How I Work

Amantha Imber

You know those annoyingly successful people who seem to have it all figured out? Time to steal their playbook. Organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber gets world‑class achievers to spill their secrets - the daily strategies behind their success through to life hacks and productivity hacks they’d rather keep to themselves. We’re talking practical tips for boosting your output (including clever AI tools and shortcuts that’ll make you look like a genius), managing overwhelm without losing your mind, and optimising both work and wellbeing. No motivational fluff. Just battle‑tested tactics from people who’ve cracked the code.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    BEST OF: Sahil Bloom on building a scoreboard that reflects what matters

    **BEST OF** You can be ticking off goals, crushing deadlines, and still feel like you’re missing the point. If your time and energy aren’t going where they should, it might be because you’re tracking the wrong scoreboard. In this episode, we explore how to reset the way you measure progress - so your actions align with what truly matters.  I’m joined today by Sahil Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of The Five Types of Wealth and Managing Partner of SRB Ventures. Sahil shares how to stay grounded in the middle of chaos, build richer relationships, and create space for reflection - without needing a complete life overhaul.  We unpack how to spot when you’re drifting, what a broken scoreboard looks like, and why tiny rituals can have an outsized impact when life gets overwhelming.  Sahil & I discuss:  Why the scoreboard you use shapes your priorities and choices  Sahil’s monthly “think day” and how it helps him course-correct  A mindset shift that radically simplified his business and life  His “buyer or seller” test for deciding what to drop  A 3-minute journaling ritual that helped him survive book launch  The underrated power of sending thoughtful messages to friends  What “social wealth” really means—and why it’s the key to a great life  How he fuels creativity through reading, walking, and reflection  His cautious take on AI’s future impact on work and society  A simple way to start your day that replaces doomscrolling with curiosity  Key Quotes  “If you have the right scoreboard, your actions align around the right things. If your scoreboard is broken, your actions will be too.”  “When you think something nice about someone, let them know right then.”  Connect with Sahil Bloom on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn and his website. Check out his latest book The Five Types of Wealth.  My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  Connect with me on the socials: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanthai  If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe  Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min

  2. 24/12/2025

    BEST OF: Journaling for people who hate journaling: Michael Bungay Stanier's game-changing method

    **BEST OF** That beautiful leather-bound journal you bought with the best intentions? The one now gathering dust under a pile of books? You're not alone. After 40 years of failed journaling attempts, Michael Bungay Stanier finally cracked the code to sustainable reflection—and it's likely nothing like what you've tried before. Michael is the author behind the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Coaching Habit (which Brené Brown called "a classic"), with over 1.5 million books sold worldwide. Named the #1 Thought Leader in Coaching by Thinkers50, his insights have been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company. In this conversation, Michael shares: His surprisingly simple journaling breakthrough that eliminates the most common barriers to consistency A powerful weekly reflection framework that drives tangible results (not just empty introspection) The counterintuitive boundary system he uses to prevent work overload while maximizing impact Why he rejects popular "word of the year" goal-setting (and what he does instead) Whether you're a serial journal abandoner or simply seeking more intentional reflection practices, Michael's practical approach offers a refreshing alternative to traditional journaling methods that actually sticks. Key Quotes: “One thing that is really helpful is just to know I don’t have to say yes right away.” “I have failed to successfully journal since I was 16. I’m now 57, so I’ve been attempting to journal for 40 years.” “If you just start asking yourself what you want day in and day out it just starts forcing a deep clarity.” Connect with Michael via his website, Instagram, LinkedIn, or buy the Do Something That Matters Journal.   My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min

  3. 17/12/2025

    25 things 2025 taught us about work, wellbeing, & AI

    In this special crossover episode with my mate Shelley Johnson from This Is Work, we sat down with printed lists and compared notes on 25 things that 2025 taught us. Along the way, patterns emerged around how we show up, where our energy gets spent, and the ways our work is changing beneath us.   Shelley and I discuss:  Why energy has become the most useful lens for thinking about performance, focus and resilience  How boundaries, rest and creating margin changed the way I worked this year  Why embarrassment can be an unexpected teacher and a healthy check on the ego  The difference between psychological safety and psychological comfort at work  Why connection matters more than charisma when it comes to influence  How AI has shifted from being a tool to something closer to a coworker  Why deadlines, postmortems and focusing on the problem instead of the person improve team dynamics  Small posture and workflow changes that made a big difference to how I felt at work    KEY QUOTES  “Energy is the new KPI.”  “The wins are never as good as you think, and the losses are never as bad as you think. Keep going.”  Connect with Shelley Johnson on Boldside HR’s Instagram, LinkedIn, and listen to her podcast This Is Work.     My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)  Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)  If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe  Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 hr

  4. 14/12/2025

    Quick Win: The quarterly ritual that bonds teams for months

    What if your team could feel more connected without ever mandating office days?  In this Quick Win episode, I’m joined by Avani Prabhakar, Chief People Officer at Atlassian. With over 13,000 employees scattered around the globe, Atlassian has learned that connection doesn’t come from casual coffee chats or watercooler moments. Instead, they’ve built a framework called Intentional Togetherness – bringing teams together once a quarter with a clear purpose. It’s a practice that creates bonds lasting far beyond a handful of office days.  Avani and I discuss:  Why “remote” and “distributed” work are not the same thing  The myth that office attendance automatically creates connection  How Atlassian’s “Intentional Togetherness” framework works  The quarterly gatherings that build bonds that last for months  Why purposeful collaboration beats sporadic in-office days  Key Quotes  “Connection wasn’t built by sporadic office attendance – it was built when you bring people intentionally together with a purpose.”   Connect with Avani on LinkedIn.  Listen to the full interview with Avani here.    My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)  Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)  If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe  Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    8 min
  5. How to make sense of 2025 and design your best 2026, with Lisa Leong (Part 2)

    10/12/2025

    How to make sense of 2025 and design your best 2026, with Lisa Leong (Part 2)

    Looking ahead to a new year can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time, especially when you’re not quite sure what you want the next chapter to feel like.  In part 2 of my end-of-year reflection episode with my good friend and ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong - we explore the questions, habits, and small structural tweaks that can help shape a more intentional 2026 - the things that genuinely influence how your days unfold.  If you’re planning out your 2026 and want a more thoughtful way to do it, this episode will give you plenty to play with.  Lisa and I discuss:  The simple reframing that helps you imagine your next year as if it has already happened  How Lisa approaches designing an “ideal week” and why I’m thinking about a “perfect average day”  The role of the reticular activating system and why vision boards work for some people  How values shape the projects and choices you prioritise for the coming year  The habits we’re keeping, the ones we’re changing, and how identity influences behaviour  Why I’m stepping back from Instagram (again) and rethinking my relationship with email  How a “dumb phone” or burner phone can help create healthier digital boundaries  Our favourite prompts from the Year Compass, including the surprising question that reveals your “secret wish” for the year ahead    KEY QUOTES   “Instead of asking what would have been, I love writing it like it’s already happened — it changes how you think about the future.” “I want to design a perfect average day, because it’s something I can actually live up to and repeat.”  Connect with Lisa Leong on Instagram and LinkedIn. Listen to her show This Working Life, and check out her book with Monique Ross, This Working Life     If you want to try one of the reflection tools I mentioned in this episode, you can download the free Year Compass booklet here: https://yearcompass.com/  Listen to part 1 of my chat with Lisa here    My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  Connect with me on the socials:  Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)  Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)  If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe  Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min

  6. 07/12/2025

    Quick Win: What leaders get wrong about saying sorry with Clare Stephens

    Ever caught yourself rehearsing what to say at work - terrified one wrong phrase could spark backlash?  In this Quick Win, I speak with Clare Stephens, former Editor-in-Chief at Mamamia, about the fear of getting it wrong, how to handle mistakes, and why the most powerful apology is often the simplest one.  Clare learnt the hard way that over-explaining a mistake can make things worse. After facing public criticism early in her career, she reframed her approach to errors – both online and in leadership. Her advice? Keep apologies short, unreserved, and genuine. Then move on.  Clare and I discuss:  Why leaders fear saying the wrong thing in today’s workplace  How to create a culture where mistakes are met with grace, not blame  The fine line between accountability and people-pleasing  Why long, detailed apologies rarely work  The simple framework for owning mistakes and moving forward    KEY QUOTES  “The best apology is short and unreserved. There’s no excuses. Just, ‘I’m apologising,’ and then you move on.”  “You’re actually a worse leader if you can’t be direct.”  Connect with Clare Stephens on Instagram, LinkedIn and check out her latest book The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done here.  Listen to the full conversation with Clare here.    My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  Connect with me on the socials:  Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)  If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe  Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au    Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    10 min
  7. How to make sense of 2025 and design your best 2026, with Lisa Leong (Part 1)

    03/12/2025

    How to make sense of 2025 and design your best 2026, with Lisa Leong (Part 1)

    Some years slip by in a blur, and others demand you stop and ask yourself why certain moments changed you more than you expected. This was one of those years for me. So in the first episode of this two-parter, I sit down with my good friend and ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong to compare the tools, questions and rituals we each used to make sense of 2025 - including the surprises neither of us saw coming.  If you're craving a clearer, kinder way to understand what actually shaped your year, this conversation will give you plenty to explore.   Lisa and I discuss:  Lisa’s favourite reflection tool: the Agile Retrospective  The energy audit I’m doing with my husband, including what energised us, what drained us, and the surprising things that lit us up.  How I use an interviewing GPT to challenge my thinking, dig deeper and unpack problems.  The Life Flow exercise: how mapping highs and lows reveals patterns.   How the people around us shaped our year - who influenced us most, and who we influenced.  The importance of letting go and deciding what emotional or practical baggage you don’t want to carry into the next year.     KEY QUOTES  “I still think with these reflection pieces, you should just go with what comes to you naturally, because it’s when we overthink things that we get away from a true reflection.”   “Looking back on a year is never really about the events themselves, it’s about what they reveal.”   Connect with Lisa Leong on Instagram and LinkedIn. Listen to her show This Working Life, and check out her book with Monique Ross, This Working Life   If you want to try one of the reflection tools I mentioned in this episode, you can download the free Year Compass booklet here: https://yearcompass.com/    My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  Connect with me on the socials:  Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)  Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai)  If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe  Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au  Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  8. 30/11/2025

    Quick Win: The simple question that stops catastrophising and opens real possibility

    When you’re on the edge of a big leap, do you spiral into everything that could go wrong? What if you asked a different question instead - one that opens the door to possibility rather than fear?  In this Quick Win, I speak with educator and author Lael Stone about the powerful mindset shift from “How bad could it be?” to “How good could it get?”   It’s a simple reframe that changes how we approach risk, success, and self-sabotage - and helps us recognise when fear is keeping us small.  Lael and I discuss:  Why our brains are wired to fixate on danger and protection  The one question that flips fear into curiosity: “How good could it get?”  How family patterns can quietly shape how we define success  The hidden guilt that makes some of us sabotage our achievements  A practical exercise to break free from old stories and step into growth  KEY QUOTE  “When you ask, ‘How good could it get?’, you open yourself up to possibilities you didn’t even know existed.”  Connect with Lael Stone on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website, and check out her latest book Own Your Story.  Listen to the full conversation with Lael here.    My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/   Connect with me on the socials:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanthai   If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe   Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.   Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au   Credits:   Host: Amantha Imber   Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 min
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About

You know those annoyingly successful people who seem to have it all figured out? Time to steal their playbook. Organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber gets world‑class achievers to spill their secrets - the daily strategies behind their success through to life hacks and productivity hacks they’d rather keep to themselves. We’re talking practical tips for boosting your output (including clever AI tools and shortcuts that’ll make you look like a genius), managing overwhelm without losing your mind, and optimising both work and wellbeing. No motivational fluff. Just battle‑tested tactics from people who’ve cracked the code.

Information

  • Creator
    Amantha Imber
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    676
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Amantha Imber
  • Show Website
    How I Work

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