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Welcome to Amanda’s semi-regular blog, where she writes about how to improve business profitability
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The Cost of a Problematic Culture
Many organisations unknowingly operate in a Problematic Culture—where inefficiencies are accepted as "just the way things are." Without a clear strategy for improvement, productivity growth remains stagnant, limiting potential and profitability.
In this article, I explore two contrasting productivity growth scenarios:
📉 0.4% annual growth—a slow, reactive approach that barely moves the needle.
📈 2.3% annual growth—a structured, systematic approach that drives real impact over time.
The difference? A shift from fire-fighting to proactive, sustainable productivity.
Where does your organisation stand? Read on to learn how to move from a Traumatic or Problematic Culture to one that is Systematic and ultimately Automatic.
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Why Benchmarking Against Yourself Is the Smartest Productivity Strategy
Many businesses rely on industry benchmarks to measure productivity, but is this really the most effective approach? While comparing to peers can offer some perspective, true growth comes from tracking your own progress over time.
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The Productivity Puzzle: Why Businesses Struggle to Measure Effectively
Pushing every process to 100% capacity might seem right, but it often creates inefficiencies and longer lead times. Like a group of hikers, if one stage moves faster than another, everything slows down.
Instead of measuring output alone, focusing on gross value added (GVA) per worker can unlock true productivity.
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The One KPI Every Board Should Be Tracking but Isn’t
Productivity: The Metric Most Boards Are Missing
Most organizations measure productivity incorrectly. Traditional metrics like revenue per employee provide a misleading picture of true organizational efficiency.
Two game-changing metrics can transform how businesses track performance:
Productivity Wage Quotient (PWQ) Compares organizational productivity to average salary. A PWQ above 1 signals profitable operations; below 1 indicates potential inefficiencies.
Gross Value Added (GVA) Measures the actual value an organization generates from its inputs, revealing how efficiently resources are converted into profit.
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Train Me or I’ll Leave: The Critical Role of Upskilling in an AI-Driven Workplace
As AI continues to reshape the modern workplace, one trend is becoming increasingly clear: employees want more than just a job—they want the opportunity to learn, grow, and adapt to changing demands.
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The Importance of Process Documentation
🔍 Process documentation isn’t just words! Use flowcharts, pics, videos & more. Learn why and how…
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What a Faulty Laptop Can Teach Us About Productivity Culture
After 24 years as a loyal customer, my recent experience with a well-known business PC supplier has been nothing short of eye-opening. What started with a faulty laptop spiralled into months of back-and-forth troubleshooting, escalating costs, and a complete breakdown in customer care.
This isn’t just a story about a laptop—it’s a case study in poor productivity culture. The issues I faced highlight inefficiencies that are all too common in organisations with problematic cultures: rework, returns, refunds, and disengaged employees.
A huge thank you — UNBLOCK is off to an amazing start!
Wow — what a week I had last week! Monday kicked off with the Kindle launch of UNBLOCK, followed by the official book launch on Tuesday. Thanks to all of your support, UNBLOCK hit #1 in Hot New Releases across three different categories!
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Final Countdown: How UNBLOCK Can Transform Your Business
With practical advice and real-world case studies, UNBLOCK provides the roadmap to a more productive and successful business.
📆 Don't miss out on the Kindle deal running ONLY on Monday 4th November — open to find out how you can get your copy for just 99p / 99c and get ready to start your transformation journey!
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Building a Successful Change Management Plan
One of the challenges with improving productivity is we have to change how we work. This requires change management. Effective change management is crucial for any organisation looking to improve productivity and stay competitive. Here are some strategies from "UNBLOCK: Transform Your Profitability Through a Culture of Productivity in Just 100 Days," to help you navigate change successfully:
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What is an Unblock Audit™ and Why Does Your Business Need One?
What is an Unblock Audit™? It's a powerful tool to identify inefficiencies, foster a culture of discovery, and quantify improvement opportunities. Discover how it can unlock your organisation's potential.
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Creating a Systematic Productivity Culture
Here are some strategies from UNBLOCK on creating a systematic productivity culture. This approach focuses on throwing off lethargy and taking a proactive, structured role in improving productivity.
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Why Consistency Matters
Consistency is the bedrock of productivity, ensuring that processes are repeatable, reliable, and effective.
Here are three key reasons why consistency matters.
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How to Prioritise Productivity Improvements: Tips from UNBLOCK
Prioritising productivity improvements can be a challenging task, especially when faced with a long list of potential projects. Here are some tips to help you prioritise effectively and achieve significant productivity gains.
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Understanding the Productivity Pyramid
A crucial concept from UNBLOCK: the Productivity Pyramid. This model encapsulates the four key drivers of productivity: People, Process, Promise, and Price. To reach the peak of productivity, you need to focus on all four areas.
The Four Productivity Drivers Explained
By focusing on four drivers—people, process, promise, and price—you can create a balanced and effective productivity strategy. For more detailed insights and practical examples, be sure to explore "UNBLOCK" when it launches.
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How to Conduct an Unblock Audit™: A Step-by-Step Guide
Today I want to share some key insights from the book on how to conduct an Unblock Audit™. This process is pivotal in identifying and overcoming productivity barriers in your organisation. Here are three key takeaways to get you started:
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My journey to writing UNBLOCK
Excited to share my journey to writing "UNBLOCK: Transform Your Profitability Through a Culture of Productivity in Just 100 Days."
Written during a summer holiday in Scotland, this book offers practical insights to boost organisational productivity. Join me on this journey!
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The Importance of Measuring Productivity
Understanding and measuring productivity is not merely a managerial task; it is a critical strategic initiative.
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Sneak Peek: What is a Productivity Culture?
Here’s a sneak peek into a key concept from my upcoming book, UNBLOCK: Transform your profitability through a culture of productivity in just 100 Days.