Podcast
33
mins
Mar 25, 2025
How Top Change Leaders Focus on the 20% That Actually Matters
with
Chris Hirst, Former CEO, Havas
We've all heard that phrase "work smarter, not harder." But has anyone actually told you what that means in practice? For those of us leading change and transformation, the gap between working ourselves to the bone and actually creating impact can feel frustratingly wide.
This week, Nellie speaks to Chris Hirst, former Global CEO of Havas Creative, and author of ‘No Bullshit Change’, ‘No Bullshit Leadership’, and the upcoming ‘Indispensable: The No Bullshit Guide to Career Success’. Chris reveals a startling reality: most change leaders deliver 80% of their actual value in just 20% of their time. The rest? It's what he calls "fluff and filler" that's eating our productivity alive.
Chris tackles a provocative idea – that identifying and focusing on the vital 20% doesn't require special talent, just deliberate practice and clear priorities. You'll learn practical approaches to reclaim your calendar (including his Monday morning 10% rule), run meetings that actually accomplish something, create presentations that engage rather than bore, and communicate in ways that drive action.
Whether you're leading organizational change and transformation or building your own career, these straightforward techniques for leadership, clarity, and execution will help you stop wasting time and become truly indispensable.
Connect with:
Nellie Wartoft
CEO of Tigerhall, Chair of the Executive Council for Leading Change (ECLC)
nellie@tigerhall.com