Alison Wood Brooks

That's right. It's a profound human instinct to try to avoid unpleasantness or things that you don't think will go well. And often that unpleasantness comes from us grappling with this feeling torn between honesty and being kind. And that really has nothing to do with status, right? If we're grappling with, can I tell you the truth? And is that going to be hurtful to you?

That's right. It's a profound human instinct to try to avoid unpleasantness or things that you don't think will go well. And often that unpleasantness comes from us grappling with this feeling torn between honesty and being kind. And that really has nothing to do with status, right? If we're grappling with, can I tell you the truth? And is that going to be hurtful to you?

So in 2013, you taught a negotiation class about a fictional football quarterback named A.J. Washington. You were a relatively new professor and you worked hard to make your presentation engaging. You even had planned a big reveal at the end of the presentation. Can you describe what happened that day?

So in 2013, you taught a negotiation class about a fictional football quarterback named A.J. Washington. You were a relatively new professor and you worked hard to make your presentation engaging. You even had planned a big reveal at the end of the presentation. Can you describe what happened that day?

So in 2013, you taught a negotiation class about a fictional football quarterback named A.J. Washington. You were a relatively new professor and you worked hard to make your presentation engaging. You even had planned a big reveal at the end of the presentation. Can you describe what happened that day?

Shankar, I was so excited about this day in class. It was a case about a fictionalized quarterback in the NFL named A.J. Washington. And it had been written actually about Tom Brady, our famed Boston New England Patriots quarterback, and his negotiation over his salary and his player contract.

Shankar, I was so excited about this day in class. It was a case about a fictionalized quarterback in the NFL named A.J. Washington. And it had been written actually about Tom Brady, our famed Boston New England Patriots quarterback, and his negotiation over his salary and his player contract.

Shankar, I was so excited about this day in class. It was a case about a fictionalized quarterback in the NFL named A.J. Washington. And it had been written actually about Tom Brady, our famed Boston New England Patriots quarterback, and his negotiation over his salary and his player contract.

So there's a big reveal at the end of class where I reveal that this whole case has been about Tom Brady the whole time. And I had brought a very important prop to class to share with the students at the end of this case discussion. And it was on loan to me from my dear colleague who had been the chief operating officer of the New England Patriots for a very long time.

So there's a big reveal at the end of class where I reveal that this whole case has been about Tom Brady the whole time. And I had brought a very important prop to class to share with the students at the end of this case discussion. And it was on loan to me from my dear colleague who had been the chief operating officer of the New England Patriots for a very long time.

So there's a big reveal at the end of class where I reveal that this whole case has been about Tom Brady the whole time. And I had brought a very important prop to class to share with the students at the end of this case discussion. And it was on loan to me from my dear colleague who had been the chief operating officer of the New England Patriots for a very long time.

And he let me bring one of his Super Bowl rings to class.

And he let me bring one of his Super Bowl rings to class.

And he let me bring one of his Super Bowl rings to class.

to help with this big reveal about Tom Brady. And I was so excited. And I made this big show of it. At the end, I sort of lifted it up in the air and I knelt down and all the students erupted in applause. And they all came down at the end of class and wanted to take photos with the Super Bowl ring. And it was so fun. I was very early in my career at the business school.

to help with this big reveal about Tom Brady. And I was so excited. And I made this big show of it. At the end, I sort of lifted it up in the air and I knelt down and all the students erupted in applause. And they all came down at the end of class and wanted to take photos with the Super Bowl ring. And it was so fun. I was very early in my career at the business school.

to help with this big reveal about Tom Brady. And I was so excited. And I made this big show of it. At the end, I sort of lifted it up in the air and I knelt down and all the students erupted in applause. And they all came down at the end of class and wanted to take photos with the Super Bowl ring. And it was so fun. I was very early in my career at the business school.

And I was like, oh, man, I am nailing this, this, this. I am an amazing teacher. This is going so good. Couldn't be going better. But a few days later, I got an email, as I so often do from students, asking to meet with me. And this student comes to my office and...

And I was like, oh, man, I am nailing this, this, this. I am an amazing teacher. This is going so good. Couldn't be going better. But a few days later, I got an email, as I so often do from students, asking to meet with me. And this student comes to my office and...

And I was like, oh, man, I am nailing this, this, this. I am an amazing teacher. This is going so good. Couldn't be going better. But a few days later, I got an email, as I so often do from students, asking to meet with me. And this student comes to my office and...