108 A: Navigating The Nuances Of Impression Management | With Övül Sezer

01/23/25 • 21 min

In this episode of the NEGOTIATEx podcast, we welcome Ovul Sezer, Assistant Professor at Cornell University, who blends her roles as a behavioral scientist and stand-up comedian to investigate "impression mismanagement." Ovul's academic path shifted from mathematics to behavioral science amid the 2008 financial crisis, deeply influenced by behavioral economics. She highlights the synergy between analyzing digital interactions and traditional social science, applying her mathematical skills to decipher large datasets from social platforms. Ovul's research focuses on common errors in impression management and explores how these vary across different cultural and demographic contexts, offering insights into optimizing social interactions.

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107 B: The Negotiator’s Edge From The Battlefield To Boardroom | With Jeff Weiss

In this episode of the NEGOTIATEx podcast, Jeff Weiss recounts the impact of the West Point Negotiation Project. The course started as a practical negotiation course and became a pivotal part of army doctrine. This episode highlights Jeff’s deep personal fulfillment derived from his involvement, emphasizing how the project equipped soldiers with critical negotiation skills for high-stakes situations. Throughout the discussion, the narrative explores the application of strategic negotiation techniques in various challenging environments, advocating for purposeful, creative approaches over reactive tactics. The insights uncover that disciplined preparation and genuine engagement are key to achieving substantive outcomes in both military and business contexts.

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108 B: Impression Management: Key Strategies For Self-Awareness & Influence | With Övül Sezer

In this episode of the NEGOTIATEx podcast, Ovul Sezer discusses self-awareness and impression management in social interactions. She describes her self-awareness as “self paranoia,” highlighting the fine line between being aware and overanalyzing. Additionally, she critiques “humble bragging” and notes that awareness of cognitive biases like anchoring doesn’t automatically correct them. Advocating for deeper empathy and responsiveness, Ovul stresses the importance of tuning into emotional tones and perspectives beyond words. She highlights this skill’s relevance in personal and professional realms, particularly on social media, underscoring the necessity for genuine engagement and effective communication strategies in impression management.