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The Mel Robbins Podcast · May 4, 2026 · 1h 6m

Harvard Business School Professor: This One Research Study Will Change Your Life and Career

Leslie K. John
Show Notes

Harvard Business School professor Dr. Leslie K. John shares research revealing that undersharing, not oversharing, is the bigger threat to relationships and careers. She explains why 89% of people prefer vulnerability when choosing whom to trust and hire, the hidden cognitive and health costs of keeping secrets, and practical frameworks like the Disclosure Matrix and a two-sentence script for hard conversations. The episode challenges conventional advice about privacy and shows how strategic openness builds connection.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Novel

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The Disclosure Matrix
Dr. John teaches a decision-making tool at Harvard Business School that helps you determine when to speak up and when to stay quiet.
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Highlights

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89% of People Prefer Vulnerability
Nearly 9 out of 10 people would rather work with, trust, and hire someone who shares something difficult or unflattering over someone who stays quiet.
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The Health Toll of Secrecy
Keeping secrets doesn't just feel heavy—research shows it lowers cognitive performance, reduces effective IQ, and is linked to measurable declines in physical health.
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Undersharing, Not Oversharing, Is the Real Problem
For years, advice has been to avoid oversharing, but Dr. John's research suggests undersharing is what fuels loneliness and stalls careers.
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Editorial

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The Two-Sentence Framework for Hard Conversations
A simple, two-sentence script that makes starting any difficult conversation easier.
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Misc

✧One of the most common deathbed regrets is 'I wish I had shared my feelings more.'
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