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 What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show. 

I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation.

Let’s connect:

• [email protected]
• The Brainy Business® on Facebook
• The Brainy Business on Twitter
• The Brainy Business on Instagram
• The Brainy Business on LinkedIn
• Melina on LinkedIn
• The Brainy Business on Youtube

Connect with Sunita:

• LinkedIn
• Linktree

Learn and Support The Brainy Business:

Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books. 

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)

Other Important Links: 

Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter