Most leaders assume their biggest challenge is time—not enough of it, too much to do, and a calendar that never stops filling.
But according to productivity expert and award-winning author Maura Nevel Thomas, time isn’t the problem at all.
It’s distraction.
And the more we try to solve distraction with time-management tools, the further we drift from meaningful, significant results.
In this episode, Maura offers a refreshing and deeply human reframing of productivity: focus less on time and more on attention.
In a world of nonstop interruptions, her Empowered Productivity system helps leaders reclaim intention, reduce overwhelm, and build cultures where focus and accountability can actually thrive.
Listen in to learn why time management is outdated, how leaders unintentionally create cultures of distraction, and what it takes to build organizations where people feel empowered, grounded, and capable of meaningful work.tent for podcast
n this conversation, Maura breaks down:
- Why distraction is the real productivity crisis.
- How constant reactivity conditions teams to stay overwhelmed.
- The difference between focus and attention management.
- How unconscious beliefs (like “I must always be available”) quietly derail performance.
- The surprising way leaders undermine accountability without realizing it.
- Language shifts that foster ownership and reduce unnecessary interruptions.
- How culture affects attention, decision-making, and turnover—especially in high-pressure fields.
- What “don’t work too much” really means and why balance must be clearly defined inside organizations.
- What leaders should actually look for when interviewing for attention-healthy teams.
Ideas Worth Sharing:
- “Time isn’t our problem. What I think is our problem is distractions. And you can’t solve a distraction problem with a time solution.” – Maura Nevel Thomas
- “The antidote to distraction is attention.” – Maura Nevel Thomas
- “Sometimes the best thing you can do for your work is not work.” – Maura Nevel Thomas
Resources mentioned:
- Productivity Assessment
- Empowered Productivity | Maura Thomas
- Progress Principle by Teresa Amabile & Steven Kramer
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence by Daniel Goleman
About the Guest
Maura Nevel Thomas is an international keynote speaker, trainer, and author specializing in attention management and empowered productivity. Her work has been featured by Google, NASA, the U.S. Army, and hundreds of high-performing organizations navigating the demands of modern work. Maura’s research-driven insights challenge outdated productivity models and offer leaders a practical path toward focus, clarity, and meaningful results. She is the creator of the Empowered Productivity System and author of several bestselling books on attention and workplace well-being.
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