In Part II of three episodes, Dan Pink answers questions from listeners. Each insight could be a discussion unto itself. Listen in on how organizations can navigate remote work challenges, better leverage older workers, the pros and cons of fear as a motivator, selling insights, the bane of busyness, how technology can hinder and help, and the power of kindness.
Key Takeaways
[1:35] Q: What is the hardest thing to sell? Selling something that goes against the person’s existing identity and moral beliefs.
[6:25] A lot of the issues people tend to have are typically due to time constraints, not lack of desire. The key is being able to focus 100% in the moment when you’re doing a task.
[8:20] Q: Your thoughts on remote work and how can companies maximize this? Face-to-face social connection is hugely important towards maximizing human connection and productivity.
[10:25] Q: Where does fear serve us and where does it hinder us? Fear shouldn’t be used as a leadership motivator, but that doesn’t mean leaders should abandon it entirely.
[14:05] Q: Advice for older workers? Spend time with people who are younger than you and you are an undervalued asset.
[18:20] Q: Thoughts on ‘always being busy’? Being busy is a performance and when you’re busy you don’t have to face the ‘harder’ life questions.
[22:10] Q: In this technological environment, is bureaucracy decreasing or increasing in our organization? The answer is ‘yes.’
[23:55] Q: What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self? Dan’s 20-year-old self wouldn’t listen to him.
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Quotable Quotes
“What we do is make visceral emotional decisions and then use reason to justify that emotional belief.” Click To Tweet “People shouldn’t be remote working all the time. You have to bring people together face-to-face.” Click To Tweet “Fear is very short term. Fear allows you to see up close, but fear doesn’t allow you to see out into the future.” Click To Tweet “These middle-aged workers are much more valuable than companies are realizing. They are an undervalued asset.” Click To Tweet “My 20-year-old self was so incredibly sure of himself and so not open to other interpretation, and so lacking in humility.” Click To Tweet “Don’t go based on your assumptions about how the world works. Ask questions and try to find stuff out.” Click To Tweet “Be kinder. Act with more kindness. The older I get, the more I value kindness and understand the influence of kindness in the world.” Click To TweetWhere to follow Dan Pink
- Twitter: @DanielPink
- Facebook: @DanielHPink
- Website: DanPink.com
Additional Resources
These are the books mentioned in Dan’s podcasts.
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