ReThink Productivity Podcast
Join Simon Hedaux, Co-Founder of ReThink Productivity, alongside a network of industry leaders, innovators, and clients as they share proven strategies to build smarter, leaner, and more profitable organisations.
Whether you lead Operations, Strategy, or HR, this podcast delivers the tactical advice and real-world data you need to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and on-the-ground execution.
What to Expect Every Month:
Early Month: The Productivity Pulse
- Data-Driven Action: Hear directly from our internal experts—Sue, Simon, and James—as they share real-world trends, fresh data findings, and actionable productivity insights emerging straight from live projects.
- Align & Engage: Discover practical ways to connect head office goals with frontline execution, ensuring every team member is pulling in the same direction.
- Real-World Wins: Get tactical advice and success stories from organisations that have successfully unlocked transformative productivity.
Late Month: The Industry Guest Spotlight
- Elevated Insights: We sit down with industry experts, trailblazing leaders, and clients to tackle the macro trends shaping business today.
- Deep-Dive Content: Move beyond surface-level metrics to explore complex, data-driven insights covering customer behaviour, market shifts, and evolving industry standards.
Ready to transform your business? Subscribe today and get the tools to power your organisation's potential.
ReThink Productivity Podcast
Every Second Counts with Notebook LM
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
This is what happened when I gave Notebook LM a copy of our book 'Every Second Counts' and used the interactive mode to be part of the conversation
Simon thinks it is amazing, have a listen
#theproductivityexperts
Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report
Connect to Simon on LinkedIn
Follow ReThink on LinkedIn
Maximizing Business Productivity
Speaker 1All right , buckle up everyone . We're diving deep into . Every Second Counts a book by the founders of Rethink Productivity .
Speaker 2And they're obsessed with helping businesses . You know , work smarter , not harder , right .
Speaker 1Smarter , not harder . Exactly , think of this deep dive like a crash course in making every second count for your business .
Speaker 2Ooh , I like that Every second counts , because every second does count .
Speaker 1Ooh , I like that Every second counts because every second does count , it really does and Rethink Productivity . They're all about finding that hidden time and those hidden cost savings , you know , and sometimes in places you wouldn't expect .
Speaker 2Yeah , they find them in the most unexpected places . It's amazing . The book's really laid out like a roadmap .
Speaker 1A roadmap . Ok , I like that .
Speaker 2To better productivity . Each chapter is like a stop along the way .
Speaker 1OK , so like a journey , each chapter is a stop . I like that visual and the chapter titles . Oh man , they're juicy Like where is your money really going ?
Speaker 2Ooh , that's a good one .
Speaker 1Or how can I serve more customers at peak times Stuff every business owner wants to know , right .
Speaker 2For sure , At Rethink . They're all about making decisions based on evidence , you know .
Speaker 1Evidence based yeah .
Speaker 2Not just going with your gut or following the latest trend , and the book is full of real examples , real companies who've done this .
Speaker 1Real world examples . Gotta love that Proof . It actually works .
Speaker 2Exactly , and it doesn't matter what size your business is or what industry you're in .
Speaker 1It's universal , those challenges .
Speaker 2Everyone's dealing with tight labor markets , trying to save money . You know it's relevant to everyone .
Speaker 1Absolutely OK . So let's take this journey chapter by chapter . Chapter one Boom Hits you with that question when is your money really going ?
Speaker 2It's the question everyone's asking .
Speaker 1And I can admit , when I read this chapter I was like , oh , that's me . They talk about salary budgets being misallocated .
Speaker 2Oh yeah , Happens all the time .
Speaker 1Money meant for customer facing roles ends up going to behind the scenes tasks .
Speaker 2Right , you think you're spending it on this , but it's going to that .
Speaker 1Exactly and rethink . They have this tool . They call it the output diagnostic .
Speaker 2The output diagnostic . It's powerful .
Speaker 1And it's all about measuring , like where is employee time actually going ?
Speaker 2Versus where you think it's going , there's often a big difference .
Speaker 1A big difference . So tell me , how does this output diagnostic thing work ? Do they like use software ? Do they observe people ? Is it like employee surveys ?
Speaker 2It depends . It really does depend on the business . The type of work they do Makes sense . They might use time logs , they might watch people work . You know , sometimes they use software that tracks how people are using systems .
Speaker 1Okay , so like a multi-pronged approach ?
Speaker 2The important thing is to get good data , accurate data on how time is being spent across the whole operation .
Speaker 1Okay , paint me a picture , Give me an example , like a real company , where this diagnostic revealed something surprising .
Speaker 2Okay , so there was this grocery retailer . They thought their labor costs were fine .
Speaker 1They thought they had it under control .
Speaker 2But when they did the output diagnostic they found they were spending twice as long dealing with excess stock .
Speaker 1Excess stock .
Speaker 2Then they were processing deliveries . Think about that .
Speaker 1More time moving stuff around than getting it on the shelves .
Speaker 2More time moving it than selling it . Yeah , Wow .
Speaker 1So what'd they do with that information ?
Speaker 2It made them totally rethink their inventory . They were doing things the old way , overstocking just in case .
Speaker 1Just in case , yeah .
Speaker 2So they moved to a just in time system .
Speaker 1Just in time Okay .
Speaker 2They worked closely with suppliers to have a steady flow of goods but no huge stockpile .
Speaker 1So that saved money on warehousing , I'm guessing .
Speaker 2Yeah , warehousing labor , and it freed up employees to spend more time with customers .
Speaker 1More time with customers . That's what we want . Okay , chapter two , here we go . How can I serve more customers at peak times ? This is where the money's made right .
Speaker 2This is the make or break time for a lot of businesses .
Speaker 1Peak periods , but things can go wrong quickly if you're not ready . Think about your own busiest times , listener . Are you really ready to make the most of them ?
Speaker 2This chapter gets into something Rethink . Calls aggregation of marginal gains .
Speaker 1Now , that's a phrase .
Speaker 2Aggregation of marginal gains . It's the idea that lots of little improvement can add up to a big increase in efficiency .
Speaker 1Okay , love the phrase , but what's it look like in the real world ? Give us an example , something our listeners can relate to .
Speaker 2So they talk about this coffee shop slammed during the morning rush .
Speaker 1The morning rush , oh yeah .
Speaker 2They were at max capacity , couldn't hire more people , couldn't buy more equipment .
Speaker 1So what did they do ?
Speaker 2Rethink helped them analyze their drink making process every single step .
Speaker 1Wow , every step .
Speaker 2They found that frothing milk was a bottleneck .
Speaker 1The milk frother Always a bottleneck .
Speaker 2But instead of buying a fancy new machine .
Speaker 1Which would be expensive .
Speaker 2They did something simpler they angled the paper cups .
Speaker 1Angled the cups .
Speaker 2So they were easier to grab and they got one-handed syrup dispensers .
Speaker 1Wait . They increased capacity by changing the angle of the cups .
Speaker 2It sounds crazy , but it worked .
Speaker 1That's brilliant , so simple .
Speaker 2Those little tweaks saved seconds on each order .
Speaker 1Seconds add up .
Speaker 2And their throughput went up by 25% . No major investments .
Speaker 1That's amazing . Small changes , big impact . I love it All right . Chapter three deep breath everyone . How can I make savings ? No-transcript , I know Not the most fun topic , but let's be real Finding ways to trim the fat . It's essential , especially these days .
Speaker 2Especially these days . If you want to thrive , you've got to be smart about spending .
Speaker 1Exactly and rethink . They actually reframe cost cutting .
Speaker 2They do , they turn it into a positive thing .
Speaker 1A positive thing . How so ?
Speaker 2They say it's a chance to streamline your operations , get rid of waste , free up money for growth .
Speaker 1OK , so like spring cleaning for your business .
Speaker 2Exactly Get rid of the clutter , make space for what matters .
Speaker 1I can get behind that . So what's their secret ? How do they find those savings ?
Speaker 2They have a three-step approach . First , figure out what you can S-stop doing .
Speaker 1Just stop doing Completely .
Speaker 2Yeah , you've got to challenge those old assumptions , those processes that are just habit .
Speaker 1But might not be necessary anymore .
Speaker 2Right . Second streamline the essential tasks make them simpler , more efficient . Okay , so like optimize the things you have to do and use technology to automate the boring stuff , the repetitive stuff .
Speaker 1Automation love it .
Speaker 2Minimize downtime . Make sure people are scheduled well . That communication is good . Reduce errors .
Speaker 1So that things flow smoothly , less wasted time .
Speaker 2Exactly Less wasted time , more productivity .
Speaker 1Give us some examples . What are some of those organizational comfort blankets businesses can get rid of ?
Speaker 2Oh , you'd be surprised . Things like counting cash every single day .
Speaker 1When you could do it weekly .
Speaker 2Exactly , or tracking inventory by hand when your system does it automatically .
Speaker 1Oh yeah , that makes sense .
Speaker 2And then there's all the reporting , data entry . So much of it's already digital , but people are still doing it manually .
Speaker 1It's like those subscriptions we forget to cancel , just draining money every month .
Speaker 2It is , it really is . The key is to question everything and be willing to let go of those old habits .
Speaker 1Let go of the things that aren't serving you anymore .
Speaker 2Exactly Be intentional . Focus on what drives value for your business and your customers .
Speaker 1Value , that's the key word . All right , this has been great , but we're just getting started .
Speaker 2Welcome back to our deep dive into every second counts . We spent part one walking through those first steps . You know getting a handle on where your money and time are going and really maximizing those peak times , those busy periods . You know when you can make the most profit .
Speaker 1Yeah , where the magic happens .
Speaker 2Exactly , and now we're going to bring those concepts to life .
Speaker 1Yeah , let's see how it works in the real world .
Speaker 2With some real world examples , because stories are how we learn , right .
Speaker 1Stories make it stick Absolutely . So let's jump back to that grocery retailer from chapter one .
Speaker 2The one spending more time managing extra stock than actually helping customers .
Speaker 1Oh yeah , I remember that one . The output diagnostics show them they were kind of stuck in the past with their inventory practices .
Speaker 2Right , they were so focused on having enough of everything , just in case .
Speaker 1Just in case .
Speaker 2It created a huge mess for them logistically .
Speaker 1Yeah , totally inefficient .
Speaker 2But once they had that data they could make a case for change , you know .
Speaker 1Okay , so what do they do ?
Speaker 2They worked with their suppliers to get that just-in-time system going . Just-in-time Meaning they only ordered what they needed when they needed it .
Speaker 1So less clutter , less space wasted and less time moving boxes around .
Speaker 2Exactly A win-win for employees and for customers .
Speaker 1I like it , so it benefited everyone .
Speaker 2It did . And what's interesting is , this shift to just-in-time had a ripple effect .
Speaker 1A ripple effect ?
Speaker 2Okay , Because they weren't constantly moving stock , the shelves were always full . Customers could find what they needed .
Speaker 1Happy customer .
Speaker 2Happy customers . Happy customers more likely to come back , spend more , you know .
Speaker 1And that means higher profits .
Speaker 2Exactly so . It all comes back that data driven decision making , finding the root of the problem .
Speaker 1And then taking action .
Speaker 2Exactly . Ok , let's switch gears . Look at a case study that shows aggregation of marginal gains in action .
Speaker 1Oh yeah , Love that phrase those little tweaks that add up to big wins .
Speaker 2Right , this one goes back to chapter two . Remember that coffee shop .
Speaker 1The one swamped during the morning rush .
Speaker 2They couldn't hire more staff , couldn't buy more equipment .
Speaker 1So they had to get creative , and they did it by changing the angle of the cups right .
Speaker 2And the one-handed syrup dispensers . Remember , and the one-handed syrup dispensers remember .
Speaker 1It's amazing what a difference those little things made .
Speaker 2It shows how a few seconds saved on each order can have a big impact .
Speaker 1Especially when you're dealing with hundreds of orders , right , every second counts , like that old saying for one a nail , the shoe was lost . For one of a shoe , the horse was lost .
Speaker 2Exactly . Sometimes the smallest things can make or break a system .
Speaker 1So true . So what else did they do besides the cups and the syrup ?
Speaker 2They kept analyzing found another bottleneck the coffee grinding and espresso shots .
Speaker 1Oh yeah , that's a crucial step .
Speaker 2So did they buy a fancy new espresso machine .
Speaker 1I was going to guess that .
Speaker 2Nope , they went for a more strategic solution an automated grinder and shot maker .
Speaker 1Okay , so the machine does the heavy lifting .
Speaker 2Which frees up the baristas to focus on the human touch . You know , frothing milk , latte art , talking to customers .
Speaker 1So they use technology to help , not replace their people .
Speaker 2Exactly that's the key Finding that balance .
Speaker 1And what was the outcome ?
Speaker 2They increased capacity by 25% without sacrificing quality . In fact , customers loved it .
Speaker 1Faster service , consistent drinks .
Speaker 2It's a win-win-win for the business , the employees and the customer .
Speaker 1All because they were willing to experiment and keep improving .
Speaker 2Exactly Okay . I want to look at a case study that shows the importance of the people you know engaging your employees .
Speaker 1Oh yeah , getting them involved , making them feel valued .
Speaker 2This one takes us to chapter five . It's all about leadership and structure .
Speaker 1Okay , leadership , that's huge .
Unlocking Business Efficiency With Rethink
Speaker 2Rethink talks about this kitchen retailer struggling with their showroom .
Speaker 1The showroom . That's where you make the sale .
Speaker 2Their employees were trying to do too much , Too much yeah . Feeling overwhelmed , burnt out .
Speaker 1Yeah , I can imagine .
Speaker 2They had this one role . It was supposed to cover everything Sales , design , customer service , even cleaning .
Speaker 1One person doing all of that . No wonder they were stressed .
Speaker 2And the customers felt it too .
Speaker 1Oh , yeah , probably getting ignored or passed around .
Speaker 2Exactly so . Rethink , did what they do observe , listen , gather data .
Speaker 1They're like detectives .
Speaker 2They spent time in the showroom talking to employees and customers .
Speaker 1Getting the full picture .
Speaker 2And what they found was the problem wasn't the employees themselves .
Speaker 1It was the system .
Speaker 2The structure of the role they were trying to wear . Too many hats couldn't excel at any of them .
Speaker 1Spread too thin .
Speaker 2Exactly , always putting out fires , never time to connect with customers .
Speaker 1So they needed to break down that role .
Speaker 2Into smaller , more manageable pieces .
Speaker 1Specialization Make sense .
Speaker 2They recommended separate roles for sales , design , customer service .
Speaker 1Each with their own responsibilities , clear goals .
Speaker 2That way , employees could focus on their strengths become experts .
Speaker 1And the customers did ? They notice the difference ?
Speaker 2Oh yeah , no more wandering around , lost , getting ignored .
Speaker 1Okay , so everyone wins again .
Speaker 2They had knowledgeable staff to help them guide them .
Speaker 1It's a reminder that productivity isn't just working harder . It's about working smarter .
Speaker 2And creating systems that work for everyone , both employees and customers .
Speaker 1So empower your people , listen to their feedback and have a good structure in place .
Speaker 2Absolutely Okay . Let's look at a case study that shows Rethink's approach to technology .
Speaker 1Technology , gotta love it , but it can be tricky sometimes .
Speaker 2This takes us back to Chapter 9 . Remember , it's all about validating those projected savings .
Speaker 1Making sure your investments are actually paying off .
Speaker 2They talk about this warehouse struggling with order picking efficiency .
Speaker 1They had all the fancy tech robots , automation , the works .
Speaker 2But they weren't seeing the results they expected .
Speaker 1What was the problem ?
Speaker 2Wi-Fi dead spots .
Speaker 1Wi-Fi . Are you serious ?
Speaker 2I know Ironic right , they had all this high-tech equipment .
Speaker 1State of the art .
Speaker 2But it was being sabotaged by a weak signal .
Speaker 1That's crazy .
Speaker 2They overlooked a crucial detail the robots needed a strong signal to communicate with the system .
Speaker 1But the warehouse was so big .
Speaker 2Huge Lots of metal shelving , disrupting the signal .
Speaker 1So delays , errors , all because of bad Wi-Fi .
Speaker 2Exactly their high-tech solution , tripped up by low-tech infrastructure .
Speaker 1So how'd they fix it ?
Speaker 2They could have replaced the whole Wi-Fi system , but that's expensive and time-consuming .
Speaker 1Yeah , not ideal .
Speaker 2So they went with a simpler solution Wi-Fi boosters .
Speaker 1Strategically placed , I'm guessing .
Speaker 2Targeting those weak spots . It's a reminder that sometimes the simplest solution is best .
Speaker 1Keep it simple .
Speaker 2And it shows Rethink's problem-solving mindset . They're not afraid to get creative .
Speaker 1Find what works , whatever it takes .
Speaker 2So always validate your assumptions , test your systems and be ready to adapt .
Speaker 1Technology is a tool , not a magic wand .
Speaker 2Exactly . It has to be used strategically to get the results you want .
Speaker 1Okay , this has been fascinating , but now I'm thinking how do we apply this stuff ?
Speaker 2Yeah , let's get practical . What can our listeners do to make every second count in their own businesses ?
Speaker 1Welcome back for the final part of our deep dive into every second counts . We've covered the principles .
Speaker 2We've seen those principles in action . Yeah , real companies , real results .
Speaker 1And now it's time to get personal , to think about your business .
Speaker 2How can you make every second count ? Because it's not just theory , it's about making a difference .
Speaker 1It's about results and remember every business is unique .
Speaker 2There's no magic formula that works for everyone .
Speaker 1But there are some fundamentals we can all use , starting with data .
Speaker 2Data . Yeah , remember , rethink's big thing Evidence-based decision making .
Speaker 1Got to have that data to make smart choices .
Speaker 2It's about moving beyond gut feelings , really understanding what's going on . That's where the output diagnostic comes in , right A powerful tool helps you see where your team's time is really going .
Speaker 1And you might be surprised by what you find .
Speaker 2You often are .
Speaker 1And you don't need fancy software to start , Just grab a notebook a pen and just watch Observe your operations . Be a detective . Where are the bottlenecks ? Where are people struggling ?
Speaker 2Are there tasks that just take way too long ?
Speaker 1Once you have that baseline data , you can start looking for those organizational comfort blankets .
Speaker 2Those things you do , just because you've always done them .
Speaker 1But they might not be necessary anymore .
Speaker 2So be brave Challenge the status quo . Ask yourself , why are we doing this ?
Speaker 1And if the answer is well , we've always done it this way . It might be time for a change . Could you automate it , delegate it , maybe get rid of it entirely , and don't be afraid to experiment , try new things .
Speaker 2See what works . Track the results , because what works for one business might not work for another .
Speaker 1Find your own path . Okay , now let's talk about time and motion studies .
Speaker 2Sounds a bit technical , but it's really just about breaking down tasks into tiny little pieces and seeing how long each piece takes . Like a detective , analyzing every movement .
Speaker 1You can do this yourself or hire an expert . The key is to be objective .
Speaker 2Just look at the facts . Where are the delays ? Are there unnecessary movements ?
Speaker 1Can you combine steps , eliminate steps .
Speaker 2It's like a science experiment . You're gathering data to see how the process actually works .
Speaker 1Not how you think it works . Sometimes there's a big difference .
Speaker 2And once you have that data you can start finding those opportunities to improve .
Speaker 1Maybe there's a step that's always taking too long .
Speaker 2Maybe there's back and forth between departments that could be streamlined .
Speaker 1Maybe a simple tool could save minutes on a task .
Speaker 2Remember those one-handed syrup dispensers . Small changes , big impact .
Speaker 1So look for those marginal gains , those little tweaks that add up .
Speaker 2It's about having that mindset of continuous improvement .
Speaker 1Always looking for ways to do better , be more efficient . Now data is important , but let's not forget about the people , your employees . They're crucial . They're the ones on the front lines .
Speaker 2They often have the best ideas for improvement .
Speaker 1They see those inefficiencies every day .
Speaker 2So create a culture where they feel comfortable speaking up .
Speaker 1Ask them what frustrates you , how can we make things better ?
Speaker 2And , most importantly , listen to them and act on their suggestions .
Speaker 1Because productivity isn't about working people harder .
Speaker 2It's about empowering them to do their best work .
Speaker 1Creating an environment where everyone thrives , and that's where leadership comes in .
Speaker 2Are your leaders supporting their teams ? Do they have time to coach and mentor ?
Speaker 1Are they creating a space where people feel safe to share ideas ?
Speaker 2These are big questions for any leader .
Speaker 1Think about your own leadership style . Are you empowering your team ?
Speaker 2Or are you micromanaging , creating bottlenecks ?
Speaker 1Rethink talks a lot about role clarity making sure everyone knows what they're responsible for .
Speaker 2And delegation , giving people the authority to make decisions .
Speaker 1Trust your team . Let them do what they do best .
Speaker 2And as you make changes , measure the results , don't just assume it's working .
Speaker 1Track those metrics , compare before and after .
Speaker 2Be willing to adjust . Productivity is a journey , not a destination .
Speaker 1And finally , embrace technology . Ai is changing everything .
Speaker 2It's going to be even bigger in the future .
Speaker 1So experiment , find the tools that work for you .
Speaker 2But remember , technology is a tool , it's not a magic solution .
Speaker 1Use it strategically to automate tasks , to free up your people for higher level work .
Speaker 2So there you have it A crash course in Rethink's productivity philosophy .
Speaker 1Data driven , empowered by technology and focused on the human element .
Speaker 2It's a journey and we hope this deep dive has given you the tools to start your own journey .
Speaker 1To a more productive , fulfilling and profitable business .
Speaker 2Every second counts .
Speaker 1Thanks for joining us for this deep dive into Every Second Counts . We hope you found it valuable .
Speaker 2If you have any thoughts , any questions , we'd love to hear from you .
Speaker 1Connect with us on social media , share your insights . Let's keep this conversation going .
Speaker 2Until next time , keep diving deep .
People on this episode
Podcasts we love
Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.
