
Coaching for Leaders
715: How to Stand Up for Yourself, with Sunita Sah
Jan 13, 2025
Sunita Sah, an award-winning professor at Cornell and author of *Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes*, shares her insights on defiance and compliance. She discusses how defiance is a nuanced process rather than a snap judgement. Sunita explains the five stages of defiance and highlights the concept of ‘insinuation anxiety,’ which leads people to prioritize social harmony over personal values. Through personal anecdotes, she emphasizes the importance of standing firm in healthcare choices and asserts that true defiance aligns with one’s core values.
36:09
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Quick takeaways
- Defiance involves a deliberate process that allows individuals to align their actions with their values when faced with pressure.
- Understanding the stages of defiance and self-reflection through the defiance compass can empower individuals to assertively navigate challenging situations.
Deep dives
Understanding Defiance and Compliance
Defiance is often perceived as a spontaneous act but is more accurately a nuanced response to specific pressures. Compliance, while sometimes essential, can lead to detrimental outcomes when it contradicts personal values or common sense. The podcast emphasizes that successfully standing up for oneself requires understanding when to say no, rather than simply going along with expectations. An example highlighted involves a medical professional’s experience in the emergency room, illustrating the tension between compliance and critical self-advocacy.
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