business

Change is hard, even when it's a change that makes our lives easier. Today, I speak with Melina Palmer, CEO of The Brainy Business, expert in behavioral economics for organizations around the world, and the author of What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. We give you a refresher on behavioral economics and how our human brains work - especially the conscious and unconscious parts of our brains.  We discuss why change is hard, even when it's a good change, and how leaders get change massively wrong. Melina will share her framework called "It's Not About the Cookie" and how it applies to any employee initiative. She also shares her top tip for those who want to have more influence at work. Key Takeaways:Change doesn't need to be hard, you just need to understand what motivates the people you are trying to change - education alone will never be enough. Create a culture of feedback and input, solicit that feedback, then actually implement those ideas. Be transparent about your change management. The more transparent you are along the way, the more people can trust the process. "Every conversation and initiative is a change conversation or initiative - you are either in the midst of change, in the wake of change that has already happened, or building up to the next change." —  Melina Palmer About Melina Palmer, CEO and author of What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell YouMelina Palmer is the founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world. Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 170 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioral economics for many universities and businesses. Melina obtained her master's in behavioral economics from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. A proud member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists, Melina has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and writes the Behavioral Economics & Business column for Inc Magazine. She teaches applied behavioral economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab. Her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, was published in May 2021 and was a finalist in two categories of the International Book Awards. Her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, is out as of October 2022.Connect with Melina PalmerThe Brainy Business Website: https://www.thebrainybusiness.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/thebrainybizLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinapalmer/Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebrainybizInstagram: https://instagram.com/thebrainybizReferences MentionedMelina Palmer on The Empathy Edge podcast, Why Your Customers Can't Tell You What They WantSpecial link to get your free chapter of both of Melina's books: www.thebrainybusiness.com/empathyedge  Don't forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

Change is hard, even when it's a change that makes our lives easier. Today, I speak with Melina Palmer, CEO of The Brainy Business, expert in behavioral economics for organizations around the world, and the author of What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. We give you a refresher on behavioral economics and how our human brains work - especially the conscious and unconscious parts of our brains.  We discuss why change is hard, even when it's a good change, and how leaders get change massively wrong. Melina will share her framework called "It's Not About the Cookie" and how it applies to any employee initiative. She also shares her top tip for those who want to have more influence at work. Key Takeaways:Change doesn't need to be hard, you just need to understand what motivates the people you are trying to change - education alone will never be enough. Create a culture of feedback and input, solicit that feedback, then actually implement those ideas. Be transparent about your change management. The more transparent you are along the way, the more people can trust the process. "Every conversation and initiative is a change conversation or initiative - you are either in the midst of change, in the wake of change that has already happened, or building up to the next change." —  Melina Palmer About Melina Palmer, CEO and author of What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell YouMelina Palmer is the founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world. Her podcast, The Brainy Business: Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy, has downloads in over 170 countries and is used as a resource for teaching applied behavioral economics for many universities and businesses. Melina obtained her master's in behavioral economics from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. A proud member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists, Melina has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and writes the Behavioral Economics & Business column for Inc Magazine. She teaches applied behavioral economics through the Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab. Her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, was published in May 2021 and was a finalist in two categories of the International Book Awards. Her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, is out as of October 2022.Connect with Melina PalmerThe Brainy Business Website: https://www.thebrainybusiness.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/thebrainybizLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinapalmer/Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebrainybizInstagram: https://instagram.com/thebrainybizReferences MentionedMelina Palmer on The Empathy Edge podcast, Why Your Customers Can't Tell You What They WantSpecial link to get your free chapter of both of Melina's books: www.thebrainybusiness.com/empathyedge  Don't forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

When you're relaying information to your team or clients, you need to give yourself time to understand how you want to approach the delivery. People can't make decisions when overloaded with information. Likewise, information that feels too distant from their own experience doesn't stick. How you present information can be more important than the information itself. Your very own Sales Maven, Nikki Rausch, is here to offer tips, techniques, and strategies to master your sales conversations. Discover methods to place yourself in the position to thrive in business and produce true value for your audience. Today, learn how to simplify concepts to sell more in this Mastering Excellence Series conversation on this episode of the Sales Maven Show. Melina Palmer is an applied behavioral economist with a passion for helping everyone from around the world to understand what behavioral economics is and how it can be applied to help the world communicate more effectively. She is happiest on a stage or working with corporate teams, enlightening them about the brain and how easy it can be to apply behavioral science to have amazing impact on projects and initiatives. Melina enjoys her work so much that she shared team insights in her book What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You: Adapting to Change with the Science of Behavioral Economics. In today's episode, Nikki and Melina talk about how more clients say “yes” when you simplify what they need to know. Melina mentions how she is mindful of her presentation skills, even when writing her books. Using things that are relatable and have a level of familiarity (like Snickers, grapes, sharks, or Starbucks) allows people to hold onto information. We need storytelling to be able to make connections and decisions. Listen as Nikki and Melina discuss how you can engage your audience and give them an opportunity to participate in your conversations. Nikki invites you to join the Sales Maven Society, don't miss this opportunity for you and Nikki to work together. Bring your questions, concerns, sales challenges, and she provides answers and guidance to boost your confidence. Join the Sales Maven Society here, click add to cart, and then checkout and use coupon code: 47trial to get your first month for $47.00!   In This Episode: [00:29] - Welcome, and thank you for listening! [03:01] - Melina Palmer's new book will change how employers interact with their team. [05:50] - Are you mindful of how you present information? [08:00] - What does your Zoom background have to do with trust? PART 1 [10:21] - What does your Zoom background have to do with trust? PART 2 [12:04] - Take the time to proofread your emails, or reconsider sending it in the first place. [15:00] - Nikki and Melina, as friends, laugh over some of the pitches they receive or see. [16:55] - How you present a change can be more important than what the change is. [19:36] - Adjust your delivery of information to the situation. [22:31] - Melina shares the three specific factors to think about first when going into a complex conversation. [24:25] - When helping people learn and remember something, make people part of the experience. [26:57] - Create a frame for moments of connection. [29:54] - Melina mentions how she is mindful of her presentation skills, even when writing her books. [31:20] - What are Melina's goals when simplifying a concept? [33:56] - Nikki and Melina talk about making friends all over the world through their content. [36:35] - Melina knows how to teach core concepts with relatable stories, themes, and situations. [39:06] - Where does Melina get inspiration for her analogies? [41:51] - Discover how your insight add to the conversation. [43:52] - What in your business do clients find complex? [46:19] - Instead of a long post about a lot of things, try an in-depth post about a few things. [48:09] - Invest time in finding what you can get rid of when presenting information. [48:09] - Our minds really enjoy storytelling. [50:49] - Don't feel pressured to add more if you know it won't provide value. [53:22] - Is there someone Melina would like to interview? [55:59] - Thank you for listening. Nikki is so grateful you are here!   Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com @yoursalesmaven Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Sales Maven Society To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven   Find Melina: Melina Palmer The Brainy Business Podcast Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn   Books: What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You: Adapting to Change with the Science of Behavioral Economics What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You: Unlocking Consumer Decisions with the Science of Behavioral Economics   Previous episode: How To Compose Thoughtful Communication For Connection Requests  

Today is a very exciting day, as it is the last episode before I'm officially a multi-book author, because my second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You will officially be out and hitting mailboxes on Tuesday, October 11! There is something else very, very exciting kicking off on Tuesday as well, so be sure to stay to the end to hear all about that…  In this episode, we are going to do a deep dive into the book. I talk about what you can expect to find within it, why I wrote it, who it is for, and (because this is quite possibly one of the things I get asked about the most these days) some fun insights into the writing process and my tips for you in creating your own content (whether it is a book or something else). Show Notes: [00:39] Today is a very exciting day, as it is the last episode before I'm officially a multi-book author, because my second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You will officially be out and hitting mailboxes on Tuesday, October 11! [02:34] This book has been in the works for a long time, really since episode seven came out of the podcast way back on August 3, 2018. My framework for change has grown and adapted a bit over the years, but even through: creating a 10-week course I teach virtually via the Human Behavior Lab at Texas A&M University, countless speaking engagements and corporate training, and the full process of writing this book…it has really kept its bones. [04:29] What are my secrets for book writing? The first secret is that I'm naturally a good writer and I've spent a lot of time writing and editing all sorts of content from 3-word ads to 70,000 word books and everything in between. I also dedicate the time I need to be able to write. [06:14] My writing is made possible by a very supportive family, especially my husband Aaron. I have dedicated both of my books to him because truly, The Brainy Business and all its content would not be possible without him. [07:38] It isn't all writing every moment of every day, the brain needs breaks. I was able to go on a few jogs by the ocean which was nice and I also had some mindless crafty entertainment. [08:47] Taking the time to let your mind exist and make connections is so so so important when working on content. Building those contemplative moments into your day is really useful. [11:30] You may have heard this one already, but you need to just get stuff out of your head and onto the paper (virtual or otherwise). My process starts with some sort of an outline. I usually do this with software that allows for virtual cards or sticky notes that I can move around. [13:07] Once you have your initial outline I recommend starting with whatever feels the easiest. In my experience, this is NOT the beginning. Whatever that easiest thing is, start there and write anything you can to get it out of your brain. [15:41] I wrote the first book in three months. For book two, I was able to start writing in December of 2021 and the full manuscript was due at the first of February; so only two months this time. [17:27] My process allows for strict priorities and focus in short bursts. This lets me give each thing my all until it is done and then move on to the next. [18:09] Done is better than perfect. Sometimes you have to let things speak to you in the moment and go with where you end up even if it is different than you intended.  [21:34] I wrote the book because I could see that this concept of change and understanding biased brains and how they impact our workplace was on the uptick in businesses. I could see that this was going to be critical for businesses moving forward and if I wanted to be on the front end of that wave. [23:39] The book is for people who want to have more influence at work and to make it so change is easier for themselves and everyone around them. [25:01] This book is also set up to help teams of people work together within an organization to get a shared common language and be able to grow together to be better managers that help move a company forward. [26:01] According to Gallup, four out of five current managers do not have the talent required to excel in the job in a way that will help the company and its employees to thrive. [28:16] What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You is here to help every manager—whether they have the natural talent for the role or not—to be excellent at leading their teams through change. If you want to put in the work to be a great manager and are willing to learn and adapt based on the science I present to you in this book, I truly believe you can achieve that goal. [30:11] This book is also segmented into three parts. [31:08] Part 1 is called Big Plans and Micro-Moments and it has four chapters within it. This part is really about understanding our brains, understanding how change works within the brain, understanding what it means to be a great manager, and how to think about change overall.  [31:36] Part 2 is called Biases and Concepts.  [33:18] We are all biased. We are never going to eliminate that from our lives or organizations. Instead of looking to eliminate bias, companies need to look to understand and leverage it.  [36:15] A chapter in this section has one of my favorite openings of the entire book with details of the Challenger disaster and what we can all learn from it.  [37:54] The last section of Part 2 is called Us vs. Them and it digs in on all the ways our brains are biased to look at people who are different from us.  [38:37] The final part of the book is called Change Framework. This last part of the book brings it all together.  [41:30] You can read the first chapter of the book now for free to see if it is a fit for you.  [42:52] BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: We are going to be having episodes coming out twice a week starting this Tuesday, October 11th!  Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer The Voltage Effect, by John List How Minds Change, by David McRaney   How to Change, by Katy Milkman   Top Recommended Next Episode: Temptation Bundling (episode 136) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Bikeshedding (episode 99) What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You: All About Melina's First Book (episode 147) What is Behavioral Baking (episode 155) How to Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics (episode 83) The Voltage Effect with John List (episode 190) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  20 Podcasting Insights and Tips After 200 Episodes of The Brainy Business

Today we are digging in on negativity bias, which is featured in chapter 9 of my book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. I also talked about this when Adam Hansen was on the show back in episode 176 and have planned to give it a dedicated episode for a long time, yet it has continued to hang out waiting for its moment in the sunshine – until today! It's funny, because I think it really says something about my personality that optimism bias was episode 34 and we aren't getting to negativity bias until nearly 200 weeks later. I'm ok with that, and, I'm so glad that this is finally becoming an episode because it really is a fascinating concept and super important for everyone in life and business. As with all the biases and heuristics you hear about on this show, I'm confident this will be one of those things that really changes your whole life and perspective once you realize it is there and impacting you. It's shocking how rampant this can be running in our lives and businesses. Today we will cover the four aspects of negativity bias (plus a “bonus” one) as well as ways to think about this in your life and work. Show Notes: [00:41] Today we are digging in on negativity bias, which is featured in chapter 9 of my book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. [03:13] In its most basic form, negativity bias is our tendency to put more emphasis on negative information than positive. [03:57] Negativity bias, putting more weight on the bad than the good. Being on high alert and paying attention to potential threats was key for our survival. This is a good thing and it still serves us well a lot in our life. Sometimes, the negativity bias goes a bit far and can result in phobias or other avoidances that don't serve us well. [06:20] This is one aspect of negativity bias, where we put way, way, way more weight on the negative input than the positive. Our being a herding species is part of this as well. Being on the outskirts with the herd was something else that greatly threatened our survival back in the day. [06:53] In today's world, this overweighting of negatives can be problematic and cause a real negative spiral that keeps you stuck; focused on the bad in a way that causes you to ignore all the good stuff. You can choose to focus on the good stuff and, while still learning from the bad, don't let it have so much more impact on you than the good. [07:46] There are four aspects of negativity bias (as outlined in the original paper). The first is negative potency. It says that even if the two incidents were of the same type and size, they won't necessarily be felt or remembered the same way. We tend to have longer memories of these negative items than the positive ones and feel them more strongly when they occur. [08:09] The second aspect is of steeper negative gradients. This says that as we get closer to a negative event, its felt more and more – and at an intensity that is more than a positive event. [10:10] Negativity bias is definitely related to loss aversion and they are similar (but not the same). Negativity bias is when people pay more attention to bad news than good news. Loss aversion is when people are more worried about losing something they have than getting something new. [10:42] Now, we move on to negativity dominance. This was sort of covered in the negative potency section, but it is more about how when there is an event, the negative events will make it so our whole impression skews toward the negative. [11:35] It is important to think about the overall experience people are having with you. Even one negative element can drag an otherwise good thing down. [14:22] Knowing that people are going to have this negativity bias – both those presenting the change and those receiving it – is important as you consider how you introduce anything to anyone. [16:42] Our final aspect is negative differentiation, which is about the effort it takes to process an event. The negative stuff is more difficult to process, so it uses up more energy and cognitive resources. That makes us remember it more and for longer. [18:54] Knowing that the negativity bias exists and taking a step back to get out of your own way is important as you look at your own behaviors and actions. [19:54] We are also biased to give people like us the benefit of the doubt and not give that to people who are outside our circle of empathy. [22:02] Contagion is such an important piece and it has one of my all-time favorite examples and lines because it is very memorable and you instantly get the problem and how this can be applied in other areas. “A single cockroach can ruin a bowl of cherries, but an individual cherry will do nothing for a bowl of cockroaches.” [23:53] When you think of reputation, that one negative can contaminate everything else and color your entire perspective of them and everything they touch. [24:35] It is important to realize when negativity bias, and specifically contagion, could be coloring a lot more than it should. [26:44] As we wrap up today's episode, I want you to think about the negativity bias and how it is impacting you in your life and at work. [28:30] Learn from the negatives and let them sink in, but don't let them control you and take over everything. [30:25] Make sure to clear out the cockroaches before you work on finding better cherries.  [32:02] Because of the negativity bias, we really love avoiding bad things. If we avoid all the things that have risks associated with them, we will not grow and change, and for both people and companies, that is a problem. [33:58] Pointing out flaws in ideas isn't always saving you from a mistake. It might be saving you from the thing that could change everything for the better if you gave it a chance. What can you take a chance on today? Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Outsmart Your Instincts, by Adam Hansen Power of Regret, by Dan Pink What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger Evolutionary Ideas, by Sam Tatam Top Recommended Next Episode: Optimism Bias (episode 34) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Reframing Annoying Disruptions to Support Innovation, with Adam Hansen, coauthor of Outsmart Your Instincts (episode 176) Priming (episode 18) Reciprocity (episode 23) Loss Aversion (episode 9) Herding (episode 19) Focusing Illusion (episode 89) Confirmation Bias (episode 75) Fundamental Attribution Error (episode 92) Counterfactual Thinking  (episode 68) Peak-End Rule (episode 97) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  The Negativity Bias in User Experience Negativity Bias, Negativity Dominance, and Contagion Why is the news always so depressing? What Is Negativity Bias and How Can It Be Overcome?

Melina Palmer is an applied behavioral economist with a passion for helping everyone from around the world to understand what behavioral economics is and how it can be applied to help the world communicate more effectively.Her award-winning podcast, The Brainy Business, has downloads in over 170 countries. She teaches applied behavioral economics through the Human Behavior Lab at Texas A&M University. She has written two books, and has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, as well as writing a column for Inc.In this episode, Dan interviews Melina on how our brains process change, stress, and decision-making. You will learn we make 35,000 decisions a day! You will be fascinated by Melina's insights on how to help us make our brains work better for us in business and life.Melina is generously making a sample chapter from her next book available to all listeners of the podcast. To get your chapter copy of “What Your Employees Need and can't Tell You” before it publishes on October 11th, visit thebrainybusiness.com/unleashed.Learn more about Melina's work at https://thebrainybusiness.com © 2022 Dan Weedin. All Rights ReservedUnleashed is a registered trademark of Toro Consulting, Inc.

Today, we get to talk about a very fun concept known as the cobra effect or the cobra problem. It is something I included in my upcoming book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, and I was very surprised at some of the early readers who work in the field and wrote comments like “WOW!” or called out this concept by name in their endorsement blurbs for the book. As I have said on the show before, there are hundreds of concepts, biases and heuristics in behavioral economics and behavioral science that are impacting our actions every day – it is near impossible to keep up with all of them, and sometimes you find a little golden nugget like this one which can be a new discovery for people even when they are experts in the field. I'm definitely not saying that I am the first person to talk about it or that no one knows about it. Rather, when I realized that it might be a little more obscure than I thought, it became a clear contender for its own dedicated episode sooner than later – plus it is awesome and the story of how it got that name is really interesting. Wanna hear that story and how you can use the cobra effect in business? Listen in… Show Notes: [00:41] Today, we get to talk about a very fun concept known as the cobra effect or the cobra problem. It is something I included in my upcoming book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. [03:18] It all started way back when the British ruled India and the city of Delhi was infested with cobras. In order to help with the problem, the British set up a bounty and would pay anyone who brought in a cobra skin to help clean up the streets and keep people safe…but things didn't work out quite as intended. [04:45] And while the effect got its namesake from this cobra incident, it is by no means an isolated problem. Apparently, there was a very similar problem in Hanoi in 1902 when the French put in their sewer system, which essentially became a rat superhighway. [06:21] Just like the cobras, when the French got wise of the scheme, they did away with the bounty and everyone let their rats go free creating an even worse (quickly multiplying) problem. [07:49] Our next example comes from Bogota, Colombia, which tried to cut down on pollution and congestion on the roads in 2008 by limiting how often you could drive. [09:42] In my research I also found a story where the government of Quebec gave considerably more money to mental health programs than to orphanages from 1940-1960. So, to try and help those orphaned children who otherwise would have had nowhere to go, the Catholic Church of Quebec reportedly misdiagnosed many children with mental illnesses to get more funding. [11:10] The main lesson from the cobra effect is that “no loophole goes unexploited.” Incentives are great and they can absolutely work, but you need to be really thoughtful about what someone might do to benefit from whatever you are proposing.  [12:16] It is always so important to look beyond the surface solution and consider the problem you are really solving before you move forward with a course of action. When you think about the problem, it is important to get out of your own perspective and understand what someone really needs and what is practical for them. [13:58] You need to consider the problem you are trying to solve AND how it lines up with the real behavior of other people, as well as what they have control over and what you have control over in the new world you are proposing. Nudges and other tactics can only get you so far. You also have to really get out of your own way and think about how someone might see this differently than you. [15:41] There are lots of valid and useful incentives and not everyone is going to take advantage of the loophole or even see it…but if the loophole is big enough and there are enough people willing to jump through it that can be a time where your solution makes the problem worse. [17:42] Every decision has an impact – even the decision to do nothing – and changing one thing can change many things that are related even if you don't think about them (and it isn't always in a positive way). [19:11] It is important to spend some more time thinking about those possible loopholes, and it is important to get into the mindset of the person who would be in the situation. [19:49] The ability to be “in the moment” with someone else, to empathize and imagine we are part of that experience and show “How might we?” is so valuable and such an amazing skill. When you put yourself in that space, you can think differently, and that is really helpful when you are looking for exploitable loopholes. [21:03] Melina shares questions you should ask if you are considering implementing a payout (use your free worksheet to follow along).  [22:19] Even small incentives can cause people to look for loopholes and to find opportunities for their own benefit. [25:38] Rules need to be put in place to adjust for possible loopholes. Maybe there are restrictions that need to go in place, but if there are too many restrictions, take a moment to consider if the plan is a good one or if it is time to go back to the drawing board. [27:54] It is better to be thoughtful about these loopholes and restrictions up front instead of looking back after the fact and regretting the choices you could have made differently once you have the power of hindsight. [29:02] If you haven't already, will you consider pre-ordering a copy of my upcoming book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You? In it, I talk about the cobra effect, and so many other important concepts from behavioral science and how they can be applied to business to help teams work and communicate better together. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Choice Hacking, by Jennifer Clinehens Freakonomics, by Stephen Dubner & Steven Levitt Behavioral Insights, by Michael Hallsworth Drive, by Dan Pink What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer Top Recommended Next Episode: Nudging for Good at Walmart with Sarah Wilson (episode 206) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Do Nudges Work? with Michael Hallsworth (episode 218) Counterfactual Thinking  (episode 68) Secrets of Motivation and Incentives, Tim Houlihan Interview (episode 109) Motivation and Incentives at Work with Kurt Nelson (episode 187) Where CX and Behavioral Science Meet, interview with Jennifer Clinehens, author of Choice Hacking (episode 141) The Power of Regret with Daniel Pink (episode 214) The Most Important Step in Applying Behavioral Economics: Understanding the Problem (episode 126) Incentives - The "N" In NUDGES (episode 36) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter  The Cobra Effect: No Loophole Goes Unexploited What is the Cobra Effect The Cobra Effect The Most Ironic Examples Of The Cobra Effect Check out What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You on Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and Booktopia

Today I am very excited to introduce you to Nancy Harhut, cofounder and chief creative officer of HBT Marketing. She loves getting people to take action and specializes in blending best-of-breed creative techniques with behavioral science to prompt response – online, offline, and in-person. She has spoken around the world, including numerous appearances at SXSW, and has been named one of the 10 Most Fascinating People in B2B Marketing, a Social Top 50 Email Marketing Leader, and a Top 40 Digital Strategist. Her articles and work have appeared in Admap, US Ad Review, Target Marketing, DM News, Graphis Magazine, B@B Magazine, Who's Mailing What, Copywriting Insider, and “Open Me Now” by H.G. Lewis. Prior to co-founding HBT Marketing, Nancy held senior creative management positions with Hill Holliday, Mullen, and Digitas. She's helped some of the world's biggest brands create successful campaigns. Nancy and her teams have won over 200 awards for digital and direct marketing effectiveness, for clients such as AT&T, H&R Block, the GM Card, Dish Networks, and Nationwide. Today, we get to talk about her first book, Using Behavioral Science in Marketing, which just came out this week here in the U.S. Dive into the conversation and get ready to take action.  Show Notes: [00:44] Today I am very excited to introduce you to Nancy Harhut, cofounder and chief creative officer of HBT Marketing. [02:05] Her first book, Using Behavioral Science in Marketing just came out this week.  [04:20] Nancy shares about herself, her background, and how she found herself in the world of behavioral science.  [06:01] She took principles and research from behavioral science and applied/tested them in marketing.  [07:37] Anything she could find that might give her clients an advantage or extra edge was something she wanted to explore.  [10:20] It is important to test so we know what is working and what doesn't work.  [11:10] Nancy's examples in the book are very tangible, clear, easy, thorough, and thoughtful.  [13:49] Social proof is incredibly powerful. Nancy shares examples of using social proof with her clients and the results. [16:31] Nancy shares why she wrote her new book. People were often asking if she had a book, including her now publisher Kogan Page.  [16:54] Behavioral science and marketing absolutely work. Writing a book helps many more people to benefit from it.  [19:19] She wanted to create a book that was short on science and long on applicability. She wanted it to be practical, easy to read, and actionable. (“Mission accomplished!” says Melina.)  [21:30] She started her book with emotional and rational thinking because it was a good foundational factor and from there she started to talk about behavioral science principles that are strongly linked to emotion.  [23:24] Having more good books in the world is always a positive thing.  [25:44] If you present somebody with a couple of options as opposed to just one thing, they are much more likely to make a buying decision at the moment. If there are two options the question automatically changes to “Which of these two do I want?”  [28:29] When saying “You have to make a choice and if you don't, someone else is going to make it for you” leverages autonomy bias. There was a bigger response because people didn't want someone making choices for them.  [30:04] Behavioral science is not just for marketing. It is applicable across so many areas and professions.  [33:04] Nancy shares an example of using choice architecture with a client that sold voluntary benefits.  [34:47] They made accepting the meeting the easy choice and the path with the least resistance.  [35:57] Melina shares an example of a blood drive on a college campus. [39:22] Melina shares her closing thoughts. [39:42] You are constantly communicating with people and there are small tweaks to your messaging that can make all the difference. [40:13] Melina's new book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You is coming out on October 11th, 2022.  [42:04] If you enjoy the experience I've provided here for you, will you share about it? That could mean leaving a rating/review or sharing the episode with a friend (or 10!) Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

A little over a year ago, in episode 157 of The Brainy Business, I was honored to have Dr. Robert Cialdini join me on the show to talk about the new and expanded version of his book Influence, which has sold many, many millions of copies around the world, and it is so impactful even nearly 40 years after its original publishing date. The new version added 220 (pure gold!) pages and a whole new seventh principle of persuasion – unity – which is of course the focus of today's episode.  The six original principles of persuasion include reciprocity, liking, authority, scarcity, social proof, and commitment/consistency. Most of those already have their own episodes of the podcast, which are linked for you in the show notes along with my interview with Bob when he was on the show. So, why unity? As I said, while I've dedicated episodes to several of the initial six principles, including scarcity, social proof, reciprocity, and precommitment…I haven't done them all yet…so why jump to the end with Unity before “completing the set” so to speak? Listen in to find out why and learn more about the amazing principle of unity.  Show Notes: [00:07] Today's behavioral economics foundations episode is all about Cialdini's new 7th principle of persuasion: unity. [00:48] In episode 157 of The Brainy Business, I was honored to have Dr. Robert Cialdini join me on the show to talk about the new and expanded version of his book Influence, which has sold multi multi multi million copies and it is so impactful even nearly 40 years after its original publishing date. [03:36] Unity is an underlying principle that runs through all the others. If you have unity, everything else can come easier, so understanding this technique can be impactful in most any approach. (A great reason to jump here first! It also has less info on it when you search since it is new, so I wanted to contribute there, and it has a big feature in my new book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You).  [04:54] Melina shares an overview of the first six principles. Reciprocity: when given a gift, even something incredibly small, people feel compelled to give back to the gifter. [05:51] People are more likely to do business with people they like. We are also influenced by people in authority even when they don't have any expertise in the area we may be asking about. [06:28] Because we are a herding species, we are very influenced by social proof. We also are very influenced by items that are scarce. We find them more valuable, our FOMO and loss aversion are triggered.  [07:04] People like to be consistent and do what they have said they will do.  They also like to do business with people who do what they say they will do. Showing that you have done this is powerful. [08:02] If people aren't buying what you have to sell, whether it is an idea or a physical product or service or anything else, it doesn't necessarily mean the idea is wrong or bad. You can often change the way you are presenting the information and enjoy a different result. [08:35] Unity goes beyond liking or social proof and is in the space of how we are the same. It's not just that I like you, but we are (as they say) cut from the same cloth. When you are part of my tribe, when we are a WE, I become more compelled toward whatever it is you are asking for or offering up. [09:36] We all have a lot of identities that we flow between throughout the day; they don't have to be weighty to create that connection.  [10:54] It is pretty easy for people to come up with 20 self-defining things pretty quickly off the top of their head.  [12:32] The way we identify with a group can shape the way we see the world around us and the decisions we make. [14:31] A key to unity is finding what is central, core, or defining to both people. [16:25] When you find something that you like about someone else, it creates a connection that makes them, in turn, like you more. [18:03] Ask good questions and know there will be some commonality that will help you to find them more interesting and engaging, and give you something to talk about, and that it is possible they will think of you more fondly as well. [18:22] Know that when you need to ask people for things, your own affinity groups or people who you would say are part of your “I am” group are a great place to start because they are the most likely to say yes to you. [21:11] Bringing one particular aspect of your shared identity to the front of their mind at the right time – making that particular identity you share salient at the right moment – is key for using unity in your life and work communication. [22:17] People are busy and their brains are even busier. Reminding someone of that important detail at the right moment can have a massive impact. [23:32] We form an idea of who we are, what we are about, and the brain is really good at explaining why every action supports the way we see ourselves. [26:30] The main point I want to make is that our busy brains have a lot going on and when you are asking or offering something to someone, the way you present that information matters because the brain will assume that whatever you bring up is being brought up for some reason and it has a lot of weight on the decision the person makes in that moment. [28:46] Unity is an amazing concept that can help you relate better to those around you and have a higher likelihood that things will just flow better and be easier for you. [29:05] Take Melina's Unity Challenge. Do the 20 statement challenge Dominic talked about in the snip from his episode on The Power of Us. Next, pick three people whom you can practice on finding a new opportunity for unity with. Use your freebie worksheet in these notes to help! [31:23] The second challenge you could take on would be to look at the short term, and if there is someone you need to ask for a favor from or to pitch something to. [32:31] Try out one or both of these challenges and share it with Melina on social media. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

In today's conversation, I am joined by Beatrix Daros, Global Consumer Intelligence Director for Mars, and today we are talking mostly about a project we worked on together for KIND snack bars around healthy snacking and checkout/impulse buying in grocery stores. Beatrix also shares about some technology they used during the pandemic and her advice for others looking to incorporate similar work at their companies. This conversation is a revisit of the session we did together at IIEX Europe in Amsterdam a few weeks back, which was an awesome event -- thank you to Greenbook for having us out for that!  Beatrix is so awesome and I'm delighted that she is joining me on the podcast. The event space in Amsterdam didn't allow for the same easy replay on the podcast, so she was kind enough (pun intended) to do another recording with me here -- so even those who watched the session live in Amsterdam will get something a little different in the episode. We talk about the questionstorming session we did in 2019, the studies they implemented based on that work, her plans for future research, and so much more. Show Notes: [00:43] In today's conversation, I am joined by Beatrix Daros, Global Consumer Intelligence Director for Mars. [01:45] Melina) will be speaking at another upcoming Greenbook event IIEX Behavior in Chicago September 13th-14th. [03:35] The event space in Amsterdam didn't allow for the same easy replay on the podcast, so Beatrix was kind enough (pun intended) to do another recording with me here.  [06:02] Beatrix shares about herself and the work she does.  [07:07] KIND is a healthy snack bar with very low sugar levels, high content of nuts, and very little processing. It is called KIND because we need more kindness in the world.  [08:06] Beatrix shares her history and background.  [10:16] Research tip: the most important thing is really to connect with people from the segments you are working with. (In their case, it was countries.) [12:02] In some countries snacking is very established; it is considered part of the normal routine and part of their culture.  [13:18] How people make decisions related to health is very different across countries. They researched what is affecting these decisions. [15:11] They are doing research in the US, including looking at new products. In the rest of the world, they are looking to establish the brand like it is in the US.  [18:00] Impulse buys matter a lot for the Mars legacy brands. Bars, whether they are indulgent or healthy, are very often bought impulsively.  [20:43] Their expectation is that in the next five years other governments will likely follow what the UK is doing with their health regulations.  [23:18] They started by really trying to understand what goes on in the brain of the consumers and what influences their decisions. They also looked at behavioral science and how they could apply it.  [25:05] Melina worked with their team at a full-day workshop. They started off the day with Melina sharing about behavioral economics, how the brain works, and some specific concepts, and then they went to questionstorming.   [27:26] It is important for everyone to be part of the process even if their idea doesn't ultimately get selected (this helps with the IKEA effect).  [29:45] Questionstorming was much more inclusive and improved engagement because every question found a space even if it wasn't part of the first phase. It opened up and really brought people together.  [31:08] Technology was wonderful for their project (especially with the pandemic) because they could learn very fast and get super clear on the outcomes.  [33:19] They decided they would not go back to the way they did research before (in-person) because it was much more time-consuming. Technology can help you speed up and get results in 1-2 weeks. They may then test in stores for 4-6 weeks for validation, but it is still often faster than the old way of testing.  [34:29] Beatrix tip: rely on technology, it is very reliable and we should take advantage of it.  [36:25] The “deep human connection” goes back to the roots of the KIND brand. They were always in touch with the brand-consumer in a natural way.  [37:13] There are three layers where they try to create deep human connections with their consumers. The first layer is to be kind to the body. The second layer is to be kind to the community, and the third layer is to be kind to the planet.  [39:27] They launched a consumer closeness program. The first stream of the program was technology.  [41:19] The second stream of the consumer closeness program is a consumer and associate connect. Every team member is connecting directly with consumers and trying to understand what matters to them.  [44:26] Beatrix shares what she is excited about coming up in the future.  [45:52] There needs to be a healthy balance between using technology and keeping human connections.  [46:51] Since the pandemic, a lot of people became more conscious and we see the relationship between food and eating really changed in a positive way.  [48:09] Melina shares her closing thoughts. [49:58] Even when we have a small part in creating the project, and believe we were truly valued and part of the outcome, it can make a huge difference on whether or not people want to be part of and embrace that change initiative or recoil against it [50:59] The way change is presented is within your control and can help keep this from ever being a problem. This is the focus of my new book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You which is on presale now and hits shelves on October 11, 2022. [51:38] Could your team benefit from a questionstorming session? What projects do you have coming up in the next 6-12 months that are too important to fail? I would love to have a conversation with you and see if there is an opportunity for us to work together.  Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

In today's conversation, I am joined by Daniel Pink; author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward (which is the focus of our conversation today). His other books include When, A Whole New Mind, Drive, and To Sell is Human. Dan's books have won multiple awards, have been translated into 42 languages, and have sold millions of copies around the world. I reached out to Dan while I was writing my new book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (which is now on presale and coming out on October 11, 2022) because I reference his book Drive a few times and wanted him to have a chance to weigh in and make sure I attributed everything correctly (something I do for every mention in my books). I was so deep in writing mode that I didn't realize he had a new book coming out at that time, so I asked him to come join me on the podcast to talk about his newest book, The Power of Regret. You will hear all about it in our conversation of course, but let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. It is full of great examples and extensive research -- it will change the way you think about regret and what it means to be human. You don't want to miss this conversation where we talk all about it. Show Notes: [00:40] In today's conversation, I am joined by Dan Pink. He is the author of five New York Times bestsellers. [01:51] In this episode we talk about his newest book, The Power of Regret. [03:41] Dan shares about himself and his background. [05:49] He realized in his early thirties what he was doing on the side (writing) should be what he was doing full-time.  [07:12] He shares about the manga comic book he wrote called The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need. It is a 180-page graphic novel written in the Japanese comic form of manga.   [09:41] The book received a number of awards, including one from the American Library Association.  [12:06] In the first week the book came out he got an offer for the movie rights, which he declined, and he never got another one. (Per the theme of today's episode…Does he regret it?)   [14:43] Dan's tips for writing books: When it comes to writing and content creation there is a lot to be said for getting the reps. Start small and work up to writing a book. Listen to the feedback you get. [15:59] When writing a book you have to have a very high bar for whether something is worth writing a book about. Many ideas don't have shoulders broad enough to carry a full book and they would be better as an article or essay.  [17:20] Writing a book is hard so if you don't pick a topic that you are deeply interested in it is going to be a profoundly miserable experience.  [19:50] Does your book deserve 9 hours and 300 pages of someone else's time? And, do you want to live with this for the rest of your life? [21:13] His early book Free Agent Nation was about the rise of people who were working for themselves.  [22:41] At any point in our lives we want to have some exploration but at a certain point, we have to execute.  [25:15] Dan loves sharing what he is working on along the way and getting feedback from others.   [27:14] Not only is regret normal and exceedingly common. Everybody has regrets.  [28:15] We want to use our regrets as information for understanding what our value is and learning to do better.  [29:21] He did two pieces of original research, one was The American Regret Project. It was a very large public opinion survey of the US population.  [30:59] He also did a piece of qualitative research called The World Regret Survey where he invited people around the world to submit their regrets (over 20,000 of them!).  [31:55] He found that people around the world had the same four core underlying regrets over and over again.  [33:42] One of the core regrets is foundation regrets. These are regrets people have about small bad decisions early in life that accumulate and have negative consequences later in life.  [34:23] Boldness regrets are if only I had taken the chance regrets. Moral regrets are if only I had done the right thing. Connection regrets are regrets about relationships.  [36:37] We need to process our regrets and use them as a force going forward. A starting point is looking at our regrets and deciding if they are regrets of action or regrets of inaction.  [38:15] Regret is one of the most common emotions that we have. Everybody has regrets.  [38:30] We have a massive amount of evidence that when we confront and think about our regrets we can use them to make better decisions, solve problems faster and better, avoid cognitive biases, become better negotiators and strategists, and find more meaning in life.  [39:59] Feelings are for thinking. They are signals, data, and information. When you have negative feelings even when it is unpleasant we need to figure out what it is teaching us to use them as a force of progress.  [41:35] You want to have way more positive emotions than negative emotions but a life well lived is not a life of only positive emotions. Negative emotions serve a role and are part of life. [43:43] Discomfort is a sign of growth so you want a little discomfort because that is how we learn and grow.  [46:00] Melina shares her closing thoughts. [48:15] If you enjoy the experience I've provided here for you, will you share about it? That could mean leaving a rating/review or sharing the episode with a friend (or 10!) Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

Today I am very excited to introduce you to Wiam Hasanain. Wiam is a seasoned social impact consultant, with 20 years of experience operating at the intersection of policy reform, societal development, behavior change, and civic engagement. She is a problem solver, utilizing data-driven insights to create practical approaches to resolving pressing social challenges on a range of projects and industries. She built her foundation at Unilever, and over the last decade, she has spearheaded nationwide programs in the areas of unemployment, health, financial literacy, sports, and career planning. She has established the structure and strategy for nudge units, set their national agendas, and designed behavioral interventions to serve public policy.  After consulting with Bain and Company Middle East she moved onto a senior role in her native Saudi Arabia; leading the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) function at a Mckinsey subsidiary and creating nationwide community programs. From there, she spent a decade as a partner at the foremost boutique consultancies in the GCC, leading social impact and behavior change efforts. Her passion is advising on behaviorally informed policies across sectors. Wiam believes strongly in spreading knowledge about the implementation of behavioral change across industries and has published a variety of articles on the practical application of behavioral science and has an MBA from UC Berkeley as well as a master's from the London School of Economics and Political Science. In continuing to have a more global view of the representation here on The Brainy Business, Wiam is our first guest from Saudi Arabia. I'm excited to share some of her work with you on a specific CSR project on the show today. Show Notes: [00:40] Today I am very excited to introduce you to Wiam Hasanain. Wiam is a seasoned social impact consultant, with 20 years of experience operating at the intersection of policy reform, societal development, behavior change, and civic engagement. [01:58] Her passion is advising on behaviorally informed policies across sectors. [04:27] Wiam shares about herself, her background, and how she found herself in this space.  [07:30] She is from Saudi Arabia and has spent the majority of her life there.  [08:16] She worked with a client on a corporate responsibility program that focused on helping the youth in Saudi Arabia find their career path.  [10:41] They agreed that they could help open the youths' eyes to other careers that were out there as opposed to the traditional STEM careers.  [12:04] Their project was such a success that it ran for three years in a row and kept growing each year.  [14:29] It is really nice for her to see how the social norm has changed and know that they were part of this change.  [16:31] The parents along with the career counselors had to work together to really help the students bridge the intention to action gap. It was also important for the parents to see that these other jobs were acceptable as well.  [18:20] The parents had a different hang-up than the youth. (Know all your audiences and plan accordingly!) [19:55] Wiam shares how they reduced sludge and friction in their project and made things easier.  [21:41] They had over double-digit changes in their perceptions of certain careers. The short-term response was very promising.  [22:27] An RCT is a randomized control trial.   [24:03] You are always adding sludge and removing sludge in various ways. [24:54] Wiam shares how they added some sludge to help with the problem they were trying to solve. They made it difficult for students to leave without going through all the exhibits (to help increase exposure to careers that wouldn't have been a focus previously).  [26:57] They utilized augmented reality in some of the exhibits so that would be where the majority of the students were drawn (and these were typically for the non-traditional careers to broaden horizons). The most desired careers were also at the end, so you had to have some exposure to the other careers no matter what.  [28:08] There are times when customer experience, behavioral science, and corporate responsibility all come together so be more concerned with your end objective.  [30:18] Whether you think about it or not you are influencing the decisions that people make with the way you put the booths in the space even – so you should definitely think about it! [31:43] Don't think anything is too small to be considered a small step towards behavioral change. Be thoughtful and intentional.  [32:52] Melina's three tips for setting up your own experiment are to keep it small, be thoughtful, and test often.  [34:29] Melina shares her closing thoughts. [35:41] My upcoming book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, is now on presale and will be in a bookstore near you on October 11, 2022. [36:21] If you enjoy the experience I've provided here for you, will you share about it? That could mean leaving a rating/review or sharing the episode with a friend (or 10!) Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

Today I am very excited to introduce you to Agnis Stibe, a 4x TEDx speaker, MIT alum, YouTube creator, globally recognized corporate consultant, and scientific advisor. He is the Artificial Intelligence Program Director and Professor of Transformation at EM Normandie Business School, and the creator of the STIBE Method, which we will of course talk about in today's episode. He is also the Adjunct Professor of Human-City Interaction at the University of Oulu, Paris Lead of Silicon Valley founded Transformative Technology community.  While at the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he established research on persuasive cities for sustainable wellbeing. We talk about his research, how social proof can change behavior when it is made more visible, the importance of testing, why you need to try different approaches for any concept, and so much more. Listen in! Show Notes: [00:43] Today I am very excited to introduce you to Dr. Agnis Stibe, a 4x TEDx speaker, MIT alum, YouTube creator, globally recognized corporate consultant, and scientific advisor. [03:19] Agnis shares about himself, his background, and the really fascinating work he does. He is passionate about helping people, teams, organizations, and societies to get where they want to get.  [04:17] It is our counterproductive psychology that is oftentimes our roadblock to our own success and happiness.  [07:22] Awareness is number one. Once awareness is there, then there has to be a degree of willingness.  [09:33] Not everything is worth coming up the “Slope of Enlightenment.”  [10:23] We have access to the same curiosity throughout our lives. The question is do we allow ourselves to be using it? [12:31] He encourages people to take away unnecessary bias before they start a conversation about AI. [14:13] Together we are on a journey and the only obstacles are our human biases. [15:32] Agnis shares some success stories.  [17:15] After five meetings using their transparent system, everyone was on time.  [18:18] Melina's second book What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You comes out in October 2022.   [20:11] Many people don't want to see themselves in comparison with others on the same screen, but that is their resistance speaking.   [22:02] Technology takes away the bias. It is a more reliable perspective that it makes existing patterns more transparent and visible.  [23:51] Agnis shares about The Littery and his role with it.  [26:32] They amplified the effects of that solution by adding a social layer. Technology also played a role in making things more transparent.  [28:28] Humans over our evolution have gained a lot and we have lost some essential awareness of who we are.  [30:42] Thanks to technology we get a deeper and clearer perspective of who we are.  [33:19] Technology has huge impacts. There is bias towards technology.  [34:34] Agnis' hypothesis: technology is perceived by an average human being the same way an average human being perceives another human being. [36:28] Everything we experience with technology is giving us an opportunity to look at ourselves - the more technology the closer and deeper we see ourselves.   [38:24] The STIBE Method has ten tools split among three major stages. [39:55] Most of the time the problem with failed solutions is that there is not enough awareness of the problem.  [41:33] The final and crucial phase is to make assurance for long-term success. [45:33] Melina shares her closing thoughts.  [45:45] The impact of social proof can change when it is made more visible and there is a record. [50:04] Thank you again to everyone who has subscribed, rated, and left those five-star reviews of the podcast. I appreciate you and please keep them coming. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

Today I am very excited to introduce you to Anant Sood, one of the co-founders of the nudge coach Worxogo. What the heck is a nudge coach you ask? It is, by my own definition, an awesome amalgamation of behavioral science and AI to help people be better managers, improve employee performance, and so much more.  Anant is going to share a lot more about it in the conversation, but just know that when I heard about this I absolutely had to profile it in my new book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, which is currently on presale to come out October 11, 2022, and to follow that up with this episode. You are going to love this, trust me! Show Notes: [00:41] Today I am very excited to introduce you to Anant Sood, one of the co-founders of the nudge coach Worxogo. [03:54] Anant shares about himself and the really fascinating work he does. For the last 22 years he has largely worked in the area of transformation and organization. [06:05] Before starting Worxogo, one common thing they heard from their customers was that the first 3-6 months after a change things were excellent, but after 6-9 months the change started to taper off. After a chance meeting with Baba Shiv they realized it was not a technology or process problem, but a behavioral problem.  [07:37] Customers wanted to change, but the change didn't stick and it would just go back to the way it was.   [08:28] Melina's new book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, is currently on presale to come out October 11, 2022. (Hooray!)  [10:37] Worxogo uses AI to customize to each individual in a unique way.  [11:35] There are reasons why we don't follow through on things even when we have the intent and ability to improve.  [14:04] Some people are motivated by competing against themselves and others are motivated by not letting the team down and others are more motivated by beating someone else on the team. Those are all proper ways to motivate people and if you don't know how someone is going to react you can try one but it might not hit them right. What could be very difficult for a manager is quickly discovered by Worxogo. [15:12] Who we perceive ourselves to be is not always what we exhibit as a behavior.  [17:38] The engine assumes that nobody is motivated by the same thing every day.  [20:13] The system allows each person to be themselves and figure out the right way to help you get, reach, achieve, and exceed your goals even if you work differently from others on your team.  [22:17] As a manager, it gives you the situational advantage for every individual on your team.  [25:53] If managers look at the lead indicators and the activities that their team is doing and you build the habit to talk to your team about those, it builds you as a manager as well.  [27:40] Often organizations have a system, but it just isn't being used and the nudge coach is very helpful to make sure the tools start getting used.  [29:38] By nature, if you ask more you will get more.  [30:53] Any team where you have a set process, you have some basic CRM in place, and you are looking to increase productivity a nudge coach will deliver the outcome for you.  [31:34] Case studies and their newsletter can be found on their website.  [32:09] Behavioral science can make an impact and this is the future of work. The ways of working are completely changing and the current tools are not enough.  [34:23] Melina shares her closing thoughts. Do you want to hire Melina to do work with your company? Email melina@thebrainybusiness.com [34:40] A study Melina found in her research said that over 80 percent of people currently in management roles don't have the talent to be a great manager. It also said that 1 in 10 is a natural-born manager, two more can be taught, and the other seven out of 10 are not suited for the job, and using past methods can never be. [37:27] Everyone deserves a great manager. Worxogo can help make that a reality. [39:09] Thank you again to everyone who has subscribed, rated, and left those five-star reviews of the podcast. I appreciate you and please keep them coming. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! More from The Brainy Business:

• Your brain knows but may not tell you • “It would be great to say we never fall victim to our brain's little tricks once we know about them” (Total Recorded Time is 18:30) Watch it! Your brain may be about to fool you, cautions Melina Palmer, founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses. “It would be great to say we never fall victim to our brain's little tricks once we know about them,” says Ms. Palmer, a behavioral economist. “Humans make, on average, 35,000 decisions every single day. That's a lot and we can't consciously process all of that information.” So the subconscious handles the heavy load, she says. “It's able to work so much faster.” Understanding the tricks of the brain can help consumers as well as those selling to consumers, she says. Melina Palmer joins us for this un-tricky Bizgnus Interview podcast. Please click here to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/X9Gr6n5uF9A Ms. Palmer, a member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioral Scientists, has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, Filene Research Institute, and writes the Behavioral Economics and Business column for Inc Magazine. She teaches applied behavioral economics through the Texas A and M Human Behavior Lab. Her first book was, “What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You,”published in May 2021. Her second book, “What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, is scheduled for publication in October 2022. For more information: https://thebrainybusiness.com/ ======================================= ABOUT US Bizgnus reports, writes, edits and publishes business news in online, broadcast and printed publications. We have published unbiased, unfiltered and in-depth interviews with business and other thought leaders since 2005. Opinions are those of our guests. Bizgnus never endorses the viewpoints, products or services of its guests, who are selected based on their knowledge and experience. No one pays to get on our podcasts. And we don't accept advertising (although Google/YouTube sells ads on our videos.) We'd appreciate your financial support through Patreon. If you'd like to help, please click here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=56957587 Our address is 150 Herons Run, #104, Sarasota, Florida 34232. Call us anytime at 209.470.3400. Our email address is editor@bizgnus.com

Melina Palmer is the Founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes worldwide. She translates the complex concepts of behavioral economics — the study and science of why people buy or not — and provides simple, actionable tips you can apply right away to your own business.  After working in corporate marketing and brand strategy for over a decade and obtaining a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing, Melina earned a master's degree in behavioral economics. Her podcast, The Brainy Business, has downloads in over 160 countries. She runs the Behavioral Economics and Business column for Inc. Magazine and authored What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You and What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You. In this episode… When you're traveling a rocky road, how can you nudge customers in the right direction to choose your products? Why does the framework of a message lead to purchase or pass? Melina Palmer is a sales conversion expert and a behavioral economics consultant who knows the impact of delivering the right message — and it might not be what you think. The subconscious brain is triggered by anticipation, meaning our brain wants the next best thing. For example, would you choose beef with 10% fat or one that's 90% fat-free? Listen to this engaging episode to find out just how the conscious and unconscious mind shapes the way you think! In this episode of Access To Anyone, Michael Roderick sits down with Melina Palmer, Founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, to discuss the behavioral economics and science behind why people buy products. Melina shares actionable tips to increase sales, why small changes can make a big impact, and applying the scarcity principle to your brand's marketing techniques.