Everybody can fit into the Soup model

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Derek Cheshire to explore how inclusion works in practice when people and perspectives mix. Starting from Derek’s work in creativity and innovation, they talk about why diversity needs curiosity, listening skills and better language to become genuinely inclusive, and how over-policing behaviour with rules can create loopholes rather than better relationships.

They discuss how language evolves, how misunderstandings arise when people have limited exposure to difference, and why psychological barriers like fear of getting it wrong can lead to avoidance and exclusion. The conversation touches on cultural intelligence, travel and context, and how humour and stereotypes can land differently depending on who is speaking and the situation.

Derek introduces his “Soup model” for organisations and society: culture as the soup, people as croutons floating within it, and value coming from contribution, trust networks, knowledge and connections rather than rigid hierarchy. They reflect on how flatter, more connected models can reduce bias created by layers, support innovation, and help people thrive at work. They close by linking these ideas to wider shifts in towns and workplaces, especially changes accelerated by COVID, and where people can find Derek’s work.