You’re not “just” anything: rethinking leadership, identity and assumptions at work with Jessica Lee

How often do we limit ourselves with the stories we tell?“I’m not creative.”“I’m just HR.”“I’m not a leader.”In this episode of People Soup, Ross McIntosh is joined by organisational psychologist Jess Lee to explore how these seemingly small phrases can have a big impact on how we think, behave, and show up at work.Drawing on Jess’s experience across industries and cultures, they unpack how assumptions — about roles, industries, and even ourselves — can shape behaviour in subtle but powerful ways.They also explore the reality of leadership today: why expectations can feel overwhelming, why leadership is more complex than we often acknowledge, and why the starting point might not be skills — but self-awareness.This is a practical and reflective conversation about identity, leadership, and the human side of work.What You’ll LearnWhy labels like “I’m not creative” can limit contributionHow assumptions show up across cultures and workplacesThe hidden impact of saying “I’m just…”Why leadership isn’t about job titlesWhy leadership can feel overwhelming — and what’s missingThe importance of self-awareness and self-leadershipHow small pauses can create more intentional choicesPeople Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use.If this episode resonated with you, please consider following People Soup, leaving a rating or review, or sharing it with someone who might find it useful.Every recommendation helps more people discover practical, evidence-based conversations about work, leadership and being human.Connect with Jess on LinkedInJess' WebsiteHere's the People Soup Website.And you can subscribe to the People Soup YouTube Channel here.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life.