Think You Said Too Much? Why Oversharing Might Be Your Secret Weapon with Leslie John | 390

2026-02-25

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Let’s talk about the thing you replay over and over in your mind at 2 a.m. The comment in the meeting. The story you shared. The truth that felt a little too honest. Welcome to the oversharing hangover. We’ve been taught that credibility requires polish and power lives in restraint. Keep it tight. Keep it tidy. Keep the messy parts to yourself. But what if that’s wrong? In this episode, Nicole sits down with Leslie John, Harvard Business School professor and author of Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing, to unpack what the research actua...

Let’s talk about the thing you replay over and over in your mind at 2 a.m.

The comment in the meeting. The story you shared. The truth that felt a little too honest.

Welcome to the oversharing hangover.

We’ve been taught that credibility requires polish and power lives in restraint. Keep it tight. Keep it tidy. Keep the messy parts to yourself.

But what if that’s wrong?

In this episode, Nicole sits down with Leslie John, Harvard Business School professor and author of Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing, to unpack what the research actually says about vulnerability, trust, and credibility — and why saying less might be costing you more than you think.

In This Episode, We Explore:

Why oversharing can build trust
The difference between thoughtful revealing and emotional dumping
How admitting mistakes can increase credibility at work
The “Goldilocks rule” of vulnerability
How to weigh the cost of revealing vs. staying silent

The research is clear: we consistently trust people who reveal something real more than those who stay guarded.

And thoughtful vulnerability doesn’t weaken your credibility — it strengthens it

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Connect with Leslie:

Website: https://www.lesliekjohn.com/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Revealing-Underrated-Oversharing-Leslie-John/dp/0593545389

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-john-75928721/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/proflesliejohn/

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