Episode 9 – Hal Movius

Welcome to Episode 9, where I talk to HAL MOVIUS, founder and president of Movius Consulting, about the nature of confidence, the ways in which confidence can both help us and hurt us when we’re working through a difficult negotiation. My conversation with Hal takes Circle of Willis in a bit of a different direction, since Hal isn’t currently a working scientist, per se, but is instead applying his training and expertise in behavioral science to work with some of the world’s most impactful and recognizable companies and NGOs, including Procter & Gamble, McDonald’s, Ogilvy & Mather, Johnson & Johnson, Hewlett-Packard, the United Nations Development Program, the Federal Aviation Administration, the University of Chicago, the Society for Neuroscience, and the Rockefeller Foundation! Hal advises these organizations about the science of negotiation, influence, emotion regulation, leadership, and organizational development. As he notes in our conversation, “[the science on these topics] makes you cautious. It helps you recognize BS, which is in no short supply…[there are] endless claims…endless misrepresentations of research…and I like to think that the advice that we’re giving is really grounded in evidence…” Hal is a trusted advisor to the leaders of these companies, not least because he helps them spot and avoid unsupported claims and advice. Hal is the author of two books: Resolve: Negotiating Life’s Conflicts with Greater Confidence (2017, LifeTree Media) and Built to Win: Creating A World Class Negotiating Organization (Harvard Business Press, May 2009). He has produced a bunch of films on negotiation and influence challenges, published papers on the effectiveness of negotiation training, cross-cultural business negotiations, and dealing with difficult negotiation counterparts, and he has taught at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. Most importantly, Hal Movius is among the closest friends I’ve ever had—ever will have. I met him 20+ years ago as a first-year graduate student at the University of Arizona, and my life has been far better as a result. In this episode, Hal talks with me not only about his specific areas of expertise, but also about how he came to work in the private sector instead of academia, when, it seemed to me, academia was his natural home. Hal has does things differently than most of us. He’s an independent thinker, and he’s passionate about his work. I’m thrilled to be able to share him with the world! Oh! Catch Dahlia Lithwick’s Slate interview with Hal here! * * * As always, remember that this podcast is brought to you by VQR and the Center for Media and Citizenship. Plus, we're a member of the TEEJ.FM podcast network. AND... The music of CIRCLE OF WILLIS was composed and performed by Tom Stauffer, Gene Ruley and their band THE NEW DRAKES. You can purchase this music at their Amazon page.