Send us a text In this episode, Mike Wright from Network Rail joins award-winning Business Psychologist Amanda Potter and co-host Caitlin Cooper to explore what makes high-performing teams thrive. We dive into Project Speed , a post-pandemic initiative that boosted efficiency and reduced costs, saving £1.5 billion! We also examine how cognitive diversity enhances problem-solving when the need to balance essential yet competing priorities is crucial to success. Additionally, we highlight the vita...
Mar 03, 2025•40 min•Ep 73•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text What if your brain's craving for predictability is the real reason behind your stress? In our latest episode, we explore the complex emotions tied to change fatigue in our fast-paced world driven by relentless technological advancements. With AI reshaping the landscape and social media perpetually altering trends, the pressure to adapt can seem insurmountable. We unravel the psychological and physiological impacts of this constant flux, touching on how our intrinsic desire fo...
Feb 10, 2025•43 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Dr. Amanda Potter, Chartered Psychologist and CEO of Zircon BeTalent, and Jig Ramji, an experienced Chief Talent Officer, join us for a compelling discussion on the transformative power of big data in talent management. Listen as we unpack the parallels between sports analytics and organizational performance, revealing why data integration is as crucial to talent strategy as it is to financial success. Jig challenges the conventional belief that more data is inherently better, ill...
Jan 27, 2025•46 min•Ep 71•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text What if one small change could transform not only your life but also contribute positively to the world? Join us as Lou Kiwanuka shares her inspiring journey of embracing sustainable change, one step at a time. Starting with a personal commitment to make one change per month since January 2020, Lou's approach has led to profound personal growth and a shift from simply reducing negative impacts to actively pursuing positive contributions. Through her experiences, Lou illustrat...
Jan 06, 2025•37 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Unlock the secrets to creating a truly inclusive workplace with insights from Laura McLean, an HR and Talent leader at Santander. Tune in to discover how you can foster an environment where trust and innovation flourish, and employees feel empowered to bring their full selves to work. Laura, alongside Dr Amanda Potter, Chartered Psychologist and CEO of Zircon BeTalent, dissects the core elements of psychological safety, demonstrating their pivotal role in leadership development an...
Dec 16, 2024•32 min•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Unlock the secrets to optimal sleep with Dr. Amanda Potter, a distinguished Psychologist and CEO of Zircon BeTalent, as she guides us through the intricate dance of our nightly rest. Discover how seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep can revolutionize your emotional well-being and sharpen your cognitive edge, enhancing creativity, problem-solving, and memory retention. Dr. Potter also sheds light on the substantial economic toll of sleep-related fatigue, underscoring the impo...
Dec 02, 2024•31 min•Ep 68•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Unlock the secrets of psychological assessments with our esteemed guest, Ben Williams from Sten10, as he joins Dr Amanda Potter, CEO of Zircon, for an in-depth discussion on the tools that shape development and recruitment. Discover why validity and reliability are not just buzzwords but essential elements that ensure these assessments accurately measure what they're supposed to. Together, we unravel the intricacies of state versus trait-based assessments, such as resilience ...
Nov 11, 2024•54 min•Ep 67•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Amanda Potter, Chartered Psychologist and CEO of Zircon, as we navigate the complexities of the entrepreneurial mindset. Ever wondered what differentiates a freelancer from a true entrepreneur? Discover how visionaries like Simon Rogerson from Octopus Energy harness their relentless energy and forward-thinking approach to fill market gaps with scalable business ideas. We'll also confront the challenges women face in entreprene...
Oct 21, 2024•39 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Unlock the hidden strengths of introversion in the workplace! Join us as Amanda Potter, CEO of Zircon, breaks down the often misunderstood traits of introverts and extroverts, backed by insights from Jung, Eysenck, and psychological models like the Big Five and MBTI. We'll dissect how biased language can shape our views and why emotional intelligence is crucial, not just for professionals but for everyone aiming to create more inclusive environments. Ever wondered why extrove...
Sep 30, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Imagine transforming your organization by fostering trust, promoting cognitive diversity, and championing kindness in the workplace. Join us in this enlightening conversation with Simon Rogerson, the visionary CEO and founder of Octopus Group. Simon dispels misconceptions about his role at Octopus Energy and delves into his journey from a secure job to creating a company that values integrity. Simon shares how he meticulously built a positive organizational culture, ensuring that ...
Sep 09, 2024•40 min•Ep 64•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Unlock the secrets to enhancing your emotional well-being through the transformative power of breathing techniques in this enlightening episode. Dr Amanda Potter and Kristian Lees-Bell are joined by Jessica Livingstone, a seasoned yoga and meditation teacher, who takes us on her journey from the high-stress corporate world to founding a thriving yoga and wellness studio. Jessica shares profound insights into how breathing techniques in yoga can significantly impact our emotional h...
Aug 19, 2024•40 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Unlock the secrets to fostering a culture of innovation and psychological safety within your organization. Join Dr Amanda Potter and Caitlin Cooper for a thought-provoking conversation, where they uncover the link between psychological safety and innovation, explore the neuroscience behind daydreaming and discuss what helps and hinders innovation and creativity. Learn how to redefine innovation beyond just generating new ideas, incorporating continuous improvement and discover the...
Jul 29, 2024•38 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Can kindness, humility, and collaboration be the secret ingredients to business success? Join us as we sit down with Philippa White, founder and CEO of TIE Leadership, who shares profound insights from her book, "Return on Humanity." Led by Angela Malik, and Dr. Amanda Potter, PhD. This episode unveils compelling stories from Philippa's journey, comparing the traditional profit-driven models with those that put people first. By highlighting her experiences from busi...
Jul 08, 2024•40 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Curious about the secrets behind sustainable high performance in organizations? Discover the insights of Amy Brand, a leading neuro and behavioral scientist, who has been named HR's Most Influential Thinker on LinkedIn for 2023. In this episode, Amy shares her remarkable journey from medicine to neuroscience, driven by her fascination with human behavior and brain science. Learn how her observations of underperforming professionals inspired her to combine neuroscience with or...
Jun 17, 2024•39 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Discover the critical forces transforming today's workplace as Dr. Amanda Potter, the insightful CEO of Zircon, returns to our podcast to examine the dynamics of fairness, accountability, sustainability, and technology. As we navigate these waters, we'll scrutinize how these forces not only shape employee engagement but also the broader operational landscape. Unpack the tensions between high salary expectations and the pursuit of ethical practices with Gen Z talent at th...
May 27, 2024•31 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text What lies ahead in our working life, what challenges can we expect to face in 2024. The Zircon Psychologists conducted some research to understand the forces that will impact the future of work. This podcast summarises the first 4 of 8 forces that will particularly impact employees and teams, and will start to look at the steps they can take to make the best of the situation and thrive in 2024 and beyond. Unlock the secrets to a thriving workplace with Dr. Amanda Potter, CEO of Zi...
May 06, 2024•34 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Ever feel like your brain is stuck on autopilot, falling prey to biases and inefficiencies? Dulcie Swanston and Dr Iain Price join us again, offering enlightening insights into the art of personal effectiveness and the power of neuroplasticity. Through their dynamic exchange, they unveil approaches to work smarter, transforming "imposter syndrome" into manageable "imposter moments," and fostering stronger professional and personal relationships. Their strategie...
Apr 15, 2024•49 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Have you ever noticed how a simple act of kindness can transform an entire day? Dr. Amanda Potter, CEO of Zircon, joins me, Caitlin, on a heart warming expedition through the corridors of compassionate leadership, discussing how friendship and empathy at the top echelons of a company can sculpt a culture of inclusivity and high performance. We navigate the delicate dance of accepting compliments with grace and delve into the science behind kindness, revealing how our brains can be...
Mar 25, 2024•29 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text As we navigate the complexities of the workplace, it's essential to foster an environment where every mind is valued for its unique contributions. This episode introduces Dr Ian Iceton, a neurodiversity advocate with a rich HR background and personal ties to the topic. We delve into the importance of language, the evolving understanding of conditions like autism and ADHD, and the role of inclusive communication in developing a supportive corporate culture. Our discussion with...
Mar 04, 2024•42 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Why do managers bully their people? What do they hope will happen? What does Psychology and Neuroscience say about bullying at work? In this episode Amanda and Caitlin look at the science, the psychology and the neuroscience to try to unpick this difficult topic. This episode title was recommended by Julie Grosvenor from Dudley MBC, at the NW Coaching & Mentoring Conference in November 2023 in Birmingham. Thank you Julie for recommending this episode. Episodes are available he...
Feb 12, 2024•32 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text With January being the month of tightening our financial belts we are looking at the concept of sunk cost and why we submit to the bias of sunk cost and throw good money after bad? The sunk cost fallacy is a cognitive bias that occurs when people continue to invest in a decision or project based on the resources (time, money, or effort) they have already put into it, despite the evidence suggesting that these investments are no longer rational or beneficial. Why do we do this and ...
Jan 22, 2024•27 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Trust is the foundation to Psychological Safety, and Psychologically Safe teams are more likely to speak up challenge and ask questions, thus creating more innovative solutions and improving team performance. Does this mean therefore that trust is the foundation of team performance? In this episode of The Chief Psychology Officer we look at the importance of trust at work, and what teams can do to improve the levels of trust at work. Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo....
Jan 08, 2024•40 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Get ready for a festive and light hearted episode of the Chief Psychology Officer Dr Amanda Potter becomes the host, interviewing Senior Consultant Kristian Lee-Bell and Business Psychologist Caitlin Cooper, sharing heartwarming tales of the best advice and the worst gifts they have ever received. 'Tis the season for a podcast that unwraps the magic of holiday generosity, laughter, and science behind the joy of giving. But that is not all, they also take time to discuss the p...
Dec 20, 2023•27 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text The ability for senior leaders and C-Suite leaders to make decisions has been reported to be the single most important characteristic of success for those leaders. As a result, for the past 20 years the Zircon Psychologists have been researching decision making behaviours to understand how leaders make decisions and how leaders, teams and businesses can capitalise on the cognitive diversity of the team to be more innovative, efficient and decisive. In this episode Caitlin Cooper i...
Dec 04, 2023•38 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text What does neuroscience say about burnout? In this episode, Senior Consultant Kristian Lees-Bell and the Chief Psychology Officer Dr Amanda Potter build on the neuroscience of resilience podcast and discuss the physiological and neurological reaction to stress, the emotions we feel as a result and the risk of burnout. This podcast explains the chemical response to burnout and starts to outline some actions you can take to reduce the risk of burning out and remain stronger in prolon...
Nov 20, 2023•33 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text What does neuroscience say about how you can cope effectively with stress and improve your resilience? In this episode, Senior Consultant Kristian Lees-Bell and the Chief Psychology Officer Dr Amanda Potter discuss the physiological and neurological reaction to stress, and the emotions we feel as a result. This podcast explains the chemical response to stress and starts to outline some actions you can take to train yourself to calm the stress response and feel happier and stronger...
Nov 06, 2023•40 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text Most employees need to feel like they belong to the team in which they work in order to be fully motivated and engaged. Belonging is the feeling of being accepted and respected in a team or organisation and is created by having inclusive work environments. When we belong we feel connected to colleagues, there is the right work life balance, and our values are lived at at work. The feeling of belonging in a workplace is more important than we would think. In fact research has shown...
Oct 23, 2023•31 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text What would you say about yourself if introduced to a new potential employer or client for the first time? What would be the most important things you would like to share about yourself? In this episode of the CPO we look at Elevator Pitches, are they useful, how do we prepare one and what is important to share? The Chief Psychology Officer episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and new...
Oct 09, 2023•26 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text How can you build your self-confidence and have a happier life? In this podcast, Kristian and Dr Amanda interviewed Dulcie and Iain the authors of DOSE a book that articulates 52 Science based ways for a happier and more confident life. They share both the psychological and neuroscientific benefits of each of the 52 actions in terms of the positive neurotransmitters and chemicals for short - DOSE (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins) and the role each of these play in hel...
Sep 25, 2023•46 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Send us a text For many years a large proportion of global organisations have been using the 360/multi-rater approach to giving feedback for coaching, development and learning. But how effective are they? What does an effective 360 look like? When should we be applying qualitative or quantitative 360s? In this podcast Caitlin and Amanda look at the science behind robust and valid 360 measures and how they should be effectively applied. They also look at the risks of misusing 360 instruments and ...
Sep 11, 2023•43 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast 
