How I Work

My guest today is Peter Wells. Peter is a technology journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald, where he writes about tech and podcasts. Peter is also the host of two podcasts which are Meta (a podcast about podcasts) and The Helpdesk (a daily tech podcast).In this chat, we cover: Peter’s favourite gadgets How to get the most out of voice-activated assistants Peter’s favourite productivity software How Peter uses time tracking software to improve his productivity How Peter uses automation to save huge chunks of time and avoid repetitive tasks What goes on behind the scenes of making a podcast How Peter decides which guests to have on his podcast Meta How Peter prepares for interviews Advice on how to create a great pitch Peter’s go-to newsletters for staying up-to-date with the latest tech news Peter’s favourite people to follow on Twitter Peter’s favourite podcasts Check out the things Peter mentioned: Spark email Oh no with Ross and Carrie Thesizzle.com.au twitter.com/Siracusa Connect with Peter On Twitter Meta podcast The Helpdesk podcast Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at three simple strategies to avoid virtual meeting fatigue.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSubscribe to my new podcast How To Date in Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Ashutosh Priyadarshy. Ashutosh is the founder of Sunsama (YC W19). Sunsama is a daily planner for elite professionals that helps you plan out a focused work day by pulling together your tasks from all of your tools. Ashutosh has spent most of the last decade building and launching productivity hardware and software. His goal is to build products that help us navigate our work and life mindfully and intentionally. We cover: Ashutosh’s daily productivity rituals Ashutosh’s approach to getting a good night’s sleep Why Ashutosh plans his day twice The process Ashutosh uses to plan his day out Ashutosh’s weekly rhythm Why Ashutosh doesn’t do long-term planning or goal setting How Ashutosh prioritises what to work on How Ashutosh deliberately removes bullish*t from his diary Applying Parkinson’s law to running Design Sprints Using artificial time constraints to force productivity Ashutosh’s unusual approach to managing digital distractions How Ashutosh approaches days of low motivation The new software Ashutosh is most excited about Find out more about Ashutosh at Twitter or email [email protected] out Sunsama here.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at four simple strategies to replace serendipitous conversations in the virtual world.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSubscribe to my new podcast How To Date in Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's show is an interview I did for the podcast Meta with Peter Wells. With Peter, we go behind the scenes of How I Work and my own productivity routines and hacks. I talk about why and how I started How I Work, some of my favourite productivity software, and other geeky productivity hacks.Check out the Meta podcast.Subscribe to my new podcast How To Date in Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at three ways that work might change thanks to COVID-19.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Scott D Anthony. Scott is global authority on innovation and the former managing partner of Innosight, the innovation and strategy consulting firm co-founded by Clayton Christensen. Scott has written several bestselling books and writes regularly for Harvard Business Review. Scott has been awarded the Thinkers50 Innovation Award, which recognises the world’s leading thinkers on innovation. This is my second time having Scott on the show. I was keen to have him back to check in with how he has adapted the way he works during COVID.Check out my first interview with Scott here.In this chat, we cover: New rituals Scott has developed in lockdown How he is using time previously spent travelling How Scott moved his body clock to a different time zone to where he lives Scott’s strategies for creating more engaging virtual meetings and workshops Where he gets his best thinking done at home Scott’s daily practice for creative thinking How Scott uses music to focus Why Scott doesn’t accept meetings on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons Scott’s predictions for the future of work And much, much more. Get your copy of Scott’s latest book Eat, Sleep Innovate and check out the book's companion website here. Check out Scott’s firm Innosight. And connect with Scott on LinkedIn and Twitter.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at several strategies to organise your inbox, documents, photos, articles and other digital assets.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Turia Pitt. Caught in a grassfire while competing in a 100 km ultramarathon in 2011, Turia suffered full thickness burns to 65 per cent of her body. But surviving is the least of her achievements. As one of Australia’s most admired and widely recognised people, Turia has gone on to become a bestselling author, a two-time Ironman and a humanitarian - raising well over a million dollars for not-for-profit Interplast. Through her online presence, books and online programs, Turia has inspired millions to live with more confidence, conquer their fears and chase down their wildest dreams.Turia’s latest project is her book Happy, where she explores the question: can you actually get happier? In Happy, Turia interviews high-profile athletes, comedians, scientists and world experts to explore how everything from money to our relationships has an impact on how happy we can be.We cover: Turia’s strategy for reading an enormous amount of books The books that have had the biggest impact on Turia’s life Turia’s "Next Tuesday" rule How Turia decides whether to say “Yes" or “No" to opportunities How Turia approaches saying “No” to requests Turia’s gratitude practice Turia’s morning routine How Turia thinks about anticipation to improve happiness How to make your phone boring How Turia manages her social media usage and output Turia’s hacks for improving her self-talk The three questions Turia asks herself to manage her nerves before big speeches How to be useful when someone you know is going through a hard time Turia’s strategy for setting and working towards goals Subscribe to Turia's musings here: Turiapitt.com/letterAnd buy Turia's new book Happy.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at how to create boundaries between work and life when you love what you do for work.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is...me! We had hundreds of questions come in for this Ask Me Anything, which is based around how to work from home efficiently and productively. With the help of organisational psychologist Charlotte Rush, we answer your questions around workplace creativity, innovation, energy, productivity, wellbeing, motivation and more. This is especially relevant to lockdown or work from home setups, which many people are still adapting to. You’ll walk away from today with a few tips of things you might be able to do differently, or pass on to people in your life who might be struggling. In this chat, we cover: The three key ingredients of staying motivated The best way to set goals Building relationships and team connections while working remotely How to recreate those random workplace moments that lead to amazing opportunities Maintaining your professionalism away from the office Why joining work meetings from your bedroom is OK How to manage difficult conversations virtually Casual team catch-ups from a distance Why lowering expectations is important My favourite book for handling stress Handling increased email traffic while working remotely The best way to take a work break to stay energised My top tip to help you stop procrastinating And more You can connect with my co-pilot in this chat, Charlotte Rush, on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my new podcast How To Date in Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Michelle Poler was on the key question she asks herself to conquer her fears.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing my latest podcast, How To Date!How to Date is a show about to master the messy, complex, and downright bizarre world of dating, when you really didn't think you'd be back here again. Your hosts Dr Amantha Imber and Monique Robin speak to psychologists, dating coaches, professors, data crunchers at Bumble, and even sex workers to learn how to get better at dating.You’ll learn about how to improve your chances of finding love online, how to date during a pandemic, and the latest science on how to attract a great mate. If you’re keen to improve your odds on the dating front and get some practical advice on how to get better at it, subscribe to How To Date wherever you listen to your podcasts. Subscribe to How To Date in Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Alison Watkins. Alison joined Coca-Cola Amatil as Group Managing Director in March 2014. Prior to joining Coca-Cola Amatil Alison was the CEO of agribusiness GrainCorp and of Berri, the market leader in Australian juice, and she was also the Managing Director of Regional Banking at ANZ. Alison also spent 10 years at McKinsey & Company and became a partner of the firm before moving to ANZ as Group General Manager Strategy. Alison has been a non-executive director of ANZ, Woolworths and the Just Group.We cover: How the way she works has changed dramatically since COVID Her strategy for delivering bad news The best and worst career advice she has been given Deciding when to take on board negative feedback, and when not to Alison’s approach to influencing others - and why doing good work isn’t enough to get ahead in your career And much more. Connect with Alison on LinkedIn.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at why you need to stop asking for feedback, and instead, ask for advice.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Darren Murph who is GitLab’s Head of Remote. If you have never heard of GitLab, it's the world’s largest all-remote company, with over 1,300 team members in 67+ countries with no company-owned offices. Darren has spent his career leading remote teams and charting remote transformations and authored GitLab’s Remote Playbook. Darren also holds a Guinness World Record as the planet's most prolific professional blogger, having published 10 million words.In this chat, we cover: How crisis-induced remote work is different from true remote work Darren’s favourite tips from Gitlab’s Remote Working handbook Why companies need to change their default to asynchronous communication How to create a corporate culture in a remote working environment The importance that values play in company culture How to recruit for people who are suited to remote work The key software that you need to make remote work, work How to design for serendipitous moments when everyone works remote How to replace water cooler conversations in the remote environment How to have effective meetings - and more importantly - deciding when NOT to meet Darren’s one page operating manual Darren’s favourite gadgets Companies that he looks to for remote working inspiration. Connect with Darren on Linkedin and Twitter. Check out Darren’s personal operating manual, GitLab’s remote playbook, and Darren’s book Living the Remote Dream. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Google’s Executive Productivity Advisor Laura May Martin was on how she manages her inbox.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guests on today’s show are Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald. Michelle and Zara are Melbourne-based journalists and broadcasters, aged 26. They met working as writers for Mama Mia, and in March 2018 launched Australia’s top pop-culture podcast Shameless, ‘for smart women who like dumb stuff.’ They now run Shameless Media and are the producers of three other highly popular podcasts.Shameless has been downloaded over 10 million times and was crowned Australia’s Most Popular Podcast of 2019 at the Australian Podcast Awards. Michelle and Zara and their podcast have been written about in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Age and Marie Claire. In this chat, we cover: What goes on behind the scenes of making the Shameless podcast Where they get their inspiration for content from Their process for preparing for interviews How they keep their podcast banter feeling fresh How Michelle and Zara decide how much personal information to share with listeners - and what not to disclose How they manage their time on social media Why they deleted their 40,000+ member Facebook group How they decide which projects to say Yes versus No to Michelle and Zara’s guiding principle for key business decisions How they deal with negative feedback Their favourite podcasts And much more. Grab your copy of Michelle and Zara’s book The Space Between, follow Shameless on Instagram, join the Shameless Book Club, and listen to the Shameless podcast on Apple Podcasts.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Finder.com co-founder Fred Schebesta was on how he identifies top talent.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's BEST OF episode, my guest is Dan Heath. Dan is the co-author, along with his brother Chip, of four New York Times bestsellers: Decisive, Switch, Made to Stick, and The Power of Moments. The Heath Brothers’ books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and been translated into 33 languages.Dan is a Senior Fellow at Duke University’s CASE center, which supports social entrepreneurs. I am a HUGE fan of Dan's work and we cover a lot of ground in this interview, including: The importance of trying to solve problems before they happen - and why this is so hard to do How Dan thinks about coming up with titles for his books Why he saw the title of his new book, Upstream, as incredibly risky The value in focusing on recurring irritants to focus upstream thinking Why Dan tracks his time, and the changes this lead to in his life How tunneling gets in the way of solving problems How Dan overcame his procrastination tendencies The importance of momentum in writing The pros and cons of not working with his brother Heath for writing Upstream Dan’s approach to soliciting feedback and the ideal time to seek it Where Dan’s book ideas come from What makes a great business book How Dan develops the frameworks for his books The strategies Dan has written about that have had the biggest impact on his own life. Find out more about Dan at Heathbrothers.com and grab a copy of Upstream here.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at a simple word that will dramatically improve your day. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's BEST OF episode, my guest is Paul Migliorini. Paul leads the Amazon Web Services business across Australia and New Zealand - a role that he has been in for the last four years. Prior to joining AWS Paul held leadership roles in Asia and Australia with BT, Motorola, Regus and Ernst & Young, most recently as the CEO for Regus ANZ and Regional Managing Director for South Asia at BT.I was keen to speak to Paul because I have heard a lot of things about Amazon’s culture and ways of working that fascinated me. And there is nothing better than being able to get an insider’s perspective on how it all works.So if you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of one of the world’s fastest growing and most powerful companies, I think you’ll love my chat with Paul.We cover: How Paul has dramatically changed his mobile phone behaviour Amazon’s 14 key leadership principles How being frugal leads to innovative The importance of “two pizza teams" Why leaders at Amazon do more coaching rather than managing Why input measures matter more than output measures The two types of decisions that can be made at Amazon and how this impacts decision-making speed The importance of disagreeing and committing to decisions How strong opinions are encouraged at Amazon How Amazon identifies people who will fit with the culture during the recruitment process The 50% test that Amazon use in their recruitment process Why Powerpoint is banned at Amazon The critical role of long form narratives at Amazon Why the first 15-20 minutes of meetings at Amazon are spent reading Why Amazon create fictitious press releases for products that don’t exist Amazon’s working backwards process Why Paul sees it as his job to say yes to as many requests as possible. Learn more about Amazon's Summit, check out career opportunities at Amazon and connect with Paul on Linkedin.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner was on scheduling time for spontaneity.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Kendra Banks, the Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand at SEEK. If you live in Australia, you have probably used SEEK at some point in your career, and for overseas listeners, SEEK is Australia's number one employment marketplace.Kendra has had an amazing career and has worked in senior marketing roles at Coles where she was General Manager, Customer Insight & Coles Brand and also in London at Tesco. Kendra holds a Masters in European Politics at the College of Europe, where she was a Fulbright scholarship recipient. Prior to this, Kendra completed a Bachelor of Economics and Mathematics at Yale University.We cover: What it was like moving from working from home once a month to every single day How Seek has changed the timing and length of regular meetings in the virtual world Tools that Kendra uses to see how her messages are landing in all-staff meetings On having retrospectives to optimise meetings Balancing virtual schooling three kids with trying to work Managing staff who are trying to juggle homeschooling with work Providing unlimited carer’s leave The importance of coming back to purpose to drive motivation How Kendra manages her own stress How Kendra has deliberately chosen to take the riskier path for her career Strategies Kendra uses to make good decisions How Kendra’s leadership team approach decision-making The best and worst career advice Kendra has received Kendra’s peer support group and the role they play in her life Connect with Kendra at [email protected] and on Linkedin.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at three simple strategies to kick your procrastination habit while working from home.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's guest is Michelle (Mish) Le Poidevin. Mish has been the CEO of leading behavioural science and innovation consultancy, Inventium (the consultancy I founded and still work in) since May 2019. Mish is passionate about creating the environment and structures for people to do their best work. She has led (and learnt from!) many of Inventium's pioneering people practices such as the move to a holocracy structure, unlimited annual leave, and most recently, the four day work week and the compilation of the Australian Financial Review Best Places to Work list. She has also led the strategic transformation of Inventium and the development of new digital business models. She holds an MBA specialising in innovation and technology from The University of New South Wales (AGSM) and has been successfully working remotely full-time since 2018.This episode is like a behind-the-scenes look at how Inventium functions and the various experiments we have trialled over the years to make Inventium an awesome place to work.We cover: Why Mish loves being a “remote” CEO How working remotely helps Mish think upstream Carving out time for creative and strategic thinking Inventium’s Four Day Week experiment How Mish has reduced the amount of Shallow Work in her life The benefits of having a Virtual Assistant Working to your chronotype How we managed staff redundancies via Zoom during COVID The importance of bringing back routines to work during a time of uncertainty Why we fired all our managers at Inventium Mish’s biggest learnings in running a holocracy Inventium’s secret weapon for recruitment How we use OKR’s for setting company and individual goals Why we deliberately link OKRs to pay rises How we can replace water cooler moments in the remote working world How the idea for the AFR Most Innovative Companies list came about Inventium’s latest project: the AFR BOSS Best Places to Work list. Nominate your company for the AFR BOSS Best Places to Work list.Connect with Mish on Linkedin.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Four Day Week pioneer Andrew Barnes was on how to spend less time in meetings.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Scott Sonenshein. Scott is a New York Times Best-Selling Author and Professor of Management at Rice University. I came across Scott’s work a few months ago when I read his second book, Joy at Work. Scott wrote Joy At Work with bestselling author and Netflix star Marie Kondo, whose cleaning methods I’ve used in my own home over the years. In Joy At Work, Scott and Marie offer stories, studies, and strategies to help you eliminate clutter and make space for work that really matters.In this interview, we cover: Three questions to ask yourself to figure out if a meeting really matters How to dramatically reduce the number of meetings in your work life How to diplomatically extract yourself from meetings The one thing you need to ask for before every meeting How to decrease the number of low stakes decisions in your life How delegation can improve decision-making How to activate the subconscious part of your brain to make better decisions Scott’s daily problem solving ritual How Scott uses routines to boost creativity How Scott cleaned up all the digital clutter from his phone Why it’s so hard to change your behaviour around email How to clean up your inbox How to make it easier to stick to “batch checking” emails Scott’s “spark joy” folder Learn more about Scott right here. And grab your copy of Joy At Work.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Glen Dolman was about his strategies for injecting creativity into a room full of writers.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, I cover 10 science-backed strategies to boost mental health. And here is a link to Worry Time (as mentioned on the show).Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Guardian columnist Oliver Burkeman was on how to stop procrastinating and get in flow.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Rachel Bostman. Rachel is a world-renowned expert on technology and trust, and author of two bestselling books. Her first book was called "What’s Mine is Yours” which was all about collaborative consumption, and her second book, Who can you trust, explores how technology is transforming trust and what this means for life, work and how we do business. Rachel is a Trust Fellow at Oxford University and has been recognised as one of the “Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company and as one of the 50 most influential management thinkers in the world. She is also the host of the podcast Trust Issues. And where you might have come across Rachel is via her TED talks that have been viewed by literally millions of people. This is the second time Rachel has been on How I Work. Check out the first interview here.In this chat, we cover: The biggest challenges for her of working during lockdown Designing virtual experiences How Rachel has iterated her teaching at Oxford to create a great virtual experience for her students The very first thing to get right before delivering virtual experiences How to create the space for learning and thinking in the virtual classroom How to give introverted people a voice in virtual workshops How Rachel has made the switch from face-to-face keynote presentations to virtual ones “Settling” people into the room for virtual presentations How to create great poll questions How Rachel structures a one hour presentation How to finish a presentation so it promotes action On being a teacher versus a preacher Follow Rachel on Linkedin to get her biweekly newsletter RethinkCheck out her virtual experience design documents here:- A Guide to Designing and Delivering Virtual Experiences - A special edition of Rachel's Rethink Newsletter on the topic which can be read here.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at three simple strategies to improve collaboration in the remote working world.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is…me! For the second time in the history of this show, I thought I’d turn the tables and share with you how I run my own workday. It's changed quite a bit in light of some very big changes in my life in 2019. The delightful and wise Dr Jason Fox joins me on the show to sit in the interviewer chair.We cover all sorts of ground, including:* The huge changes I have experienced in my work and life over the last year and how that has impacted my productivity* Why I prefer smaller teams to bigger teams* My team’s weekly rhythms* The different work experiments Inventium is currently running* Inventium’s move to a four day week and how the guidelines have been co-created by the team* How I balance work and parenting as a single mother* How digital distraction crept back into my life and how I dealt with it* How we do goal setting at Inventium* My daily and weekly rhythms* Why I create rules for myself* How I’m changing my email workflow* How I think about downtimeConnect with me via Inventium, and on Linkedin and Twitter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with ex-Google Ventures designer John Zeratsky was on the calendar template he uses to plan his ideal day.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Dr Jason Fox. I’ve known Jason for the best part of a decade. Like me, he is a scientist at heart and has a bias for strategies that are grounded in research. Jason travels the world helping leaders from companies such as Microsoft, Salesforce, McDonalds, and Toyota in the area of motivation design.Jason is also the bestselling author of The Game Changer and How to Lead a Quest, and in 2016 was awarded Keynote Speaker of the Year.Check out the first time I had Jason on the show.In this chat, we cover:* Why Jason hates the concept of “discipline"* Trialling a 7 day rhythm for work and life* How Jason assigns different “modes” to different days of the week* Jason’s daily rituals that set up his work day for success* The value of keeping a daily journal* What’s NOT working well in the world of virtual events and workshops* How to elicit great comments and questions from virtual workshop and keynote participants and audiences* Why virtual events shouldn’t be recorded* Why Jason never finishes a keynote with Q&A* How Jason is seeing companies innovate the experience of virtual keynote presentations* Jason’s favourite questions to ask audiences* The importance of the first five minutes of a virtual experience and how to make the most of them* The apps that Jason is currently lovingConnect with Dr Jason Fox here.And here are some other links to things we mentioned:The Discipline by William van HeckeThe Museletter by Dr FoxThe Character Handbook (featuring the ‘Ritual of Becoming’) by Dr FoxAnd here are the apps Jase spoke about: roamresearch.com, obsidian.md, ulysses.app and ia.net (iA writer).Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Auctioneer-extraordinaire Phillip Kingston was on how to fast track getting to know someone.You can find the full interview here.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Dom Price. Dom is the Head of Research & Development and also the resident Work Futurist at Atlassian, one of the world’s biggest and fastest growing tech companies. Dom has responsibilities spanning 5 global R&D centres, and is the in house “Team Doctor” who helps Atlassian scale by being ruthlessly effective, all while keeping one eye on the future.This is my second time having Dom on the show. I was keen to have him back to check in with how he has adapted the way he works during COVID.Check out my first interview with Dom here.In this chat, we cover: Why Dom has found the shift from working at home some of the time to 100% of the time How Dom starts his management meetings now they are virtual to boost interpersonal connections How Dom is reducing Zoom meetings How a virtual art class helped the Atlassian management team bond How the Atlassian executive team are structuring their virtual meetings How allocating clear roles is critical to having effective meetings Making quick decisions rather than perfect ones The optimal size for meetings How Dom uses the chat box in virtual presentations and workshops How Dom makes sure he gives introverts a voice in virtual meetings Atlassian’s 80/20 approach to helping its 4000+ employees cope during COVID What Dom learnt from Trello about remote working How to do water cooler conversation in the remote working world How Atlassian are doing onboarding during COVID Connect with Dom: Twitter Linkedin Atlassianteamplaybook.com Atlassian.com/remote Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Dan Health was on removing recurring irritants from your life.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Stanford behaviour change expert BJ Fogg was on making habits stick.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Amazon executive Paul Migliorini was on banning PowerPoint decks.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is part 2 of my chat with Jake Knapp. If you didn’t listen to last week’s episode, Jake spent the last 10 years at Google and Google Ventures where he created the Design Sprint, which is a method for building and testing a prototype in five days. He then went on and wrote a book about the process, called Sprint, which was a New York Times bestseller. He recently wrote another book called Make Time, which I mentioned on a previous episode. I personally loved Make Time, which is all about strategies to help make time for doing your most important work and really getting the most out of each day.Check out my very first interview with Jake.And check out Part 1 of this interview here.We cover: How Jake and his wife deliberately design each day in 15-30 minute increments The importance of planning his morning to set himself up for the rest of the day Our favourite calendar software On sharing “news duty” with his wife and how it has completely changed the way Jake consumes news Daily dancing to improve mood Using phone calls instead of video calls On trying to be a better listener and stop solving people’s problems. BooksYou’re Not ListeningFind out more about Jake here: Running remote Sprints The Jake and Jonathon podcast Jake’s website Jake’s books Sprint and Make Time Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Columbia Professor Rita McGrath was on how she decides what projects to take on.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Jake Knapp. Jake spent the last 10 years at Google and Google Ventures where he created the Design Sprint, which is a method for building and testing a prototype in five days. He then went on and wrote a book about the process, called Sprint, which was a New York Times bestseller. He recently wrote another book called Make Time, which I mentioned on a previous episode. I personally loved Make Time, which is all about strategies to help make time for doing your most important work and really getting the most out of each day.Check out my very first interview with Jake.And in this chat, we cover: What working from home during COVID is like when you are a solo worker What it was like having all keynotes and workshops cancelled when COVID hit How working from home right now is completely different to working from home pre-COVID How to build self-worth when the majority of your client work has been cancelled Running remote Sprints The importance of planning a highlight for every day Jake’s favourite new mobile app for daily reflection Jake’s biggest struggle in trying to be productive Why email is so addictive and how to kick the addiction Balancing communicating with fans of his work and dedicating time to getting new work done Jake’s new email auto-responder Find out more about Jake here: Running remote Sprints The Jake and Jonathon podcast Jake’s website Jake’s books Sprint and Make Time Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Sandra Sully was on how to conduct a great interview.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Mia Freedman. Mia is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Mamamia Women’s Media Company in Australia. Mamamia has an audience of more than five million women each month and includes the largest women’s podcast network in the world with over 67 million listens and 28 different shows. As many Australian listeners would know, Mia was the youngest editor of Australian Cosmo at 24 years old back in the mid 90s. And because I was one of many loyal Cosmo readers as a teenager, I feel like I grew up with Mia. I’ve also lapped all of her books and I just love how she speaks so honestly and is such a raw way about her life.This is Mia’s second time on How I Work. (Listen to her first time here). I loved her so much the first time that I was keen to check in with her during COVID to see how she was going and how her working life has changed.We cover: Mia’s plan for transitioning back to the office Why her first day back was exhausting New rituals that helped Mia thrive during lockdown The most challenging thing about running a media company during COVID The rules and rituals Mia set for herself around news consumption How Mia maintained social connections during lockdown Mia’s strategy for getting a quick read on how all her staff members were coping during lockdown Check out: Mia on Instagram Mia’s podcasts: No Filter, Mamamia Outloud, and Lady Startup. And on her website. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Dropbox executive Dean Swan was on finding the ideal structure for his day.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with CommBank board director Wendy Stops was on the best career advice she has received.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Scott Young was on the best ways to give and respond to feedback.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Fred Schebesta. Fred is an award-winning business leader, best known for co-founding one of the world’s leading comparison websites, Finder.com. Finder.com was born out of a simple concept: to educate people and directly compare student credit cards. Over the years, it expanded and evolved to compare a range of products across different industries. Today, Finder.com compares virtually everything from cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets, credit cards and insurance to savings, travel, technology and electronics. Finder.com attracts over 8-10 million visitors per month and now operates in over 80 countries.We cover: The most challenging parts of working from home during COVID Using narratives to communicate with his staff How Fred segments his sleep Fred’s approach to eliminating digital distractions Why Fred doesn’t have a TV How Fred consumes the news Having an emotional coach What self-care looks like in Fred’s life Why Fred frequently reminds himself he will die How Fred creates space for creativity in his calendar Fred’s strategies for identifying the best talent in recruitment You can connect with Fred on Linkedin and Instagram. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.