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Hi, I'm Leila Ainge and this is a podcast and blog all about human behaviour, bringing

together fascinating research, insights and real life experiences.

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As a psychologist, I'll share how the spaces we live and work in shape who we are.

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This season, we're diving into the fascinating gap between intentions and actions, a

liminal space where plans meet spontaneity.

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and we'll be exploring what it reveals about our identity.

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I'm excited to delve into accountability as a helping hand between intention and making

things happen.

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What's deeply satisfying about accountability for me is how it fits into the fabric of our

social spaces and networks.

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Today's episode is the January review.

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Each month I'll be looking back on podcast episodes with a mix of self-reflection coaching

prompts while sharing thoughts on a psychology book that I've enjoyed reading.

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On the Psychologically Speaking podcast this month, we've explored fresh starts and goal

setting through the lens of seasonality and experience.

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The coaching prompt I've asked you to use is, what has worked for you previously?

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And I shared my own experience of this reflection around running goals in the episode

Ripples of Accountability.

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In doing this, I've been able to recreate some of the accountability I had in place, and

I'm delighted to share that I've consistently increased my running mileage from three

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miles to five this month.

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I've shared my intentions and actions more often with my wider social circle, which has

really worked for my motivation.

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Today, I want you to build on this idea that you have the answers or rather had the

answers.

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As part of my research into imposter phenomenon, I expected to hear about comparison,

especially how women entrepreneurs might compare themselves against others.

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But intriguingly, it was the comparisons that women made against a younger versions of

themselves that showed up more.

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A couple of things could explain why we psychologically reminisce about a younger self.

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There's a smoothing effect that takes place where we create a rose tinted version for

nostalgic purposes.

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Or it could be that we admire our former risk taking.

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because as we get older, we're thought to get more risk averse.

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So today's prompt is, what would a younger you do?

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And how might you bring that person to a problem next month?

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Something new for the podcast.

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Now for something new for the podcast.

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I'm introducing the psychologically

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Now for something new for this podcast, I'm introducing a book review.

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Today we look at the book Neurodiversity Coaching by Nancy Doyle and Almuth McDowell.

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You'll like this book if you feel uncomfortable with the fixing culture of coaching.

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It is my most read book and reference book of 2024.

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I loved the way that the authors frame neurodiversity, that's the concept that brain

differences are natural variations, as potential in the coaching space.

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It steers clear of deficit and gifted language, which is really refreshing.

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And it's more realistic of that.

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unlocking expectation I've found my previous clients bring to the coach space.

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For example, they're more likely to question, how can I do this in a way that works for me

rather than how do I fix this or fix me?

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The section that deeply inspired me, though, was the clean language interviewing.

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This is where as a coach, we practice observing the structure.

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For example, metaphors.

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and how a coachee says something, not just the content of their response to a question.

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In some respects, it's quite close to the psychological and phenomenological interpretive

analysis I enjoy doing.

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And if you've listened to the podcast for a while, you'll know that that's a technique I

used for imposter phenomenon research.

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It places the experience of the participant at the centre of psychology.

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Psychologically speaking, we're very interested in participants' interpretation, not just

the psychologist's.

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And we call this interaction between the psychologist and the participant a double

hermeneutic.

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Doyle and McDowell describe how when we bring this to coach and coachee relationships, it

supports working to a more equal power dynamic.

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And I'm all for that.

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I think every coach should get a copy of this book.

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But...

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It's got potential for neurodivergent folk who are seeking coaching too.

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There's a scarcity of impartial advice for those who want to enter into coaching contracts

in general.

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And it's an unregulated landscape so that being...

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The coaching space is unregulated and it's both a gift and a challenge, but it creates

ambiguity.

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So the book chapters set the scene and provide information on the types of techniques and

context of coaching that I think clients would find helpful to know upfront.

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And if we question the balance of power, this info is usually kept for the coach to know

and the coachee to experience.

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There's no reason why we shouldn't challenge that to practice.

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Have you used or experienced clean language interviewing in your practice, coaching or

work?

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I'd love to hear about your experiences.

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I hope you found this book review helpful.

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I purchased my own copy, it was not gifted to me and I'm not affiliated with the authors

but I am a huge fan of their work.

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Thanks for listening to Psychologically Speaking with me, Leila Ainge, and my usual

reminder to rate, review and share this podcast as it really helps independent podcasters

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like me.

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I've opened up additional coaching slots for 2025.

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My specialities include tackling imposter phenomenon, of course, accountability and

supporting first time directors and business owners, balance growth with joy.

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I also offer one-to-one supervision and group supervision sessions for coaches.

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You can visit my website, www.leilaange.co.uk for pricing and package information and use

the inquiry form

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to book onto a no obligation call.

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That's all for now.

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Psychologically Speaking returns in February where we explore the space between intention

and...

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That's all for now.

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Psychologically Speaking returns next week, February, where we explore the space between

intention and action when it comes to personal and professional identities.

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I'll be joined by the wonderful Katie Cope of Keppel Leopard Creative Agency, where we're

talking about personal branding.

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See you then.