The biggest productivity gains rarely come from adding more—they come from removing what no longer serves you. Productivity expert Donna McGeorge calls this “red brick thinking”: identifying what can be removed to create space for better decisions, clearer priorities and more meaningful work. 

Donna is an international speaker and bestselling author of 15 books. Her practical approach to reclaiming time has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes and Fast Company. 

Donna explains why “addition bias” keeps organisations overloaded, how reducing meetings and protecting thinking time improves performance, and why the greatest gift you can give your future self is removing the red bricks that no longer belong. She also shares why leaders should aim to operate at 85% capacity instead of 100%, how to build room for better thinking, and why creating space – not filling it – is becoming one of the most valuable leadership skills of all. 

Takeaways  
Stop adding solutions before asking what can be removed instead first. 
The best productivity gains come from strategic subtraction, not constant addition. 
Protect thinking time because busy leaders rarely make their best decisions. 
Too many meetings often reveal low trust rather than genuine collaboration needs. 
Operate at 85% capacity to create room for unexpected challenges daily. 
Creating space is becoming one of today’s most valuable leadership advantages everywhere. 
Your future self will thank you for removing unnecessary red bricks today. 
Artificial intelligence saves time only if you intentionally protect that newfound space. 

Follow Donna McGeorge 
https://donnamcgeorge.com/  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamcgeorge/  
https://www.instagram.com/  

Donna’s books 
https://donnamcgeorge.com/books/
Red Brick Thinking: Make Space. Find Focus. Move Forward 
The ChatGPT Revolution 
The 1 Day Refund: Take Back Time, Spend It Wisely 
The First 2 Hours: Make Better Use of Your Most Valuable Time 
The 25 Minute Meeting: Half the Time, Double the Impact 

Books recommended 
It's Who You Know: How a Network of 12 Key People Can Fast-track Your Success https://link.amazon/B0exg5l0Z 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners 

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ 

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO 
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life) 

Follow me: 
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth 

Enjoying the show? Leave a review 

The biggest productivity gains rarely come from adding more&mdash;they come from removing what no longer serves you. Productivity expert Donna McGeorge calls this &ldquo;red brick thinking&rdquo;: identifying what can be removed to create space for better decisions, clearer priorities and more meaningful work.&nbsp;
Donna is an international speaker and bestselling author of 15 books. Her practical approach to reclaiming time has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes and Fast Company.&nbsp;
Donna explains why &ldquo;addition bias&rdquo; keeps organisations overloaded, how reducing meetings and protecting thinking time improves performance, and why the greatest gift you can give your future self is removing the red bricks that no longer belong. She also shares why leaders should aim to operate at 85% capacity instead of 100%, how to build room for better thinking, and why creating space &ndash; not filling it &ndash; is becoming one of the most valuable leadership skills of all.&nbsp;
Takeaways &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Stop adding solutions before asking what can be removed instead first.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The best productivity gains come from strategic subtraction, not constant addition.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Protect thinking time because busy leaders rarely make their best decisions.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Too many meetings often reveal low trust rather than genuine collaboration needs.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Operate at 85% capacity to create room for unexpected challenges daily.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Creating space is becoming one of today&rsquo;s most valuable leadership advantages everywhere.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Your future self will thank you for removing unnecessary red bricks today.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Artificial intelligence saves time only if you intentionally protect that newfound space.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Follow Donna McGeorge <a href="https://donnamcgeorge.com/">https://donnamcgeorge.com/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamcgeorge/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamcgeorge/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/">https://www.instagram.com/</a>&nbsp; 
Donna&rsquo;s books <a href="https://donnamcgeorge.com/books/">https://donnamcgeorge.com/books/</a> Red Brick Thinking: Make Space. Find Focus. Move Forward&nbsp; The ChatGPT Revolution&nbsp; The 1 Day Refund: Take Back Time, Spend It Wisely&nbsp; The First 2 Hours: Make Better Use of Your Most Valuable Time&nbsp; The 25 Minute Meeting: Half the Time, Double the Impact&nbsp;
Books recommended&nbsp; It's Who You Know: How a Network of 12 Key People Can Fast-track Your Success <a href="https://link.amazon/B0exg5l0Z">https://link.amazon/B0exg5l0Z</a>&nbsp;
Watch the episode on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners">https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners</a>&nbsp;
Newsletter &ndash; each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/</a>&nbsp;
Books &ndash; Learn more about our books&nbsp;<a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/made-to-thrive/"> Made to Thrive:</a> The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded/">Onboarded:&nbsp;</a>How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded-for-managers-book/">Onboarded for Managers:</a> Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/bigger-isnt-better/">Bigger isn&rsquo;t Better, Better is Better:</a> Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)&nbsp;
Follow me:&nbsp; on <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles">https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles</a>&nbsp; on <a href="https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth">https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth</a>&nbsp;
Enjoying the show? Leave a review&nbsp;

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.

The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.
The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

The Evolution Partners

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.

We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.
We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.