Episode

What Actually Works to Change Someone’s Mind

Podcast
HBR On Leadership
Published
Dec 31, 2025
Duration seconds
1369
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://hbr.org/podcast/2025/12/what-actually-works-to-change-someones-mind
Audio
https://audio.hbr.org/on-leadership/20251223152203-WhatActuallyWorkstoChangeSomeone_sMind.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/hbr-on-leadership-6411274/episodes/what-actually-works-to-change-someone-s-mind
Markdown
/podcast/hbr-on-leadership-6411274/what-actually-works-to-change-someone-s-mind.md

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Summary

Jonah Berger, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, says that most of us aren’t approaching persuasion the right way. Pushing people to behave how you’d like them to or believe the same things you do just doesn’t work, no matter how much data you give or how many emotional appeals you make. Studying both psychology and business, he’s found better tactics for bringing people over to your side. One of the keys? Asking questions so people feel like they’re making the decision to change. Berger is the author of the book “The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind.”