Episode 35

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Published on:

10th Jun 2026

Quick Spoon: Avoidance rarely feels like avoidance

Avoidance Rarely Feels Like Avoidance

Most workplace avoidance isn't dramatic.

It's the difficult conversation that gets pushed into next week.

And then the week after.

In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores one of the most common patterns he sees in leadership and the workplace: avoiding discomfort while convincing ourselves we're waiting for the right moment, more information or greater certainty.

The challenge?

Discomfort often grows when left unattended.

Reflection Question

What's one conversation you've been postponing?

And what's the smallest possible step you could take today?

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

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Visit Ross' Website.

Connect with Ross on LinkedIn

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

He's now also on Bluesky

The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Transcript

QS4 avoidance rarely feels like avoidance

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[00:00:18] one of the most common patterns [00:00:20] I see in leadership and the workplace is avoidance. Not dramatic avoidance, but the difficult conversation that gets pushed into next week, [00:00:30] and then again to the week after.

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About the Podcast

People Soup
Real conversations about work, leadership and being human
A podcast exploring work, leadership, and being human through real conversations — grounded in behavioural science and full of practical ideas you can apply straight away.

About your host

Profile picture for Ross McIntosh

Ross McIntosh

I'm a work psychologist. I want to help you navigate the daily challenges of work by sharing behavioural science in a way that's accessible, useful and fun.
I'm originally from Northumberland in the UK and I now live near Seville in Spain with my husband.