When to Say What You Think (And When Not To) with Harvard Psychologist Steven Pinker
The High Performance Podcast29 Okt 2025

When to Say What You Think (And When Not To) with Harvard Psychologist Steven Pinker

Pre-order our brand new book Micro-Habits and use code MICROHABITS26 for 25% off before the launch on 1st January. https://hppod.co/472Og7q


What makes great communicators stand out isn’t confidence, charisma, or talent, it’s clarity.


In this episode, cognitive scientist and Harvard professor Steven Pinker joins Damian to explore the hidden psychology behind how we speak, listen, and understand one another. He explains why the real art of communication isn’t about what we say, but about how we build common knowledge, the shared understanding that allows people to think, decide, and act together.


Pinker calls it one of the most overlooked habits in high performance: the ability to step outside your own head and see the world as others do. It’s how leaders create alignment, how teams build trust, and how ideas truly land.


Together, we explore:


  • Why "everyone knows it" is completely different from "everyone knows that everyone knows it"
  • The essential habit of knowing when to make the unspoken spoken (and when not to)
  • How to use focal points to coordinate without words
  • The three types of human relationships—and why mixing them up destroys trust
  • Why blunt honesty can be just as damaging as ambiguity


Whether you're leading a team, navigating a difficult conversation, or simply trying to communicate more effectively, this episode will transform how you think about language, relationships, and coordination


Steven’s new book ‘When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…’ is out now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avsnitt(667)

Atomic Habits Author, James Clear: Why Every Action is a Vote for Who You Become

Atomic Habits Author, James Clear: Why Every Action is a Vote for Who You Become

As Atomic Habits author James Clear reminds us, the person you become is shaped not by one big decision, but by the small choices you make every single day.In this episode, we revisit our insightful c...

15 Aug 202546min

What the No.1 Brain Surgeon Taught Us About Delivering Hard Truths

What the No.1 Brain Surgeon Taught Us About Delivering Hard Truths

Some conversations change lives. Others change the way we think about how we have them.In this episode, I share the lesson I took from Dr. Rahul Jandial, world-renowned brain surgeon, neuroscientist, ...

13 Aug 202524min

Steve Backshall on Surviving Near Death, Fatherhood and What Really Matters (E365)

Steve Backshall on Surviving Near Death, Fatherhood and What Really Matters (E365)

Steve Backshall is no stranger to the edge. As a BAFTA-winning naturalist, adventurer, and presenter of Deadly 60, he’s spent his life in some of the world’s most extreme environments, from dense jung...

11 Aug 20251h

Alex Greenwood Exclusive: What It Took to Win the Euros - The Story Behind England’s Winning Culture (E364)

Alex Greenwood Exclusive: What It Took to Win the Euros - The Story Behind England’s Winning Culture (E364)

Alex Greenwood opens up like never before, sharing the moments that shaped her, from missing a high-stakes penalty to becoming a leader who others can lean on. It’s raw, honest, and packed with the ki...

8 Aug 20251h 23min

How Brutal Self-Honesty Drives Real Progress, with Michael Johnson

How Brutal Self-Honesty Drives Real Progress, with Michael Johnson

There’s a moment in this conversation with 4x Olympic Champion Michael Johnson that stopped me in my tracks. He said, “Success doesn’t care what you believe you deserve.”That line sums up what this ep...

6 Aug 202529min

David Coulthard: From Senna's Seat to Red Bull's Rise | The Story of My F1 Career (E363)

David Coulthard: From Senna's Seat to Red Bull's Rise | The Story of My F1 Career (E363)

David Coulthard is a 13-time Grand Prix winner and former F1 driver for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. Known for his sharp insights and calm exterior, he’s lived through some of the sport’s most int...

4 Aug 20251h 6min

James Milner: The Premier League’s Ultimate Pro on Lasting 22 Years at the Top

James Milner: The Premier League’s Ultimate Pro on Lasting 22 Years at the Top

James Milner is set to feature in his 24th different Premier League season and has the chance to break the appearance record. In this conversation, he reveals what it really takes to stay at the top.F...

1 Aug 202558min

The Key Habit Firefighters Use To Make Decisions In A Crisis

The Key Habit Firefighters Use To Make Decisions In A Crisis

We make thousands of decisions every day, but under pressure, those choices become harder, and more important.When I first came across Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton’s story, what struck me wasn’t just what...

30 Juli 202522min

Populärt inom Hälsa

somna-med-henrik
rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
inga-beiga-morsor
alska-oss
rss-jossan-nina
brottarbroder
johannes-hansen-podcast
vinterpasset
rss-sjalsligt-avkladd
rss-viktmedicinpodden
sexnoveller-deluxe
sova-med-dan-horning
not-fanny-anymore
sa-in-i-sjalen
sag-det-bara
angestpodden
rss-the-house-podcast-3
tyngre-radio
rss-the-house-podcast-4
medicinvetarna