How to Identify What’s Really Slowing Work Down — and Choose the Right Response

Your team is putting in the effort.
But work isn’t flowing.

Emails pile up. Meetings multiply. Tasks stall waiting for input.
People feel busy — but progress feels thin.

This usually isn’t a problem of motivation or capability.
It’s friction — small, everyday blockages that accumulate and quietly slow work down until momentum is lost.

Most organisations respond by adding more: training, tools, meetings, pressure.

We suggest an earlier start.

This session offers a clearer way to understand what’s actually happening — so the response fits the problem, rather than guessing.

After This Session You'll Be Able To
- Identify what’s really slowing work down in your environment
- Distinguish between different kinds of productivity friction
- Choose the right response— intervention, learning, or nothing at all
- Explain that choice clearly to others

Clarity before action.

The Core Idea
When work slows down, the first question isn’t:
“Do people need training or a new app?”

It’s: “What kind of friction is present here?”

Different kinds of friction need different responses.
The mistake is treating them as the same problem.

What This Session Is
This is a short, focused orientation to diagnosing productivity friction and responding proportionately.

It is not:
- A training session
- A demonstration
- a collection of tips or hacks

It’s a clear-eyed way to decide what actually needs attention.

Who This Is For
For:
- Team leaders frustrated by busyness without progress
- HR and L&D professionals supporting line managers
- Leaders who want productivity to improve without adding noise

Not for:
- Box-ticking initiatives
- One-size-fits-all programmes
- Fixing things that aren’t broken

If there’s no meaningful friction to remove, we’ll say so.

Format
- 45 minutes
- No preparation required
- No follow-up unless you choose