Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

How to Say No: The Psychology of Defiance with Dr. Sunita Sah

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Most of us were taught to be agreeable. To be easy. To be helpful. But constantly saying “yes” can drain our energy and derail our careers.

In this episode from the Hello Monday archives, Jessi Hempel sits down with Dr. Sunita Sah, author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes, to explore why saying “no” feels so hard and why reclaiming defiance is essential to our confidence, clarity, and integrity.

In her conversation with Jessi, Dr. Sah breaks down how to recognize compliance, interrupt it, and rebuild a relationship with “no” that is grounded, principled, and guilt-free.

Jessi and Dr. Sah discuss:

  • Why saying “no” triggers discomfort
  • What insinuation anxiety is, and how it quietly shapes workplace behavior
  • Strategies to speak up even when the stakes feel high
  • How to break patterns of over-compliance and reclaim autonomy
  • How to make defiance a practice
  • How to align your “no” with your values

    • Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM ET.

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