The High Performance Podcast29 Okt 2025

When to Say What You Think (And When Not To) with Harvard Psychologist Steven Pinker

Pre-order our brand new book Micro-Habits and use code MICROHABITS26 for 25% off before the launch on 1st January. https://hppod.co/472Og7q

What makes great communicators stand out isn’t confidence, charisma, or talent, it’s clarity.

In this episode, cognitive scientist and Harvard professor Steven Pinker joins Damian to explore the hidden psychology behind how we speak, listen, and understand one another. He explains why the real art of communication isn’t about what we say, but about how we build common knowledge, the shared understanding that allows people to think, decide, and act together.

Pinker calls it one of the most overlooked habits in high performance: the ability to step outside your own head and see the world as others do. It’s how leaders create alignment, how teams build trust, and how ideas truly land.

Together, we explore:

Why "everyone knows it" is completely different from "everyone knows that everyone knows it"
The essential habit of knowing when to make the unspoken spoken (and when not to)
How to use focal points to coordinate without words
The three types of human relationships—and why mixing them up destroys trust
Why blunt honesty can be just as damaging as ambiguity

Whether you're leading a team, navigating a difficult conversation, or simply trying to communicate more effectively, this episode will transform how you think about language, relationships, and coordination

Steven’s new book ‘When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…’ is out now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(756)

Why You Attack Monday And Crumble By Friday

Why does a weekly to-do list feel so overwhelming on a Sunday night? Jake and Damian argue it's not because of your workload, it's because your capacity . Sleep, energy, confidence, clarity, control: ...

2 Sep 24min

Dina Asher-Smith: Why Britain's Fastest Woman Feels Unaware of Her Achievements (E435)

Dina Asher-Smith has just made history as the most decorated athlete in European Championships history. An MBE, multiple major titles and four Olympic Games within reach, but at 30, one of Britain's g...

31 Aug 1h 7min

Fernando Alonso: The Real Pain of Losing

We revisit our conversation with Fernando Alonso - two-time Formula 1 World Champion, 437 Grand Prix starts, 32 wins - recorded in a rare moment where the visor comes off completely. Jake and Damian g...

28 Aug 53min

Why Fewer Options Make Better Ideas

What do you do when every option is on the table and you still end up with the same idea you always have? Jake and Damian tackle one of the quiet traps of creative work, and land somewhere counterintu...

26 Aug 25min

Michael Owen: Ballon d'Or at 22, Retired at 33 - The Mentality That Nearly Broke Him

Ballon d'Or winner Michael Owen became one of the world's best footballers by developing an extraordinary ability to turn doubt, mistakes, and setbacks into self-belief. He joins Jake and Damian to re...

24 Aug 1h 12min

Bradley Wiggins: The Trauma Behind My Greatest Successes & Finding New Purpose

We re-visit one of the most emotional and gripping conversations we have ever recorded. Eight Olympic medals, five of them gold, and the first Briton ever to win the Tour de France. For one summer in ...

21 Aug 57min

How to Deal With People Who Don’t Believe in You

What do you do when the people around you don't believe you can do it? Jake and Damian tackle one of the things listeners struggle with most — being doubted — and land somewhere they didn't expect: th...

19 Aug 27min

Getting Fired Was a RELIEF: Guenther Steiner on the Truth About His Haas Exit (E433)

Guenther Steiner is one of Formula 1’s most recognisable team bosses, building Haas from nothing and becoming known for his straight-talking approach to leadership. He joins us to reflect on ambition,...

17 Aug 1h