Episode 55

full
Published on:

7th Jun 2024

Perspectacles the Remix

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5, Episode 55 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.

P Soupers - this week it's a cup a soup and a remix. I bring you a refreshed version of one of our most popular episodes from Season 4. I want to talk to you about perspective taking and how that relates to the world between our ears. I'm recording this new intro in Granada, Spain - I'm attending the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology and yesterday we presented some research and a glimpse into the workplace delivery. Now, if you could just try on these per spectacles please and read the bottom line of that chart over there.

People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about sharing the ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond.

There is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is largely generated by Artificial Intelligence, I have corrected many errors but I won't have captured them all! You can also find the shownotes by clicking on notes then keep scrolling for all the useful links.

Here's the People Soup Website.

And you can subscribe to the People Soup YouTube Channel here.

Visit Ross' Website.

Connect with Ross on LinkedIn

People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life.

Transcript

Perspectacles the Remix

[:

[00:00:00] Ross: Hi there, and a very warm welcome to Season five, episode 55 of People Soup. It's Ross Macintosh here, pea Soupers This week it's a cup of soup and a remix. I bring you a refreshed version of one of our most popular episodes from season four. want to talk to you about perspective taking and how that relates to the world between our ears.

[:

[00:00:39] For those of you who are new to PeopleSoup, hi, hola, welcome to the community. for those who are more familiar, dedicated Peasoopers, welcome back. Thanks for joining us again. We're an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioral science in a way that's practical, accessible, and fun.

[:

[00:01:17] The now get a brew on and have a listen to my reflections on per spectacles.

[:

[00:01:41] In my work and life. I constantly marvel that workplaces can function. Relationships can happen and be sustained and agreements can be made because I reckon we can spend a lot of time assuming that people are thinking just like us

[:

[00:02:05] and this was brought to life by an experiment conducted by Elizabeth Newton in 1990. So let me explain the experiment. in pairs, people were allocated the role of Tapper or listener. The Tapper was invited to tap out the rhythm of a popular song from a list of 25, such as happy birthday or the star Spangled banner.

[:

[00:02:51] And I ain't going to tap them at with two pencils. Okay. So here we go. Song one.

[:

[00:03:10] so how did you get on? Because in the next part of the experiment, before the listener guest, the Tapper was also asked. How many people would get it. Right. And they thought about 50%. Now, in reality, how many of the listeners actually got song right?

[:

[00:03:48] before I reveal what I was tapping, let's just think about what was going on there. The different roles of the Tapper and the listener. the difference is when I was tapping out the songs for you. I was singing the song in my head, but [00:04:00] you went in there with me. Where are you?

[:

[00:04:05] the shack, those gone to see up buckles on his knee. He'll come back and marry me, Bonnie poppy, chef and that's Bobby chef DOE a nursery rhyme. That's probably quite particular to the Northeast of England. and song to wonder if anyone got this

[:

[00:04:37] Right. So how did you get on P supers? When we talk to our partners, our friends, our children, our work colleagues, they don't have the context that's going on in our heads. They're not experiencing the inner world that we're experiencing, which could well be based on a whole range of factors and experiences we've had in our lives.

[:

[00:05:07] at work. Other people don't know the soundtrack that's playing in our heads. They don't know our work songs.

[:

[00:05:25] audio_only_16780290_Diana_Hill: So for example, with perspective taking, I might have people take their hands and make them into two O's and you could do this now with me, take your hands and put them into two O's and then you put the O's right over your eyes. Like you're wearing goggles. And these goggles are, are often our self stories, our beliefs about who we are and who other people are.

[:

[00:06:08] Maybe my right hand is the I'm not good enough story. And my left hand is the I'm better than you story. And we can hold both. For so such so interesting. I can believe that I'm not good enough. And at the same time, believe that I'm better than right. So we can have these self stories that are limiting.

[:

[00:06:58] And you can see in the corners of your eyes, your hands, but really you're focusing your mind forward. And then you can even drop your hands and keep that spacious panoramic view so that now you have a fuller perspective on you. On your story, but also one that is interconnected and that's really a three 60 perspective.

[:

[00:07:50] And Oh yeah, here I am goggles on. I'm only saying, you know, you're in a fight with your partner, with a friend, with your mom, with your dad, with your kid, you know what you're doing, God was [00:08:00] on, you know? And so I can feel that feeling of, well, this is when my goggles are on that. I'm caught up in a South story and now I also know the feeling of what it's like to be.

[:

[00:08:36] I love that exercise from Diana. who talks about ourselves stories and beliefs, those beliefs about who we are and those beliefs about who other people are in the workplace.

[:

[00:08:52] and Delta people can't hear our work song and sometimes we don't appreciate that. And that's when things might go awry.

[:

[00:09:10] Ross: I'd really like your help in reaching more people with this behavioral science, so

[:

[00:09:18] Ross: Number one, share it with one other person. Number two, subscribe and give us a five star review, whatever platform you're on.

[:

[00:09:54] Thanks to Andy Glenn for his spoon magic and Alex Engelberg for his vocals. Most of all, dear [00:10:00] listener, thanks to you. Look after yourselves, peace supers, and bye for now.

[:

Show artwork for People Soup

About the Podcast

People Soup
Real conversations about work, leadership and being human.
Grounded in behavioural science, each episode is packed with practical ideas you can put into practice straight away.

The name People Soup comes from a quote by Abraham Maslow:

"A first-rate soup is more creative than a second-rate painting."

I've always loved that idea. Creativity isn't confined to art. It shows up in how we live, work, lead and relate to one another.

Work can sometimes feel like a soup: a rich, sometimes bewildering mix of people, personalities, decisions, pressures, relationships and unexpected challenges. Every day we're trying to make sense of the ingredients we've been given.

Behavioural science doesn't remove the complexity, but it gives us practical ways to navigate it. It offers ideas, skills and evidence-based tools that help us respond more effectively—to ourselves, to other people and to the situations we face.

That's what People Soup is all about.

Through conversations, solo episodes and practical tools, People Soup explores how behavioural science—and particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—can help us lead, work and live with greater purpose, psychological flexibility and practical wisdom.

About your host

Profile picture for Ross McIntosh

Ross McIntosh

I'm Ross McIntosh, a business psychologist, coach and facilitator, with over 30 years' experience helping people thrive at work.

People Soup grew from a simple belief: work is an important part of life, but it doesn't have to come at the expense of our wellbeing, our relationships or our values.

Each episode explores the realities of work, leadership and being human through the lens of behavioural science. Sometimes that's a conversation with an inspiring guest. Sometimes it's a short "Quick Spoon" offering a practical idea you can put into practice straight away.

My work is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based approach that helps people develop psychological flexibility: the ability to stay purposeful, adaptable and effective, even when life gets messy.

Whether you're leading a team, supporting others, or simply trying to navigate the pressures of modern work, my hope is that People Soup gives you practical tools, fresh perspectives and the confidence to take your next meaningful step.

A few things about me
Chartered Fellow of the CIPD.
Fellow of the Association for Coaching.
Research collaborator with City St George's, University of London.
Speaker, facilitator and leadership development consultant.
Founder and Host of the People Soup podcast.

When I'm not recording the podcast or working with clients, you'll usually find me reading, cycling, improving my Spanish, or enjoying life in southern Spain with my husband.