Listen to this episode
On this episode
Productivity and time management are difficult at the best of times. But when your job directly affects people’s lives, it can be tricky to make time to get organised, so that we have control over our days, and our inbox isn’t overflowing.
What we need is to manage our attention and make space for what matters. In this episode, Rachel is joined by productivity expert Graham Allcott. Graham shares ways we can prioritise and delegate tasks, make dedicated time for deep work, and get on top of our todo list rather than feel crushed by it.
Cluttered inboxes and disorganised days can lead to more stress, which can impact your work as well as your coworkers’. So listen to this episode for actionable strategies that will help you start each day with more focus, and less overwhelm.
Show links
More episodes of You Are Not a Frog:
- Think Differently About Your To-Do List – Episode 153
- How Safe Do You Feel at Work? – Episode 70 with Scott Chambers
How to be a Productivity Ninja – Graham’s first book
Inbox Zero – the original method by Merlin Mann
Beyond Busy – Graham’s podcast
Download the episode’s workbook and CPD form. You can use them for reflection and to submit for your appraisal.
About the guests
Graham is the author of the best-selling book How to Be a Productivity Ninja, and the founder of Think Productive, a company that helps teams and individuals get a better handle on their time. Graham also hosts the Beyond Busy podcast and writes a newsletter to help busy people rev up for the week ahead.
Follow Graham Allcott
Reasons to listen
- To improve your productivity without striving for perfection.
- To manage your attention and prioritise tasks, especially in high-stress jobs.
- To learn how to implement a weekly review to stay organised and in control.
Episode highlights
How to Stop Messing About on Your Phone
Managing attention for people in high-stress jobs
Introducing the second brain
Structuring your day
Making space for what matters
Weekly review
The second brain in more detail
What app should I download?
Inbox Zero
Good messaging hygiene for teams
How psychological safety can help when your team is stuck
Team dynamics around timings and deadlines
More email etiquette
CORD model
The end of your todo list
Graham’s three tips
Episode transcript
[00:00:00] Rachel: What’s on your plate for tomorrow. How many emails are in your inbox right now? If these questions bring you out in a rash, the first thing I want to say is don’t panic. This week, I got to sit down with Graham Allcott, author of the bestselling book How to be a Productivity Ninja. Graham’s worked with organizations across the UK and beyond to help them handle email overload, fix meetings and bring in more psychological safety within teams. [00:00:27] Rachel: Productivity doesn’t just mean fitting in more work in less time, because we know we just…
