How to Think Like a Spy
Business as Spying in Disguise
James Bond's thrilling escapades contrast sharply with the slow, strategic nature of real-life espionage, as former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante explains that success in business, much like spying, requires critical thinking, adaptability, and the ability to operate discreetly for a competitive edge.
Gathering Intelligence Through Sensemaking
In a video lesson, former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante emphasizes the importance of sensemaking in negotiations, advocating for a gradual approach to build trust and overcome avoidance, ultimately leading to compliance and successful professional relationships.
Getting What You Want from Other People
In a video lesson, former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante explains how understanding people's core motivators—through the RICE method—can inspire genuine action and build rapport, transforming motivation into a powerful tool for achieving results with integrity.
Using Secrets as Leverage
In this video lesson, former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante explains how strategically managing information can provide a competitive edge in the professional world, emphasizing the importance of trading secrets with a decreasing half-life to maintain influence and power.
A Spy’s #1 Tool for Eliciting Secrets
In this video lesson, former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante reveals how to move beyond small talk to uncover deeper insights through "elicitation," a technique that uses open-ended questions to encourage others to share their thoughts and motivations naturally.
A Leader’s Guide to Keeping Secrets
Ram Dass's insight on silence resonates with Andrew Bustamante's emphasis on strategic secrecy in leadership, highlighting how withholding information can enhance team focus and motivation while safeguarding valuable insights for greater impact.
A 3-Step Model for Cultivating High Performers
In this video lesson, Andrew Bustamante emphasizes the importance of balancing education, practice, and real-world experience in talent development, illustrating how calm-water training alone fails to prepare individuals for unpredictable challenges.
The Last Man Standing Mindset
Former CIA operative Andrew Bustamante shares how the "win or die trying" mindset can enhance leadership by fostering accountability, minimizing distractions, and promoting excellence in business through strategic decision-making and support for high performers.
In the high-stakes world of espionage, operatives rely on a blend of strategy and psychology to navigate complex situations and achieve their objectives — principles that have the potential to transform your approach to business and leadership. Join former CIA officer Andrew Bustamante to explore how to leverage intelligence, motivate others, safeguard secrets, and cultivate high-performing teams. You might even awaken your inner secret agent along the way!
Learning Objectives
- Apply espionage principles to sharpen your strategy.
- Build relationships and align your teams to shared objectives.
- Motivate teams with tailored techniques.
- Master information management.
- Adopt phased learning approaches to enhance adaptability.