Alison Wood Brooks

You're literally not looking at them as much. They feel less welcome to contribute. The revelation that we've sort of realized by studying conversations at the topic level, as you move from one thing to another, the status hierarchy shifts from one topic to the next. Oh, interesting. We start talking about fashion. Yeah. All of a sudden, I am not going to be looking at Dax as much.

You're literally not looking at them as much. They feel less welcome to contribute. The revelation that we've sort of realized by studying conversations at the topic level, as you move from one thing to another, the status hierarchy shifts from one topic to the next. Oh, interesting. We start talking about fashion. Yeah. All of a sudden, I am not going to be looking at Dax as much.

You're literally not looking at them as much. They feel less welcome to contribute. The revelation that we've sort of realized by studying conversations at the topic level, as you move from one thing to another, the status hierarchy shifts from one topic to the next. Oh, interesting. We start talking about fashion. Yeah. All of a sudden, I am not going to be looking at Dax as much.

I'm going to be deferring to Monica, who's super cool. Yeah, I forgot to give you my guess. In a little bit.

I'm going to be deferring to Monica, who's super cool. Yeah, I forgot to give you my guess. In a little bit.

I'm going to be deferring to Monica, who's super cool. Yeah, I forgot to give you my guess. In a little bit.

But if we switch to a new topic on which I have the most expertise, things are going to change. Imagine there's five other people here who have all different expertise and levels of status. So it's shifting dynamically as we move from one topic to the next. It's not like you go to a work meeting and the boss guy is always top dog.

But if we switch to a new topic on which I have the most expertise, things are going to change. Imagine there's five other people here who have all different expertise and levels of status. So it's shifting dynamically as we move from one topic to the next. It's not like you go to a work meeting and the boss guy is always top dog.

But if we switch to a new topic on which I have the most expertise, things are going to change. Imagine there's five other people here who have all different expertise and levels of status. So it's shifting dynamically as we move from one topic to the next. It's not like you go to a work meeting and the boss guy is always top dog.

Imagine you land on a topic where all of a sudden low woman on the totem pole has all the value to add. She better feel safe and included enough and welcome to speak when you get to that topic.

Imagine you land on a topic where all of a sudden low woman on the totem pole has all the value to add. She better feel safe and included enough and welcome to speak when you get to that topic.

Imagine you land on a topic where all of a sudden low woman on the totem pole has all the value to add. She better feel safe and included enough and welcome to speak when you get to that topic.

You can. It's how our brains are built.

You can. It's how our brains are built.

You can. It's how our brains are built.

Eradication is not the right goal. The goal instead, the sort of reframe is when you are in that high status position, what can you do to lift other people up? When you're in the low status role and you're marginalized, what can you possibly do to cope with a very difficult position that you're in?

Eradication is not the right goal. The goal instead, the sort of reframe is when you are in that high status position, what can you do to lift other people up? When you're in the low status role and you're marginalized, what can you possibly do to cope with a very difficult position that you're in?

Eradication is not the right goal. The goal instead, the sort of reframe is when you are in that high status position, what can you do to lift other people up? When you're in the low status role and you're marginalized, what can you possibly do to cope with a very difficult position that you're in?

It sucks. You have a narrower range of things that you're allowed to say that will be seen as appropriate or as a value add. So then you're less likely to speak. And if you never speak, you're not actually bringing value. Nobody ever gets to know you and what you can do. It's this crazy double buy. Our job is to try and learn as much as we can about each other, regardless of status.

It sucks. You have a narrower range of things that you're allowed to say that will be seen as appropriate or as a value add. So then you're less likely to speak. And if you never speak, you're not actually bringing value. Nobody ever gets to know you and what you can do. It's this crazy double buy. Our job is to try and learn as much as we can about each other, regardless of status.