The Hidden Psychology of Inspirational Leaders - Adam Galinsky

Negotiate Anything

American Negotiation Institute

Education, Business, Self-improvement

4.7 • 748 Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why do some people inspire us instantly — while others infuriate us just as fast? According to Adam Galinsky, the answer isn’t random. It’s psychological, universal, and surprisingly predictable. Adam is a professor at Columbia Business School, co-author of Friend & Foe, and author of the new book Inspire. He’s spent years studying tens of thousands of real leadership stories across the globe — and what he discovered will change the way you see yourself and the people around you. In this conversation, Adam and Kwame break down: • The three universal traits of inspiring leaders • Why inspiring and infuriating people are mirror images of each other • How the “leader amplification effect” makes even small actions hit hard • How insecurity turns people into “little tyrants” • The difference between persuasion, authenticity, and manipulation • How simple practices (values reflection, power recall) can reduce anxiety and build confidence • Why anyone — in work, at home, or in life — can learn to become inspiring Adam also shares incredible personal stories, including how one sentence from Daniel Kahneman shaped his entire career — and how a small moment with his son revealed the true weight of leadership. If you’ve ever wondered why people follow some leaders and push away from others, or how to become more inspiring in your own life, this episode gives you the science, the stories, and the practical steps to do it. Connect with Adam ⁠Buy the book Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others⁠ ⁠Buy the book Friend & Foe: When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both

Transcript

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0:00.0	Some researchers had used this technique I created in Europe and measured physiological reactivity
0:04.8	before giving a speech a stressful event and showed that.
0:08.2	And you've probably heard of something called the power pose, right?
0:11.2	And there's a lot of debate in the scientific literature whether the power pose has scientific
0:15.6	validity.
0:16.2	And a lot of people feel it doesn't.
0:17.7	And the reason why I think that this kind of powerful, in-control
0:21.2	reflection has greater evidence of scientific validity than power posing is because we're
0:26.8	tapping into our own authentic experiences and we're building off something that we did.
0:32.6	Hey, I'm Kwame Christian and you are about to step into the world of Negotiate Anything,
0:37.9	the number one negotiation podcast in the world where we teach you how to make difficult conversations
0:43.0	easier while getting more of what you want in the process. Each episode is packed with practical
0:48.4	tips and strategies from the experts. We delve into negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership skills that are crucial
0:55.7	in both business and in life. Whether you're closing a deal, managing a team, or navigating
1:01.2	personal relationships, negotiate anything provides you with the tools you need to succeed.
1:06.9	Our conversations are real, relatable, and most importantly, rooted in practicality.
1:12.6	So if you're ready to transform your conversations and elevate your negotiation skills,
1:17.6	join me on Negotiate Anything.
1:19.6	Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you love to listen.
1:24.6	Let's make every conversation a winning negotiation.
1:30.3	Adam, thanks for joining us today. It's my honor and privilege. I'm so happy to be here.
1:34.6	Well, you stole my words. I was going to say it's my honor and privilege, my friend. So thank you for
	...

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