

How I Work
Amantha Imber
You know those annoyingly successful people who seem to have it all figured out? Time to steal their playbook. Organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber gets world‑class achievers to spill their secrets - the daily strategies behind their success through to life hacks and productivity hacks they’d rather keep to themselves. We’re talking practical tips for boosting your output (including clever AI tools and shortcuts that’ll make you look like a genius), managing overwhelm without losing your mind, and optimising both work and wellbeing. No motivational fluff. Just battle‑tested tactics from people who’ve cracked the code.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 6, 2020 • 12min
My Favourite Tip: Dan Health on removing recurring irritants from your life
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 amantha@inventium.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 snips
Jul 1, 2020 • 7min
My Favourite Tip: Stanford behaviour change expert BJ Fogg on making habits stick
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 amantha@inventium.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 29, 2020 • 9min
My Favourite Tip: Amazon executive Paul Migliorini on banning PowerPoint decks
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 amantha@inventium.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 24, 2020 • 26min
Part 2: Jake Knapp on sharing "news duty", avoiding video calls, and being a better listener
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 amantha@inventium.com.au 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.

Jun 22, 2020 • 6min
My Favourite Tip: Columbia Professor Rita McGrath on how she decides what projects to take on
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 amantha@inventium.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 17, 2020 • 52min
Part 1: Jake Knapp on why email is so addictive and how he is winning the battle against his inbox
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 amantha@inventium.com.au 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.

Jun 15, 2020 • 10min
My Favourite Tip: Sandra Sully on how to conduct a great interview
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 amantha@inventium.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 10, 2020 • 37min
Mia Freedman on transitioning back to the office, new work rituals developed during lockdown, and the most challenging thing about running a media company during COVID.
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 amantha@inventium.com.au 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.

Jun 8, 2020 • 9min
My Favourite Tip: Dropbox executive Dean Swan on finding the ideal structure for his day
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 amantha@inventium.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 3, 2020 • 6min
My Favourite Tip: CommBank board director Wendy Stops on the best career advice she has received
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 amantha@inventium.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


