The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI

Slow Productivity

Feb 24, 2025

Join Alan Bedding, a seasoned pharmaceutical professional turned coaching consultant, and Steve Mallett, a veteran statistician with two decades of drug development experience, as they explore the concept of Slow Productivity. They discuss the importance of focusing on fewer tasks for better quality, the role of effective time management, and the dangers of perfectionism. The duo emphasizes seasonal work patterns and finding balance to foster sustainable productivity in statistics and clinical development.

31:52

Creator website

Episode guests

Steve Mallett

Alan Bedding

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The concept of slow productivity encourages focusing on fewer tasks to achieve higher quality outcomes, reducing stress and burnout.

Acknowledging the seasonal nature of workloads allows for balanced productivity, promoting recovery periods after intense work phases.

Deep dives

Embracing Slow Productivity

The concept of slow productivity emphasizes focusing on fewer tasks to achieve higher quality outcomes. The podcast discusses key insights from Cal Newport’s book, which advocates for moving away from the visible effort of tasks that often leads to burnout. For instance, moving from a mindset of pseudo productivity, characterized by constant busyness, to one that values deep, meaningful work allows for deeper engagement and better results. This shift promotes the idea that taking time to produce something of value outweighs the quantity of tasks completed.

Intro

2min

Embracing Slow Productivity

14min

Finding Balance in Work Rhythms

8min

Understanding Quality in Clinical Development

4min

Harnessing Time Management for Meaningful Productivity

4min

A book review with Steve Mallett and Alun Bedding

Key Points:

Slow Productivity
Three Principles
Workload Management
Meetings
Seasonality
Overhead Tax
Quality vs. Perfectionism
Time Management
Mindset Shift

Slow Productivity offers valuable insights on working smarter, not just harder. By applying its principles, we can reduce stress, improve focus, and create higher-quality work. Tune in to this episode to hear practical tips from Alun, Steve, and me on making these ideas work in real life. If you find this discussion helpful, share it with your friends and colleagues so they can benefit too!

I’m thrilled to share that my book, “How to Be an Effective Statistician – Volume 1”, is now available!

It’s packed with insights to help statisticians, data scientists, and quantitative professionals excel as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in healthcare and medicine.

Check out the testimonials and grab your copy!

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