Michele Gelfand
Michele Gelfand on Threat vs Tightness
Michele Gelfand
Keynote Speaker
Stanford University Professor; National Academy of Sciences Member; Author, Rule Makers, Rule Breaker
Renowned cultural psychologist and Rule Makers, Rule Breakers author Michele Gelfand takes audiences on a groundbreaking journey through human culture. Blending science, humor, and real-world insights, she illuminates how cultural differences shape our world and reveals the keys to successfully navigating today's globalized marketplace and diverse organizations.
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Michele Gelfand'S SPEAKING FEE $25K - $40K
Michele Gelfand is a pioneering cultural psychologist and negotiation expert who takes audiences on a groundbreaking journey to understand human behavior through the lens of cultural norms. Her dynamic presentations blend cutting-edge science, engaging storytelling, and practical insights to illuminate how cultural differences shape our world from the boardroom to the bedroom.
As a distinguished professor, bestselling author, and advisor to world leaders, Michele draws on her vast research to reveal the hidden power of social norms in shaping our lives, organizations, and nations. Her talks explore how mastering the “tight-loose” cultural code can help individuals and organizations thrive in today’s globalized world, foster innovation and adaptability, and effectively navigate cross-cultural challenges. With humor, warmth, and an uncanny ability to make complex ideas accessible, Michele leaves audiences with a fresh perspective on human behavior and actionable strategies for success in our diverse, rapidly changing world.
Featured Videos
Michele Gelfand
Michele Gelfand on The Secret Life of Social Norms
Michele Gelfand
Michele Gelfand on Tight Groups and Loose Groups
Michele Gelfand
Michele Gelfand on Social Classes and Cultural Codes
Michele Gelfand
Michele Gelfand on Tightness and Power
Michele Gelfand
Michele Gelfand on Threat vs Tightness
Michele Gelfand’s Speech Topics
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Tight and Loose: Mastering a Key Cultural Code
Over the past century, we have explored the solar system, split the atom, and wired the earth, but somehow, despite all of our technical prowess, we have struggled to understand something far more important: our own human differences. Observing the wide variety of cultural permutations, people assumed for centuries that there were as many explanations for these permutations and rifts as there were examples of them. Our research shows that many human differences actually reflect a simple, but often invisible distinction: The strength of social norms. Tight groups have strict social norms and little tolerance for deviance, while loose groups have weak social norms and are highly permissive. The tightness or looseness of social norms turns out to be a Rosetta Stone for human groups. It illuminates similar patterns of difference across nations, states, organizations, social class, households, and in our own mindsets. Neither tight or loose is inherently bad — but they offer important trade-offs that need to be mastered. The most effective groups are ambidextrous; they know how to simultaneously tighten and loosen, and are able to maximize both order and openness. In this session, we’ll go on a journey of tight and loose to understand its logic and its promise for leaders all across the globe.
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Finding Your Inner Negotiator Superpower
Negotiation is a pervasive social phenomenon, occurring in many formal settings (e.g., within organizations) and informal settings (e.g., between friends). Without even knowing it, we negotiate everyday with spouses, roommates, landlords, co-workers, supervisors, service providers, etc. Determining what price we will pay, where we will go on vacation, what movie to watch, our salary, and our compensation are all negotiations. Even though negotiations are pervasive, research shows that individuals and groups often leave value at the table and fail to reach agreements that could be better for all parties. This session will empower you to find and perfect your own inner negotiator to get more value in all that you do.
Works by Michele Gelfand
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Michele Gelfand Topics & Types
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