In this episode of Business Made Smarter, host Ed Nell sits down with Doug D’Aubrey to explore how business owners can increase productivity without working longer hours. Doug challenges the idea that working evenings, weekends and pulling all-nighters is something to be proud of, explaining why excessive hours can actually damage performance, decision-making and ultimately business success.
Drawing on his own experience of working 18-hour days, Doug shares how exhaustion led him to realise that being busy doesn't necessarily mean being productive. He offers practical advice on managing distractions, measuring performance, delegating responsibilities and creating healthier boundaries between work and home life. The conversation explores how business owners can build profitable businesses that give them more freedom, rather than consuming every waking hour.
Working Longer Doesn't Mean Achieving More: Doug explains how excessive working hours can lead to exhaustion, poor concentration and reduced performance. After working 18-hour days for several months, he discovered that once properly rested, he could achieve more in seven hours than he previously managed in eighteen.
Being Busy Isn't the Same as Being Productive: Answering emails, dealing with interruptions and constantly firefighting can fill an entire working day without moving the business forward. True productivity is about achieving meaningful outcomes rather than simply completing tasks.
Manage Distractions and Protect Your Time: Doug shares the example of a business owner who was constantly interrupted by employees needing decisions. By introducing a dedicated hour for questions and working away from the office, he was able to create uninterrupted time for more important activities. The same principle applies to checking emails at set times rather than responding to every notification.
Measure What Actually Matters: Understanding whether your business is productive requires tracking the right key performance indicators (KPIs). Doug explains how measuring outcomes such as new enquiries, sales conversions, billable hours and customer satisfaction can help identify whether your activities are genuinely delivering results.
Delegate to Create More Time: Business owners should spend time identifying everything they do throughout a typical week and deciding which responsibilities could be delegated or outsourced. Tasks such as bookkeeping, answering calls and routine administration can often be handled by others, freeing up time for activities that genuinely grow the business.
"It's not big, it's not even clever. It's actually counterproductive when you start doing that."
"I found that in seven hours I was doing more work than I was doing in 18."
"The difference between being productive and busy is: are you actually achieving the outcomes you want to achieve?"
"You don't need to monitor everything. You just need to monitor key things."
"There will always be another email to do. There'll always be another thing to do."
About the host
Doug D’Aubrey, founder and Managing Director of Executive Training and Consultancy (ETC), leverages extensive senior management experience to help businesses across the UK and Europe. With tailored consultancy packages ranging from short-term projects to 3-year growth programs, Doug aids companies in improving operations and achieving results. Doug’s success lies in his honest communication with leaders, identifying strategies to enhance management skills and optimise service delivery for measurable outcomes.
Take advantage of a FREE 2-hour Business Review with ETC’s expert consultants to identify goals, tackle challenges, and create a clear plan for growth. Visit https://exec-tc.com/ to book your review.
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