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Send us Fan Mail Why does feedback still feel so difficult, even when we know how to give it? In this episode of The Chief Psychology Officer, Dr Amanda Potter and Caitlin Cooper explore the psychology behind feedback culture, challenging the idea that better feedback simply comes down to learning the skills for how to give it. Together, they discuss why giving and receiving feedback can trigger feelings of threat, discomfort and defensiveness, and why psychological safety is essential for creating an environment where people feel comfortable having honest conversations. Drawing on neuroscience, the SCARF model and negativity bias, they explore why we often fixate on one negative comment, how feedback can threaten our sense of identity, and why even well-intentioned leaders can unintentionally discourage others from speaking up. You'll discover practical ways to: Recognise the psychological barriers to giving and receiving feedbackCreate the conditions for more open and honest conversationsUnderstand why negative feedback can overshadow positive messagesRecognise how leadership behaviours influence psychological safetyBuild a feedback culture where feedback becomes a continuous habit rather than a difficult eventIf you're a leader, manager or someone looking to create a more open and constructive workplace, this episode challenges you to consider not only if your people know how to give feedback, but whether they feel safe enough to give it. Tune into Episode 102: Some Feedback on Feedback Culture... Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail Why do some teams thrive under pressure while others unravel? Former professional rugby player and founder of 101st Will Fraser joins Dr Amanda Potter and Angela Malik to explore the psychology behind team resilience, psychological safety and high performance. Will challenges the idea that resilient teams are simply made up of resilient individuals. Instead, resilience is built through a team's ability to solve problems together under pressure and that depends on clarity, shared understanding and creating an environment where people feel safe to question, challenge and admit, “I don't understand.” Together, they explore the hidden assumptions that can quietly derail even experienced teams, including the curse of knowledge, expertise reversal and the tapping mistake. They discuss why people nod along when they're actually confused, how individual incentives can undermine teamwork, and why leaders may be too quick to blame someone's competence when performance slips. You'll discover practical ways to: Build greater clarity and shared understandingCreate psychological safety and encourage people to speak upSpot assumptions before they become costly mistakesChallenge misunderstandings without creating blameBuild more resilient, cohesive and high-performing teamsIf you lead, develop or work within a team, this conversation will leave you with one deceptively simple question: Just because it's obvious to you, does everyone else really understand it? Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail For the 100th episode of The Chief Psychology Officer Podcast, Dr Amanda Potter is joined by cohosts Caitlin Cooper, Angela Malik and Kristian Lees-Bell to revisit some of the conversations, ideas and research that have shaped the podcast so far. Across the episode, they return to discussions on psychological safety, cognitive diversity, resilience, decision-making, human judgement, connection and the changing world of work. Taking time to reflect on how those ideas have evolved and what they mean for organisations today.  The episode features clips and reflections from conversations with:  Martin Bromley OBE, on human factors, error and just organisations  Professor Adrian Furnham, on psychological safety and unheard voices  John Cooper, on connection and performance  Mark Herbert, on decisiveness, clarity and pace  Adam Smith, on the inner critic and the language we use with ourselves We also revisit episodes featuring Figen Murray OBE, Simon Rogerson and Lucy Becque as each host reflects on the conversations that have stayed with them most. A special episode looking back at what we have learned, how some of that thinking has evolved, and the questions that feel most important for organisations now. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail What really gets in the way of good decision making? In this final Best Bits episode, Angela Malik and Kristian Lees-Bell reflect on some of our most memorable conversations about decision making and human judgement. Revisiting Dr Amanda Potter’s insights, alongside a conversation with Mark Herbert, the episode explores the psychology and neuroscience behind the choices we make, and what better decision making looks like for leaders and teams.  Together they unpack why we procrastinate, how fear of failure and sunk cost can keep us stuck, and how brain chemistry, pressure and our emotional state influence the decisions we make. In essence, this episode explores what better decision making means for leaders and teams. From choosing clarity over speed and understanding different decision styles, to knowing when to change course and how our choices affect those around us. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail What does resilience really look like when pressure keeps building? In this Best Bits episode, Angela Malik and Kristian Lees-Bell revisit some of our most memorable conversations about resilience, stress and recovery. Featuring insights from Dr Amanda Potter of BeTalent by Zircon; Martin Hewitt, founder of Adaptive Grand Slam; Figen Murray OBE, campaigner behind Martyn’s Law; John N Cooper, Chief Connection Officer at Thomas International; Lucy Becque, Group Chief People Officer at Coventry Building Society; and Professor Jo Yarker of Birkbeck, University of London and Affinity Health at Work. Together, they explore why resilience is more than simply coping or pushing through. The episode covers the neuroscience of stress, the difference between persistence and resilience, why high resilience scores do not always create stronger teams, and how relationships, leadership and working environments shape our ability to recover and adapt. From personal adversity to sustained organisational change, these conversations challenge us to think differently about who is responsible for resilience and what people really need when the pressure does not let up. Go deeper and listen to the original conversations: Martin Hewitt in Ep. 5Lucy Becque in Ep. 78Figen Murray in Ep. 86Professor Jo Yarker in Ep. 93John Cooper in Ep. 94Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In the second Best Bits episode of The Chief Psychology Officer Podcast, we explore how strengths, cognitive diversity and leadership behaviour shape high-performing teams. Caitlin Cooper and Kristian Lees-Bell revisit standout conversations with Dr Amanda Potter, Stuart Desson, Simon Rogerson and Joe Wicks to unpack what energises people at work, why strengths are different from motivation and skill, and how leaders can create the conditions for people to perform at their best. The episode explores the role of strengths in employee engagement, team performance, leadership development, recruitment, psychological safety and organisational culture. It also looks at the risks of profile matching, clone teams and overusing strengths, showing why diverse thinking and different strengths are essential for innovation, adaptability and sustainable performance. For HR leaders, people professionals, coaches and anyone interested in organisational psychology, this episode offers practical insight into how strengths-based development can help individuals, teams and leaders build greater energy, trust, resilience and performance at work. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In the first part of our Best of Series, Caitlin Cooper and Angela Malik revisit some of the most powerful conversations we have had on psychological safety and high-performing teams. As we approach our 100th episode, this special round-up brings together insights from previous guests including Megan Giannini from Philips, Mike Wright from Network Rail, Laura McLean from Santander, Alex Myers, and Professor Adrian Furnham. Together, these conversations explore what psychological safety really means at work, why it is not about being nice all the time, and how it supports performance, learning, innovation, inclusion, and healthier challenge. From speaking up and listening up, to dealing with failure productively, measuring team climate, and creating environments where people can contribute honestly, this episode brings together the science, stories, and practical lessons that have shaped our thinking on psychological safety. Listen now to Best Bits: Driving High Performance Through Psychological Safety. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Chief Psychology Officer, Dr Amanda Potter and Kristian Lees-Bell explore cognitive dissonance, the mental discomfort we feel when our beliefs, values, and behaviours do not align. From everyday choices to high-pressure leadership decisions, they discuss why the brain often rushes to reduce discomfort by rationalising, justifying, or reframing decisions, even when those decisions may not be the most effective. Amanda and Kristian also examine how cognitive dissonance influences decision-making, bias, self-awareness, and workplace behaviour, particularly during periods of stress, ambiguity, and organisational change. They explore the links between cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, anchoring bias, optimism bias, and resilience, highlighting why leaders need to create space for reflection rather than defaulting to the path of least resistance. This practical conversation offers insight into how we can notice cognitive dissonance, challenge our assumptions, and make better decisions by becoming more honest with ourselves about the gap between what we believe and how we behave. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Chief Psychology Officer Podcast, Dr Amanda Potter and Caitlin Cooper are joined by occupational psychologist and Chief Connection Officer John Cooper to explore why human connection is essential to performance at work. Together, they discuss why great teams are not built through harmony alone, but through the quality of connection that allows people to challenge, support, trust, and understand each other. John shares why the “chemistry” between people matters, and Amanda reflects on how this connects to psychological safety, belonging, resilience, and the environments organisations create. The conversation also explores how AI and new ways of working may be changing the way we connect. As work becomes more efficient, remote, and technology-enabled, there is a risk that we turn to tools before we turn to each other. This episode asks an important question for leaders and organisations: are we building in the conditions for people to continue to build trust, strengthen relationships, and perform well together? Tune into Episode 94: Why Great Teams Need Friction with John Cooper. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail Ep 93 Stop fixing people: start fixing work with Jo Yarker What does it take to sustain performance over time? In this episode of the Chief Psychology Officer podcast, Dr Amanda Potter is joined by Professor Jo Yarker to explore how organisations can create healthy working environments that support both wellbeing and performance. Many organisations invest in resilience and wellbeing initiatives, yet still struggle with burnout, disengagement, and declining performance. This conversation challenges why and where organisations may be focusing on the wrong solutions. Rather than placing responsibility on individuals, this episode explores the role of organisational systems, leadership behaviour, and work design in shaping employee health and resilience. Key themes include:  Why sustainable performance depends on healthy work, not just resilient individuals  The shift from reactive wellbeing initiatives to proactive prevention  How leadership and line managers influence employee health and performance  The impact of workload, clarity, and consistency on resilience  The IGLU framework. understanding how individual, group, leader, organisational, and external factors interact  Why health should be treated as a core business outcome This episode is for HR leaders, senior executives, and organisations looking to reduce burnout, improve employee wellbeing, and build environments where people can perform consistently under pressure. Because sustainable performance is not driven by effort alone. it is enabled by healthy work. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Chief Psychology Officer Podcast, Dr Amanda Potter and Caitlin Cooper are joined by Adam Smith, a mindset and behavioural change coach, to explore the inner critic, negative self-talk, and the language we use to describe ourselves. Adam shares his personal story and explains how our thoughts, labels, and belief systems can shape confidence, resilience, behaviour, and performance. The conversation looks at how unhelpful self-talk develops, why familiar patterns can keep us stuck, and how changing our language can help us build healthier habits and a more constructive mindset. This episode covers: how to recognise and manage your inner criticthe impact of negative self-talk on confidence and wellbeingwhy labels and belief systems matterhow language shapes behaviour and resultspractical ways to reframe thoughts with more helpful languagehow curiosity, gratitude, and self-compassion support changeIf you are interested in resilience, confidence, mindset, leadership psychology, or improving the way you speak to yourself, this episode offers practical and powerful insights.  Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail Decisiveness is not speed; it is clarity. We explore how top teams make better choices by slowing the front end of the process, framing the real problem, agreeing decision criteria, and then committing with pace. Joined by leadership coach Mark Herbert, we unpack the human side of decisions—how dopamine, mood and pressure change what feels obvious, how halo and horns biases skew judgment, and why similarity bias keeps boardrooms comfortable but wrong. We get practical about building cognitive diversity you can actually use. Mark shares simple moves that shift thinking on demand: invite an external provoker, seat the newest voice next to the most senior, or create distance by asking be someone else, be somewhere else, be sometime else. We also dive into decision styles, moving beyond self-awareness to self-engagement—understanding how your pace, risk stance and intuition land on others, and how to turn friction into value. Visual team profiles, thinking hats, and clear contracting help teams replace circular debates with crisp outcomes. The heart of our conversation is a meta-skill: decide how to decide. Before arguing options, align on reversibility, ownership, criteria and authority. Are we voting, seeking consensus, or does a single decision-maker hold the D? That simple ritual prevents flip-flopping, reduces rework, and boosts follow-through. We look at why extremes in style are potential superpowers when respected, how environment shapes attention and thought, and where AI fits—great for speed and options, but still not relational. Thoughtful leaders use AI as input and keep values, context and commitment firmly human. Mark also lifts the lid on his seven-step decision masterclass, where leaders from different industries bring live dilemmas and practice better thinking in a calm, outdoor setting designed to reduce noise and increase attention. The result is a repeatable way to make choices under uncertainty without losing pace or people. If this conversation helped sharpen your approach, follow and subscribe for more human-centred leadership insights, share it with a colleague who shapes big calls, and leave a quick review to tell us what you’ll try first. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail AI is rapidly reshaping how organisations operate, make decisions, and develop talent. But as technology accelerates, what happens to the human skills that drive performance? In this episode of The Chief Psychology Officer Podcast, Dr Amanda Potter and Angela Malik are joined by Simon Defoe CPsychol, Learning and Performance Senior Manager at Vodafone, to explore the intersection of AI, psychological safety, and leadership. Drawing on expertise in organisational psychology, resilience, and decision making, the conversation moves beyond technical hype to focus on what matters most for HR and business leaders.  How do we integrate AI into talent strategy without eroding accountability, critical thinking, or human judgement?  What are the risks of bias amplification?  And how can leaders protect belonging, trust, and performance in an increasingly automated world? The discussion examines AI in HR, human centred leadership, board level decision dynamics, organisational resilience, and the role of psychological safety in enabling innovation without losing ownership. For leaders navigating digital transformation, workforce change, and AI enabled performance, this episode offers a grounded and practical lens on keeping organisations both technologically advanced and deeply human. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wondered whether psychological safety is a soft sentiment or a hard performance driver, this conversation brings the receipts. With Professor Adrian Furnham and Dr Amanda Potter, we unpack what psychological safety really means, how to measure it well, and why trust—not cleverness—predicts whether people speak up, challenge ideas, and share hard truths when it counts. We go beyond the generic “I feel safe” survey item and show how short, validated psychometrics turn a fuzzy concept into a practical dashboard leaders can use. You’ll hear how factor models, convergent and divergent validity, and predictive links tie safety to outcomes like performance, commitment, burnout, and turnover. We explore the human layer too: why secure attachment supports voice, how avoidant and anxious patterns reduce candour, and where personality nudges behaviour without defining destiny. Expect clear answers to tricky questions about anonymity, 360 pitfalls, and how a single leadership change can swing team safety in a week. We also dive into the traps of groupthink and the quiet tax of imposter moments, drawing lines between silence, poor decisions, and missed ideas from people closest to the work. Then we get practical: why a 20‑item pulse beats two vague questions, how to spot meaningful variance within teams, and what to do when trust is thin. From resilience training to structured dissent (pre‑mortems, red teams, rotating devil’s advocate), we lay out habits that make candour safe and useful. If you want a culture where people tell you what you need to hear, not what they think you want to hear, this is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a manager who needs it, and leave a review telling us one behaviour that makes you feel safe to speak up. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail A million more people are now economically inactive for health reasons than just a few years ago, and once an employee has been on sick leave for a year or more, the chance of returning drops to around 3%. That is not a wellness statistic. It is a warning light for businesses, communities and the economy and it is the spark for this conversation with Poppie Foakes, Director of Product and Innovation at the Retail Trust, and our Chief Psychology Officer, Dr Amanda Potter. We unpack how prevention beats crisis by design. Poppie explains how the Retail Trust supports a dispersed, shift‑based workforce with tools that actually fit real lives: de‑escalation and resilience training for frontline abuse, virtual GPs that work around rotas, online CBT, and financial coaching that targets the number one anxiety driver in retail. We dig into the evidence, linking preventive investment to lower absenteeism, reduced presenteeism, and fewer leavers critical in a sector where replacing a colleague can cost around £5,000. We also explore why health inequalities persist between head office and store teams, and how simple changes in access and language can close that gap. The conversation gets practical. We share the three culture levers that keep people, fair pay, a strong line manager relationship, and clear purpose and show how they map to psychological safety. Poppie takes us inside their data engine: happiness assessments that generate personal action plans, platform analytics that surface early risk, and emerging agentic AI that recommends targeted campaigns by role, region or demographic. We talk about the Keep Britain Working Review and a future where employers are incentivised or mandated to handle prevention, potentially shrinking a £15 billion annual burden on benefits and healthcare that could rise to £25 billion by 2030. If you lead people, manage a store, or shape HR strategy, you will come away with actionable ideas: train line managers to signpost not shoulder, normalise de‑escalation skills for every frontline worker, make financial education part of culture, and put colleague sentiment on the agenda next to sales. And if you are personally feeling the strain, you will hear small, realistic habits to set boundaries, protect energy, and find one daily moment of joy that keeps you steady. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow and subscribe, share this episode with a colleague who needs it, and leave a quick review so more leaders can build healthier, happier, high‑performing teams. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research   For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]