Our brain is a ‘prediction machine’ that responds to and interprets reality based on what we expect. This is the claim of science writer David Robson and, this week on The Mind Tools Podcast, Ross G, Owen and Nahdia plan to exceed your expectations by discussing it in our book club. 

We discuss: 

• examples of the ‘expectation effect’ in action 
• the strengths and weaknesses of Robson’s argument
• how we can experiment, personally, with managing our expectations. 

During the discussion, Ross referenced the Freakonomics episode ‘I Don’t Know What You’ve Done With My Husband But He’s a Changed Man’: freakonomics.com/podcast/i-dont-know-what-youve-done-with-my-husband-but-hes-a-changed-man/ 

See also our podcast on Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/grit-and-mindset-emotion-at-work-crossover-special/id1114862726?i=1000470741181 

In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Owen recommended Bob Sutton (@work_matters) on Twitter, and specifically his Tweet about the ‘feedback sandwich’: twitter.com/work_matters/status/1565064130574241793?s=46&t=z7JQmmhA9bhpOPtQuc1RLQ 

And Ross discussed the shortest day for 40 years, June 29: theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/01/midnight-sooner-earth-spins-faster-shortest-day 

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.   

To take advantage of our special offer on a Mind Tools Membership, visit: mindtools.com/september-subscription-sale  

Mind Tools enterprise customers can hear our exclusive interview with David Robson, author of The Expectation Effect, as part of their toolkit. If you're not already a customer or subscriber, you can listen to an excerpt in our blog: mindtools.com/blog/expert-interview-blog-david-robson/

Connect with our speakers   

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter:   

• Ross Garner - @RossGarnerMT  
• Nahdia Khan - @NahdiaKhan 
• Owen Ferguson - @OwenFerguson