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Episode 75

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Published on:

28th Oct 2026

Quick Spoon: Practice is more than preparation

We tend to focus on the big moment: the presentation, the difficult conversation, the important decision or the final result.

But how we show up in those moments is shaped by what we do repeatedly beforehand.

In this People Soup Quick Spoon, Chris Rodgers-Wilson offers a thoughtful perspective on the relationship between practice and performance. He suggests that high performance isn't simply about achieving a big result. It's about the daily commitment to practice and taking steps towards the way we want to show up to challenges.

I pick up on an important distinction: practice isn't just about repeating the same thing regardless of how we're feeling or what's happening around us. It's also about noticing the conditions we're working with and choosing how to respond.

Here's something to try:

Pick one situation where you'd like to show up differently.

What's one small practice you could build into your day to help you move towards that?

And don't worry about getting it perfect. Focus on returning to the practice.

That's your Quick Spoon. Until next time, take care.

People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use.

If this episode resonated with you, please consider following People Soup, leaving a rating or review, or sharing it with someone who might find it useful.

Every recommendation helps more people discover practical, evidence-based conversations about work, leadership and being human.

In collaboration with Contextual Consulting I'm running an ACT in the Workplace: Train the Trainer Programme in February 2027. If you're interested in bringing practical evidence-based behavioral science to organizations, this course will equip you to work with groups, understand the stance of the ACT facilitator, and help make a difference to wellbeing in the workplace - then please check out all the details here. The early bird prices run until 5 November and if you use the code WORK20 - you'll receive an extra 20% discount.

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
Chris:

And that that in itself makes the practice a daily process of

Chris:

transformation, and that over time, that is transforming who you are as a

Chris:

person, as an artist, as a worker And then I think the link to performance is

Chris:

that high performance can sort of sound like this big sort of grandiose term,

Chris:

and it does get thrown around a lot.

Chris:

But I think at its core, to me, high performance is that commitment daily

Chris:

to that practice or in whatever it is, and making steps towards the way

Chris:

you wanna show up to the challenge

Ross:

Hi there, and welcome to People Soup Quick Spoon: real conversations

Ross:

about work, leadership, and being human.

Ross:

I'm Ross McIntosh, and here's your quick spoon

Ross:

I like Chris's distinction between practice and performance We

Ross:

tend to focus on the big moment

Ross:

The presentation, the difficult conversation the important

Ross:

decision, the final result

Ross:

But how we show up in those moments is shaped by what we do repeatedly beforehand

Ross:

And practice isn't simply repeating the same thing, regardless of how we're

Ross:

feeling or what's happening around us

Ross:

it's also noticing the conditions we're working with and choosing how to respond.

Ross:

So here's something to try Pick one situation where you'd

Ross:

like to show up differently

Ross:

What's one small practice that you could try to build into your day that

Ross:

would help you move towards that?

Ross:

And don't worry about getting it perfect.

Ross:

Focus on returning to the practice.

Ross:

That's your Quick Spoon.

Ross:

Until next time, take care

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About the Podcast

People Soup
Real conversations about work, leadership and being human.
Grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use.

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 because creativity isn't confined to art. It shows up in how we live, work, lead and relate to one another.

Work often feels 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 in front of us.

Behavioural science doesn't make work simple, but it does give us better ways of responding to complexity. It offers practical ideas, evidence-based tools and skills 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.

Whether it's a conversation with a guest or a short solo episode, People Soup explores how behavioural science—and particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—can help us lead and work with greater intention, developing the psychological flexibility and practical wisdom to navigate whatever life throws our way.

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.