Alison Wood Brooks: The Science Behind Great Conversations

Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks joins Jay Shetty to unpack the science of great conversations. Drawing from her book *Talk*, she explains why shifting focus from yourself to your partner, embracing conversational messiness, and admitting uncertainty all build deeper connection. The conversation covers practical techniques including topic prep, follow-up questions, the three stages of listening, and specific games for building conversational skills. Brooks also breaks down why most compliment-giving backfires and how to receive one gracefully.