Gillian Sandstrom: How Talking to Strangers Boosts Well-Being and Leadership Impact

About this episode

Dr. Gillian Sandstrom discusses the importance of talking to strangers and its impact on well-being and leadership.

    In an era marked by remote work, digital convenience, and a documented 24% decline in everyday social interactions, many leaders are noticing a subtle but significant erosion of human connection — both in their personal lives and across their organizations. Our guest is Dr. Gillian Sandstrom, associate professor of psychology at the University of Sussex and author of the new book Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How Small Talk Can Add Up To a Big Life. Sandstrom has spent 16 years researching the often-overlooked power of brief conversations with strangers — what she calls “micro-social interactions.” Her work reveals that these small moments are far from trivial. Talking to strangers can meaningfully improve mood, reduce anxiety, strengthen our sense of belonging, spark curiosity, and even lead to surprising insights or unexpected opportunities. Yet most people dramatically underestimate these benefits and overestimate the discomfort involved. For leaders, the implications extend well beyond personal well-being. In workplaces where belonging remains a fundamental human need — sitting near the top of Maslow’s hierarchy after basic security — fostering even these…

People in this episode

Host: Mark C. Crowley

Guest: Dr. Gillian Sandstrom

Topics covered

• human connection
• leadership
• social interactions
• well-being
• employee morale
• small talk

Keywords

• micro-social interactions
• anxiety reduction
• sense of belonging
• employee engagement
• leadership strategies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Sussex

Books & works: Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How Small Talk Can Add Up To a Big Life

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