In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer is joined by Dr. Sunita Sah, a physician turned organizational psychologist and professor at Cornell University. Sunita discusses her new book, Defy: The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes, which explores the importance of defiance in decision-making and how it can be a powerful tool for maintaining personal integrity and values. Her research delves into the dynamics of compliance, conflicts of interest, and the psychological processes that lead individuals to conform to bad advice, even when they know better.

Sunita shares her journey from being an obedient child to a medical professional and now an academic researcher, highlighting the importance of understanding one's true values and the pressures that lead to compliance. She also introduces the concept of "insinuation anxiety," which is the discomfort we feel when we don't want to signal distrust to someone giving us advice, even when we recognize a conflict of interest.

In this episode:

• Learn about the concept of defiance and its role in maintaining personal integrity.
• Understand the psychological dynamics of compliance and the pressures that lead to it.
• Explore the "defiance compass" and how it can guide decision-making.
• Discover the superpower of responsibility and how it can empower defiance.
• Gain insights into creating a workplace culture that encourages safe dissent and defiance.

Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction
Melina introduces Dr. Sunita Sah and the focus of today's episode on defiance and compliance.

03:00 - Sunita's Background
Sunita shares her journey from medicine to academia and her research interests.

10:00 - Understanding Defiance
Discussion on the importance of defiance and its role in decision-making.

20:00 - Insinuation Anxiety
Exploring the psychological process that leads to compliance in the face of conflict of interest disclosures.

30:00 - Defiance Compass
Introduction to the defiance compass and how it guides individuals in making value-based decisions.

40:00 - Superpower of Responsibility
How responsibility can empower individuals to defy and maintain personal integrity.

41:00 - Conclusion
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Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:

• Defy, by Sunita Sah
• What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer
• Let’s Talk, by Therese Huston
• Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict, by Karin Hurt and David Dye
• Getting Along, by Amy Gallo

Top Recommended Next Episode: Stephen MR Covey Interview (ep 320)

Already Heard That One? Try These: 

• Confirmation Bias (ep 260)
• Focusing Illusion (ep 330)
• Interview - Amy Gallo Interview (ep 269)
• Vulnerability Loops (ep 229)
• Nuala Walsh Interview (ep 153)

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