Lucinda interviews Zena Everett, a speaker on leadership and productivity and author of the book "The Crazy Busy Cure."
They discuss the growing issue of busyness and stress in the workplace, particularly in the context of hybrid working. Zena shares her insights on the impact of personality traits, such as perfectionism and people-pleasing, on productivity. They also explore the importance of clarity of purpose, effective time management, and creating a culture that supports productivity.
KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Certain personality traits, such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, and a tendency to take on too much, can contribute to feeling constantly busy. Being aware of these traits and finding strategies to manage them can help individuals become more productive.
• Create a culture of psychological safety: It's important to create a work environment where individuals feel safe to voice their concerns, ask for help, and challenge ineffective practices. This fosters open communication and allows for discussions about meeting etiquette, email overload, and other factors that contribute to busyness.
• Encouraging employees to have dedicated time for deep work, where they can focus on important tasks without interruptions, can lead to increased productivity and a sense of accomplishment. Getting into a state of flow, where individuals are fully absorbed in their work, can also boost productivity and well-being.
• Bring back lunch breaks and social interactions: Encouraging employees to take proper lunch breaks and engage in social interactions can help foster a sense of connection and reduce feelings of overwhelm.
BEST MOMENTS
"I think we're in that parent-child relationship where people are almost... Spoon-feeding is unfair, but I think you know what I'm trying to say."
"So they had a few hours in the morning to actually do the work. And that worked for everybody because they felt more in control."
"But it's really tricky, though, for some people who are naturally unselfish or perfectionist because you're actually going against the grain almost."
"So, you know, that's what I was going to say, it feels a bit meh sometimes, doesn't it? It's all a bit meh."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The HR Uprising Podcast | Apple (podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...) | Spotify (open.spotify.com/show/7ds86Lx...) | Stitcher (www.stitcher.com/podcast/prog...)
The HR Uprising LinkedIn Group ( / 13714397 )
How to Prioritise Self-Care (The HR Uprising) (podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)
How To Be A Change Superhero - by Lucinda Carney (www.waterstones.com/book/how-...)
HR Uprising Mastermind - hruprising.com/mastermind/
www.changesuperhero.com (www.changesuperhero.com/)
www.hruprising.com (www.hruprising.com)
Get your copy of How To Be A Change Superhero by emailing at info@actus.co.uk (mailto:info@actus.co.uk)
Zena Everett - www.zenaeverett.com/
CONTACT METHOD

• Join the LinkedIn community - / 13714397
• Email: Lucinda@advancechange.co.uk (mailto:Lucinda@advancechange.co.uk)
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