Episode 146

full
Published on:

19th Aug 2025

Why Principles of Friendship Are Underestimated in Business - Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, Clinical Psychologist, Keynote Speaker

Summary:

Today I sit down with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, a renowned expert on friendship and human connection, to discuss the importance of building meaningful relationships in the workplace and how we underestimate principles of friendship. As she likes to say, "We overestimate the amount of both energy and discomfort that can come from reaching out, initiating plans, And we underestimate the amount of pleasure, joy, meaning, and impact that can come from both deep conversations and also frankly, casual moments of chit chat, whether that's with strangers or a quick reconnect with an old or long lost friend.

Sometimes people compartmentalize their "work friends" or business friends with their personal friends and Miriam teaches us how principles of friendship can help you in sales.

Key Discussion Points:

The role of friendships in enhancing workplace productivity and engagement. Overcoming myths about workplace friendships and their impact on professional success. Practical strategies for fostering genuine connections with colleagues and clients. The balance between professional boundaries and personal connections.

Guest Bio: Dr. Miriam Kirmayer is a clinical psychologist and leading voice on the science of friendship. Her work has been featured in major publications like The Atlantic, BBC, and Psychology Today.

Key Moments:

  1. [00:02:15] - Introduction to Dr. Miriam Kirmayer and her expertise in friendship and human connection.
  2. [00:10:30] - Discussion on the importance of building friendships at work and their impact on productivity.
  3. [00:18:45] - Overcoming common myths about workplace friendships.
  4. [00:25:00] - Practical strategies for fostering genuine connections with colleagues.
  5. [00:35:20] - The balance between maintaining professional boundaries and personal connections.
  6. [00:45:10] - Dr. Kirmayer shares personal stories and insights from her research.
  7. [00:55:30] - Closing thoughts on the value of human connection in professional settings.

Resources:

Visit Miriam's website for more insights and resources on building connections. Connect with Miriam on LinkedIn and Instagram for personal updates and tips.

Subscribe to the "Sell By Being Human" podcast for more episodes on leveraging human connection in sales and business.

#WorkplaceWellbeing #HumanConnection #FriendshipAtWork

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About the Podcast

Sell By Being Human
On the Sell By Being Human podcast, award-winning sales professional Alex Smith provides the proven way to harness your innate human skills like empathy, curiosity, and kindness to learn how to sell and navigate the sales journey.
This is where human connection and sales meet. You may be someone whose success depends on influence, negotiation, and your ability to create change, but you may reject aggressive sales tactics. Maybe you feel stuck in corporate "autopilot," knowing your best asset is your genuine personality, but you struggle to use it to get what you want. Then this channel is for you.

It will teach you how to close the gap between wanting to be ethical and feeling pressured to sell aggressively. You’ll also learn actionable strategies for translating emotional intelligence into high-trust results. Join Alex and top guests, including NY Times bestsellers, keynote speakers, and global founders, as they prove that being truly human is the ultimate sales advantage.

About your host

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Alex Smith

Alex Smith is a seasoned sales professional and podcast host who champions a human-first approach to selling. With nearly two decades of experience, he explores how empathy, curiosity, and genuine connection drive influence in everyday life. Through his podcast, he highlights stories from people across all professions, showing that anyone can persuade and create impact simply by being human.