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 something:
more training, more tools, more meetings, more 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.

What You’ll Be Able to Do After This Session

By the end of the 45 minutes, you’ll be able to:
- Identify what’s really slowing work down in your environment
- Distinguish between different kinds of productivity friction
- Avoid defaulting to the wrong fix
- Decide the next sensible move — intervention, learning, or nothing at all
- Explain that choice clearly to others

This is about clarity before action.

The Core Idea

When work slows down, the first question isn’t:
“Do people need training or anew app?”

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

Some friction needs a short, focused intervention.
Some needs learning — applied precisely where it matters.

The mistake is treating them as the same problem.

What This Session Is
This is a short, focused orientation to how productivity problems actually behave in real organisations — and how to respond without overcorrecting.

It introduces a practical way to diagnose friction first,
then respond precisely,
and hand ownership back once flow is restored.

What This Session Is Not

This is not:
- A training session
- A demonstration
- A list of tips, hacks, or best practices

It’s a clear-eyed look at what’s really going on —
and a practical way forward.

Who This Is For

This session is for:
- Team leaders frustrated by busyness without progress
- HR and L&D professionals looking beyond traditional training responses
- Leaders who want productivity to improve without adding more noise

:It’s not for
- Box-ticking training 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