Fixable How to say no (from WorkLife with Adam Grant)
28 snips
May 26, 2025 
Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist at Wharton, joins Vanessa Bonds, a Cornell professor who studies influence, and Sherry Liu, founder of the Eldest Daughter Club, for a captivating discussion on the art of saying no. They tackle the societal pressures that compel us to please others, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries for personal well-being. With personal anecdotes and research insights, they reveal how delivering polite refusals can strengthen relationships and boost self-respect, ultimately helping to create healthier connections both personally and professionally.
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Acquaintance Trap Explained
- We feel most pressure to say yes to acquaintances due to relationship uncertainty.
- Saying no to close friends or strangers feels easier than to acquaintances, a trap called the acquaintance trap.
Sherry Liu’s People-Pleasing Journey
- Sherry Liu shares how cultural and family expectations amplified her people-pleasing at work.
- She learned that saying yes to everything harmed her career growth until her manager helped her set boundaries.
Gendered Help Expectations at Work
- Women are disproportionately expected to help at work and face penalties for saying no.
- Men receive praise or pass for helping or declining, while women’s contributions are often taken for granted.
