[00:01] Katie: Welcome to the Focus B show, where Katie Stoddart, high performance coach, interviews experts around the world in performance and mindfulness. Now here's your host. Katie.

[00:32] Katie: Welcome to another episode of the Focusby show. Today I'm here with Amanda Holtz Larson. Amanda is an HR business partner for Pfizer with this particular focus on productivity and leadership. Thank you so much for joining the show, Amanda.

[00:50] Amanda: Thank you for having me.

[00:52] Katie: My pleasure. I know that you work a lot with Life Work Balance in terms of productivity. Could you tell us what you feel are the greatest contributors to life work balance?

[01:06] Amanda: So I think from a business perspective and from what I do at work, I think working within HR, creating a culture where that is acceptable and that where you can schedule your week and plan your week in a way that works best for you just a lot with the culture work. And also we talk a lot about creating a culture where everyone can bring their whole self to work. And I think now life and work are merged together more than ever before. So I think one part of it is just leading by example, but also to encourage leaders and colleagues to embrace wellness in their lives and make room for meaningful work in practice. That can be a lot of things. Just nurturing a culture where you have less meetings, you spend less time in email, you make sure that everybody can find time to breathe and reflect and all that. So there's, I think, a lot to it.

[02:15] Katie: I really like what you're saying about making time to reflect. I think that's super important and that's definitely a key asset to having some balance in our life in general. I'm also wondering when you said embrace wellness, I think that's a lovely way of saying it. Could you give a few practical tips or ideas so the listeners can think how they can embrace wellness in their.

[02:41] Amanda: We at Pfizer, we have a lot of walk and talks, and we had that even before this pandemic and where everybody is working remote. So just whenever there is a time we have a meeting that you don't have to be sitting by your computer, we encourage people to transform it to a walk and talk and be very clear. Write that in the agenda, make sure that people do that and don't feel bad about it, but just finding the time to do that. And also, I guess that's one example how we do it. Wellness can be a lot of things, both mindfulness and it can be it's a whole package, but making sure that everybody can learn a lot and develop.

[03:36] Katie: Nice. I like what you're saying also about the mindfulness aspect of things. Do you have your own mindfulness practice or meditation practice in your life?

[03:47] Amanda: Yeah. So for me, we actually do it a lot in groups, so when we have bigger, maybe conferences, et cetera, we always start with mindfulness. But for me personally, I start my day in maybe meditation and prayer and having that kind of routine in the morning. So that's how I implement it in my personal life.

[04:11] Katie: That's really nice. I actually also start the day with meditation. I think it's a lovely way to start the day. I'm wondering, do you feel that mindfulness and meditation are related to productivity? Do you feel more productive because you have a mindfulness or meditation practice?

[04:31] Amanda: Yeah, for me it's the focus and knowing my why and knowing where I'm going and how my day is going to be. I think that not just the meditation and that part, but also having a good morning routine and making sure that I know what the day will hold and feel not surprised by the next thing on my agenda, but that it is that I'm in control in a way. So I think the whole morning routine is one part that is very beneficial both for productivity, but also finding the balance in life and making sure that all that I want to have in my day is there.

[05:18] Katie: Yes, that makes sense. And it's true what you're saying about the schedule and the planning. If you know what the day holds, you're a lot more likely to be productive. And you can also anticipate things. What is it that you do specifically in the morning? If you wouldn't mind sharing some of your morning routine. I know it's a topic I'm really interested in, and maybe some people listening are thinking, oh, what's her great morning routine? I also want to do this in my daily life.

[05:44] Amanda: For me, it differs a little bit. I have small child, so not every day can be as I wish it would be. But I would like to exercise in the morning, I like to go running, but that's not always possible now. But it was easier before. But I always read a little bit, I reflect, I look at what my day will look like and make sure that I can walk into the day calm. And I have also implemented one part of my morning routine where I'm thankful and I remind myself why I'm thankful. Because I think that many times we can forget and we just walk on and we focus on problems and things we need to solve, but not always just breathing and thinking of the things that we actually have. Because even in hard seasons there's things to hold on to that is good and healthy, I believe.

[06:48] Katie: Yes, that really is a nice way of putting it. I think having a gratitude practice can really help to acknowledge the abundance that is always already in our lives. And we have a tendency to focus on what's missing by default. I think we're genetically wired that way, so it's nice to appreciate what we already have. So I totally share that with you. I write the five minute journal. Do you have this it's like the Five Minute Gratitude Journal that's really nice to write down the things you're grateful for and what you want to happen during the day and affirmations. Yeah, so really nice to hear about your morning routine. To come back to the life work balance, what are the main struggles that you see, for example, at Pfizer or around you? What do people struggle with most?

[07:39] Amanda: I think now, in this time when we have technology in a different way than we've had previously and we can work anywhere at any time, and I think that's a great asset. But I also think that it does require people to take even high responsibility to lead themselves, lead their week and plan each week in a healthy and productive way. And I also believe we need to review our ways of working regularly to make sure it's healthy. Because for me personally, I see my work and my private life as a whole. For me, it doesn't work so well to just split them up and have this is my private, but I want to be who I am wherever I go. And then so when it comes to planning and find the balance, I need to include things both collaboration and focus, work and reflection, but also the personal things with family or recharging and Hobies, et cetera. So I think that's where I've seen also that people struggle to find this balance because it's easy that work takes overhand or something else takes overhand, but to kind of look again and see how is this balance at the moment and to do that regularly, I think that's where people struggle.

[09:10] Katie: Yes, reviewing regularly and checking where you're at and what can be improved and what work means now, I think all of these things are really important. I'm also wondering, now that people are working a lot from home, what do you feel helps them to find this balance? Because it can be very tricky if they have a partner or family and everyone's working from home, what do you feel helps them to be more productive but also feel better and have this balance?

[09:39] Amanda: When I speak to people, I feel like some people love this and feel like it's so much more easy and they don't have to travel and all that and others are struggling more because they might have kids home or more people working in the same house. But I think that just one thing during this remote season, what I said before with walk in talks and taking meetings outside and trying to change the environment and move around in your house. But another thing that I think is what you can do with both yourself but also if you're leading others, is to help people think about when they have their window of productivity. I believe that we are different. Some people are very productive and have a lot of energy in the mornings, while others are way better in the afternoon or evening and there's not a right and wrong way, we're all different and that's good. But I think that it's important to help people find when they are most productive and to kind of treasure that time. So if for me personally, I'm very productive in the morning, so I make sure to not have a lot of in a way I schedule maybe more difficult tasks than where I need to really focus because then I know I can get it done and it's not going to be too difficult for me. But at maybe 03:00 P.m., that's not my prime time and I know that. So I will make sure that what I put between maybe three and five, that is things that I can do even if my energy and my focus is not my highest. So I think that some people know how to kind of plan their day depending on when they have their window of productivity or however you want to call it. But I think that's another thing that can help people.

[11:40] Katie: Absolutely. I think this is so important and I like the way you frame it, your window of productivity. I generally think of the times where you're most productive, but this is a really nice expression, your window of productivity. And I know that when I discovered this, it changed a lot and also happened with some of my clients. And I feel that we're not always taught to look at our time from an energy perspective, as in when do I have most energy, therefore I will achieve more. We often think how long will it take to do this one task? And then we don't always take into consideration when to put it in the calendar. But maybe if you were doing it at 03:00 P.m., it would take you 2 hours. Maybe if you did it at 09:00 A.m., it would take you one. So it's actually very dependent on the energy. So I really love this path. I think it's really nice. I want to move on a bit to the topic of leadership, because I know you focus on productivity and leadership.

[12:37] Amanda: How do you feel they relate?

[12:38] Katie: Because I do something very similar, which is high performance and leadership and productivity is a big part of high performance. So I can see a link in my own mind. But I'm curious as to where do you feel they connect?

[12:54] Amanda: I think they connect a lot. I think we are all examples to somebody and that somebody will look at us and imitate. So even if you're a formal manager to somebody or if you're leading a project, whatever it is, people will have their eyes on you. And I think that as a leader, we need to live by example and show people that you can be in charge of your time and your well being and find a good work life balance and still be high performing. I think it doesn't have to be one or the other. So I think that's one way to just being responsible for ourselves and showing that and then helping others on the way. So that's if you look at it on a leadership perspective but also, I think in business that increasing that transparency is another part. If it can be shared, why keep it a secret? So to include people and to encourage people to bring their whole self to work and also to coach people in that. So I think that there's leadership and productivity is closely connected and I think that it's something that we can continue working on.

[14:16] Katie: It's interesting what you're saying about increasing the transparency. And so do you feel then that if leaders and managers or the chief executive officer, if they are more transparent, do you feel that that encourages more productivity in the company?

[14:34] Amanda: Yeah, I would say so.

[14:36] Katie: Interesting. That's like a really interesting point. I've never thought of it that way. Do you feel that it's because the employees then are in an environment of trust and they're more trusting and therefore they can maybe share when they're struggling and they can perform at a better level? Do you feel this is how it's related?

[14:54] Amanda: Yeah, yes, exactly. And also that when there is a transparency in the culture and in a group, then people know what is happening and people don't have to spend time wondering why are they doing that and what's happening and is there some other reason for us doing in certain way? But it's very open and honest and trust. It's built on trust. So, yes, absolutely.

[15:27] Katie: I like this aspect of trust. Let's dive in a bit deeper in terms of leadership. When you look at leadership as a whole, what do you feel, aside from transparency that you just mentioned? What do you feel creates an environment of trust?

[15:44] Amanda: Maybe it's a little bit connected to transparency, but I think that just the way that we communicate and the way we let people speak, everybody in a group might not be the same. If we speak about introverts and extroverts and everybody is different and just making a culture in a group or whatever it is, that you can be different and that it's okay and you let people speak up and you help people to speak and you include people. So I think that's also another way to work on the ways we're communicating in that also when it's feedback culture and helping each other grow and encouraging each other, et cetera, that's very nice.

[16:35] Katie: The support and encouragement. What sort of ways can help people to have feedback? Because you mentioned feedback right now, and I know it's a really interesting and important topic in terms of high performance, productivity, leadership. So what sort of ways is feedback the most useful inside the company or in general, you feel?

[16:57] Amanda: I think that it needs to start with relationships so that if you and me are working together, then I think that it needs to be the right person to come and give the feedback. And when I speak about feedback, it doesn't have to be this you need to work on or whatever, it's more just lifting a person. And I would argue that many times it's better to start with giving positive feedback and building people up and helping them in that way. So I think that to start with the relationships you have and stop building relationships in your business. So maybe you have a few that you are close with or that you feel like you can open up to and discuss and maybe be honest and transparent with. But to maybe try and increase that group and also cross functional. So not if I'm HR, I don't have to be only within HR, but also to build strong relationships with other areas of the business.

[18:02] Katie: That's very nice. I feel that the way you're talking about this and to build these honest relationships with people also touches quite a bit on vulnerability, the way you're saying this and the way you open up. Can you say a few more words on how you feel we can be more vulnerable and how we can be more open with others to build these relationships?

[18:23] Amanda: Yeah, I think if you're a leader, then if you are open and vulnerable and willing to share and being a little personal sometimes and showing that I did not do this the best way, then I think that will build a culture where other people can do that as well. So I think just listening and not interrupting and having making room in your team meetings or whenever you meet to actually open up, sometimes that's difficult because we can't control those conversations because we don't always know what's going to come up. But to be brave and take that and lift people up and even if the area might not be work related to it will make a team grow, I believe.

[19:26] Katie: Yes, it's such a good point in terms of the vulnerability and how that links to trust. It's not something people talk about. And I love the fact that you just mentioned also being brave, because that's related. If we're willing to be vulnerable, we also have to be brave enough to speak up or to admit our mistakes. That was also a fantastic example. And I think that we're more likely to trust someone if they admit that they failed or made a mistake than if they pretend to be perfect all the time, then it won't gain our respect as much. I think that's a really valid and important point. And regarding leadership, I'm wondering, do you have any advice or tips on people who want to improve their self leadership? Because I know that before we can lead others, we have to manage to lead ourselves. I think this is such an interesting topic. So what sort of advice would you have for people who want to improve their self leadership?

[20:26] Amanda: So I think my advice in this actually is connected to both productivity and well being and back to the planning and knowing both. Maybe take some time and think of what are my long term and short term goals and also maybe aligning them to your calendar and seeing where are my time actually going? Is it where I wish she was? And if not, and even if it is, then there's always adjustments to do but to find a few things and to focus on for maybe four weeks. So let's say sleep or food or exercise or focus, time, reflection, collaboration, it could be anything but just always improving that. And I think that when it comes to we are all different here and we have different preferences. Some are very they like to have everything planned, others doesn't. And I think that that's also okay to be as you are. But I think that this is not a thing where you do it once and then it's done. I think this is an experimentation. We need to continue to experiment and see because in seasons we differ, there will be seasons where what worked last year might not work next. So to experiment and find things that can improve that, because I think that to having that balance in life is the foundation of self leadership. I think just reviewing that and taking some time to do that, because even if we're in a busy season, then maybe that's when we need it most.

[22:18] Katie: Yes, that's really wonderfully put. I feel that having that balance and knowing the goals you're aiming for and doing that process regularly can help you both with your productivity, your well being, and also having one thing to focus on, as you mentioned. So focusing just on the exercise or on how you're eating at different moments is really essential to lead ourselves to manage our self leadership and also to inspire others, as you mentioned at the beginning, leading by example is also a really important point. We're coming to the end of the episode. Amanda, is there anything else that you feel that we haven't covered that you would like to share with the listeners? Anything regarding a few tips on productivity or leadership or something that you feel could be beneficial?

[23:13] Amanda: Maybe I can just underline again with the experimentation and that everybody is experimenting or should and also that we don't have to do it right the first time. It's better to try and then maybe it doesn't work and then we try something new. But to always not be afraid of failing but wanting to experiment. And that could be how you want to work with your own ways. There's a lot of different productivity strategies and there's somebody's work life balance, everybody's work life balance looks different. The balance between the different areas is not going to be the same for everybody. To look at ourselves and try each day and experiment and realize that we're not in the end. This is a long run and we want to last for a lifetime. I've seen many people working harder and harder and more and more, and instead of that freeing up time, it may lead to them being burnout or that they get even more things on their plate. So just to it is important. This topic is very important and I love speaking about it, but it's also no right and wrong way. So I guess that's.

[24:37] Katie: So true. No right or wrong way. And I love experimentation. I've experimented a lot also in my life, and I've seen the benefits of being willing to fail and being willing to stand up and try again and try something new and different till we find something that works first for a given amount of time and then try again. Because as you said earlier during the podcast episode, that we go through different seasons. So it's important to constantly be experimenting and innovating. So thank you for sharing that extra tip. I think it's super valuable. Thank you. Well, where can people find you, Amanda?

[25:19] Amanda: I guess the best way is on.

[25:23] Katie: Perfect. Perfect. I'm going to put your contact in the show notes. Thank you so much for being on the show and sharing all of your insights on lifelong balance and productivity and leadership. It was really great to have you here today. Thank you.

[25:36] Amanda: Yeah, thank you. Bye.

[25:39] Katie: Thank you for listening to the Focus B show. We would love to hear your feedback. Let us know in a review how this episode inspired you. Keep buzing.