The High Performance Podcast17 Dec 2025

Why You Keep Misreading People | Surrounded By Idiots Author

Win a behind-the-scenes experience at a High Performance record day! Pre-order our brand new book Micro-Habits and use code MICROHABITS26 for 25% off before the launch on 1st January to be in with a chance of winning: https://hppod.co/HPComp

Most communication fails for a simple reason: we talk to people the way we want to be talked to.

In this episode, Damian sits down with behavioural expert and Surrounded by Idiots author Thomas Erikson to explore why adaptability, not eloquence, is the habit that defines effective communication. Thomas explains how even highly capable people create unnecessary friction when they rely on their own preferences instead of tuning into the person in front of them.

At the centre of the conversation is self-awareness. Thomas shows how understanding your own behavioural style makes it easier to recognise what others need, whether that’s clarity, reassurance, inspiration, or detail. When that awareness is missing, conversations stall. When it’s present, trust and momentum follow.

In this episode, they discuss:

Why people misinterpret good intentions so often

How different behavioural styles process information and feedback

The cost of assuming others think like you do

Simple ways to adjust your message without losing authenticity

Why asking “How would you like me to go about this?” changes everything

If you work with people, and especially if you lead them, this episode will sharpen how you listen, how you speak, and how you create alignment without unnecessary tension.

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

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(758)

My Life Fell Apart After 50: Lawrence Dallaglio Gets Brutally Honest (E436)

England Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio built his career on an extraordinary ability to create belief under pressure. But behind that drive was a deeply personal source of motivation: the lo...

7 Sep 1h 8min

Steve Hansen: Building The Greatest Team In History

Sir Steve Hansen won 93 of 107 Tests as All Blacks head coach — the most successful run in the history of professional rugby. We re-visit our chat with Steve where he takes it apart: why "culture" is ...

4 Sep 53min

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: ...

3 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