Episode 141: How to Focus in a Distracted Workplace with Oscar De Bos

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Rebecca Hinds, organizational behaviour and future-of-work expert and author of Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done. From meeting overload and “Meeting Doomsdays” to multitasking, productivity theatre and the rise of AI, Rebecca shares practical, research-backed ways to rethink one of the most common—and costly—parts of working life. They explore why bad meetings were once recommended as a wartime sabotage tactic, how organizations can reclaim hours of lost time, why standing meetings can be more effective, and the simple 4D CEO test for deciding whether a meeting deserves to exist at all. A practical conversation for anyone who has ever looked at their calendar and wondered: Does this really need to be a meeting? Find out more about the work Rebecca does here: Rebecca Hinds | Leading Expert on Meetings & the Future of Work This episode is brought to you in association with Dynamic Partners: We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless is joined by Oscar de Bos, author of Focus: Fuel Your Attention to Get More Done, to explore the neuroscience behind focus, distraction and productivity. Why are our brains so easily distracted? Why can doing nothing actually make us more productive? And could the way we manage our time be part of the problem? Oscar shares practical insights into focus management rather than time management, including the four “concentration leaks” that drain our attention, the importance of mind wandering and boredom, the impact of interruptions on deep work, and why managers have an important role to play in protecting their teams’ focus. They also discuss decision fatigue, digital distractions, power naps, creativity and simple ways to design our working environments and habits around how our brains actually work. A practical conversation for anyone who wants to work with their attention rather than constantly fighting against it. Find out more about Oscar and his work here: Oscar de Bos This episode is brought to you in association with Dynamic Partners: We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless welcomes back Morra Aarons-Mele, speaker, executive coach, host of The Anxious Achiever podcast, and author of The Anxious Achiever, to explore how leaders can unlock the potential of neuro strengths in the workplace. Together, they discuss why understanding how different brains work isn't just about inclusion, it's about creating environments where people can do their best work. From anxiety and ADHD to psychological safety, self-awareness and team dynamics, this conversation challenges traditional thinking about performance, leadership and what it really takes to help people thrive. Whether you're a leader, manager or simply looking to better understand yourself and those around you, this episode is packed with practical insights on building stronger teams through empathy, flexibility and honest conversations. Tune in for an engaging discussion on leadership, neuro strengths and creating workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Find out more about Morra and her work here: Morra Aarons-Mele | The Anxious Achiever This episode is brought to you in association with Dynamic Partners: We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless is joined by Camilla Kring, Thinkers50 Radar thinker, author of ChronoLeadership, and one of the world's leading experts on chronobiology and productive work rhythms. Why do some people thrive at 6 a.m. while others do their best thinking late in the evening? And what if the traditional 9-to-5 workday is holding back both productivity and wellbeing? William and Camilla explore the science of chronotypes, the impact of our natural body clocks on performance, and why organisations need to rethink how work is designed in today's knowledge economy. They discuss everything from early-riser bias and social jet lag to flexible work, team productivity, leadership, and creating workplaces that help people perform at their best. Whether you're a leader looking to unlock your team's potential or simply curious about your own work rhythms, this conversation offers practical insights that could change the way you think about work and time itself. Find out more about the work Camilla does here: About – appliedchronobiology.com Thanks to Dynamic Partners for sponsoring this episode: We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless is joined by Professor Linda Hill, one of the world's leading experts on leadership and innovation, to explore what it really takes to build organisations that innovate consistently. Drawing on over 25 years of research and insights from her latest book, Genius at Scale, Linda explains why innovation isn't about having all the answers, it's about creating the conditions where people are willing to contribute their ideas, challenge each other constructively, and solve problems together. Together they discuss why innovation is a voluntary act, the leadership behaviours that foster creativity, the roles of the Architect, Bridger and Catalyst, leading through uncertainty, and why healthy conflict is essential for breakthrough thinking. Whether you're leading a team, navigating organisational change, or looking to create a more innovative culture, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can apply immediately. Find out more about the book here: Genius at Scale – What makes a great leader? This episode is in association with Dynamic Partners: We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Joe O’Connor, CEO & Co-Founder of Work Time Revolution and author of Do More in Four, to explore one of the most debated ideas in modern work - the four-day work week. But this conversation goes far beyond working fewer hours. Joe shares powerful insights on AI adoption, productivity, burnout, and why the future of work may depend less on hours worked and more on how effectively we think, collaborate, and create. Together, William and Joe explore: • Why the four-day work week is really an operational excellence strategy • How AI is changing the value of human work • Why “performative busyness” is damaging productivity • What leaders must do to build sustainable high performance If you’re thinking about the future of leadership, productivity, and workplace culture, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Find out more about the work Joe does here: Work Time Revolution Thanks to Dynamic Partners for bringing this episode:  We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless is joined by Martin Dubin—clinical psychologist, entrepreneur, executive coach, and author of Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader. Together, they explore the hidden blind spots that can derail leadership effectiveness, why our greatest strengths can sometimes become our biggest weaknesses, and how greater self-awareness can unlock stronger performance, better relationships, and more effective leadership. Topics include: The difference between strengths and "supernovas" Why self-awareness is a leadership superpower The role of emotions in decision-making Identity shifts when moving into leadership roles How blind spots impact teams, culture, and performance Practical strategies for creating meaningful behaviour change A thought-provoking conversation packed with practical insights for leaders at every level. Find out more about the work Martin does here: Martin Dubin – Author of Blindspotting™, Psychologist, and Executive Coach Sponsored by Dynamic Partners 🌐 Dynamic Partners: We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

In the latest episode of The Workplace Podcast, William welcomes back Amy Gallo, bestselling author of 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 and one of the leading voices on conflict and communication at work. This conversation explores a topic many teams still struggle with: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥? Amy shares practical insights on why healthy conflict is often a sign of trust, not dysfunction, and how avoiding difficult conversations can quietly damage team performance, relationships, and psychological safety. 🔥 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 – Strong teams don’t avoid disagreement; they learn how to navigate it 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 – Avoiding issues today creates bigger problems later 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 – How gossip and backchannel conversations undermine trust 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 – Why honest feedback and reflection actually strengthen relationships 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 – The simple habits high-performing teams use to create healthier conversations A hugely practical conversation for leaders, managers, and teams navigating pressure, disagreement, and collaboration in modern workplaces. Find out more about Amy: AMY GALLO Sponsored by Dynamic Partners We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Nelson P. Repenning  — Distinguished Professor at MIT Sloan, Director of MIT’s Leadership Center, and coauthor of There’s Got to Be a Better Way: How to Deliver Results and Get Rid of the Stuff That Gets in the Way of Real Work. Together, they explore why so many organizations become trapped in constant firefighting, overload, and reactive working — and what leaders can do instead to create workplaces that are dynamic, adaptive, and capable of continuous learning. Nelson shares practical insights from decades of research and consulting work with organizations including Harley-Davidson, Toyota, and leading innovation teams. 🔥 Key topics in this episode include: Why most organizations are designed for a predictable world that no longer exists The hidden dangers of “firefighting culture” Why keeping everyone busy actually reduces performance The concept of “firefighting arsonists” How overload creates chaos and burnout Why psychological safety is essential for organizational learning The power of visual management and better workflow design How leaders can create more focus, alignment, and adaptability This episode is packed with practical leadership insights for anyone managing teams, leading change, or trying to create healthier and more effective ways of working. Find out more about Nelson: MIT Sloan: MIT Sloan School of ManagementNelson P. Repenning | MIT Sloan Shift Gear: The ShiftGear Mission - ShiftGear 🎧 The Workplace Podcast is proudly brought to you in association with Dynamic Partners - contact us today to start the conversation about leadership in your organisation.

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless is joined by Phil Le-Brun, co-author of The Octopus Organization and former International CIO at McDonald’s. Together, they explore the realities of organisational transformation - why so many initiatives fail, and how leaders can build more adaptive, empowered, and high-performing teams. Phil shares practical insights on ownership, decision-making, and culture, including why “artificial ownership” is so common in organisations, how gatekeepers slow progress, and what it really takes to create clarity of purpose at scale. From the concept of “pigs and chickens” to the dangers of “watermelon reporting,” this episode is packed with memorable frameworks and real-world examples that challenge traditional ways of working. A must-listen for leaders looking to empower their teams, improve accountability, and navigate complexity more effectively. Find out more about the book here: The Octopus Organization | a guide to thriving in a world of continuous transformation