By 
John O'Leary
 | 
TED Institute Talk

The importance of good conversation – and how to have it

The night before the Challenger exploded, NASA had a three-hour conference call with a company that knew the shuttle would fail. Why did NASA not abort the mission? John O'Leary explores what makes for an effective conversation. He lists three myths that can lead to destructive silence, and vital techniques to enable good conversation for groups everywhere.

Related tags:

communication
society
business
TED is supported by ads and partners

Watch next

4:49
Matthew Mazzotta
Playful, wondrous public spaces built for community and possibility
11:33
Jens Burchardt
How we can curb climate change by spending two percent more on everything
12:05
Nomava Zanazo
4 myths and misunderstandings about doing business in Africa
11:45
Anu Puusa
The case for co-ops, the invisible giant of the economy
12:44
Marcos Aguiar
7 tools for building a business people trust
4:52
Chase LaDue and Bruce A. Schulte
The incredible, bendable, twistable, expandable elephant trunk
7:50
Patty McCord
4 lessons the pandemic taught us about work, life and balance
15:34
Esther Perel
The routines, rituals and boundaries we need in stressful times
10:40
Julia Dhar
How to have constructive conversations
7:50
John Marshall
3 strategies for effectively talking about climate change
38:05
John Kerry and Al Gore
The US is back in the Paris Agreement. What's next?
5:14
Lorenzo García-Amaya
Why do we, like, hesitate when we, um, speak?
9:27
Sarah Ellis, Helen Tupper
The best career path isn't always a straight line
4:13
Chris Anderson
We can help you master public speaking
10:42
Gbenga Sesan
Technology can't fix inequality -- but training and opportunities could
14:43
Joan C. Williams
Why corporate diversity programs fail -- and how small tweaks can have big impact
15:32
Jodi-Ann Burey
The myth of bringing your full, authentic self to work
6:00
Kluane Adamek
The legacy of matriarchs in the Yukon First Nations