The School of Greatness

Why You're Afraid to Share (And What It's Costing You) | Leslie John

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Feb 23, 2026
Leslie John, Harvard Business School professor and author of Revealing, studies how we decide what to share. She reveals why undersharing silently erodes relationships, how mind-reading expectations breed resentment, and practical ways to invite honest conversation. Short, research-backed takes on vulnerability, boundaries, and when disclosure helps or harms.
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INSIGHT

Overconfidence Breaks Long-Term Bonds

  • People overestimate how well they know long-term partners and stop asking questions.
  • That mismatch causes slow distancing and relationship decay over time.
INSIGHT

Mind-Reading Expectations Hurt Intimacy

  • Mind-reading expectations are implicit beliefs that partners should know feelings without being told.
  • Those expectations create disappointment and stonewalling when partners fail to respond.
ADVICE

Say The Thing You Wish They Knew

  • Say what feels like overcommunicating; explicit requests beat assumed signals.
  • Use simple requests like, “I had a shitty day, can I have a hug?” to get needs met.
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