In this episode of Heart & Graft, Nicky is back in the virtual coffee shop with Mia Shepherd of Neupauer Training and Joel Fielder of Switchplane to talk about productivity without turning into a robot. They discuss why endless to-do lists and self-sabotage leave people feeling busy but unfulfilled, and how reframing productivity around value, boundaries and energy can change the way you work. From parenting and PhDs to software sprints and the “beanie hat of concentration”, this is a very human look at getting important work done without losing yourself.​

• To rethink productivity from “How many tasks did I finish?” to “What progress did I make towards what really matters?”.​

• To hear practical ideas like time boxing, 25‑minute sprints, planning, and visual “do not disturb” signals.​

• To explore how impostor syndrome, perfectionism and emotional hijacks quietly derail your day – and what you can actually do about them.​

• To learn how deadlines, accountability and tiny increments of progress can work with your personality instead of against it.​

In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky explores whether virtual and hybrid teams can ever feel as kind, connected and compassionate as working in the same room. Drawing on conversations with digital learning specialist and mindfulness teacher Alison Potter, and coach Sara Knight, the episode unpacks the benefits of online work, the three practical challenges, and the mindset shift that lets humanity “vibrate through” the screen.​

You will hear stories of online sessions that began as a “car crash” and evolved into confident, interactive spaces, research on teaching compassion virtually, and a powerful account of how being at home helped a client open up about burnout in ways they might never have done face to face. Nicky distils their insights into practical tips for anyone leading virtual teams or online sessions.​

• To understand the real benefits and pitfalls of virtual working, beyond the usual productivity headlines.​

• To hear evidence and lived experience on whether psychological safety and trust can genuinely flourish online.​

• To learn concrete practices for making your virtual meetings and teams feel more human, compassionate and inclusive. As well as,​ ideas for handling Zoom fatigue, tech wobblies and emotional conversations when you are not in the same room.​

You can connect with Alison on LinkedIn and with Sara on LinkedIn or via her website.

Imposter feelings are not a personal flaw, they are often the price of caring deeply and learning. In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky explores why so many thoughtful, conscientious professionals secretly feel like frauds and what leaders and teams can do to turn down the volume on that inner critic. We explore the origins of Imposter Phenomenon, and how some organisations are helping to combat it.

Why listen:

• To normalize imposter feelings.​

• To collect playful but powerful practices (like “failure cakes”) you can adapt for your own workplace.​

• To learn a simple mindset tool you can use yourself or when coaching others to challenge harsh self-talk.​