• EP.009 WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER: The Science of Incentives, Deadlines, and High Performance.

  • Mar 25 2025
  • Length: 22 mins
  • Podcast

EP.009 WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER: The Science of Incentives, Deadlines, and High Performance.

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  • Summary

  • Ever feel like you're constantly juggling competing priorities, only to end each day exhausted and still behind? You're not alone—and it's not entirely your fault. Groundbreaking research by psychologists Aaron Schmidt and Richard DeShon reveals the hidden psychological forces that shape how we prioritise multiple goals under pressure.
    In this episode, you'll uncover the science behind smarter goal juggling. Learn how "goal-performance discrepancies"—the gaps between where you are and where you want to be—drive your decisions about where to invest your time and energy. Discover how incentives dramatically shift your focus, why avoiding losses motivates you more powerfully than chasing rewards, and how looming deadlines completely flip your prioritisation strategy.
    Packed with practical, actionable strategies, this episode will teach you how to leverage these insights to make better decisions, increase productivity, and achieve exceptional results without burning out. You'll walk away with a clear blueprint to strategically manage your goals, reframe challenges into opportunities, and master the art of achieving more with less.In this episode you'll learn:
    • Why "willpower" alone isn't enough (and what really drives your prioritisation)
    • How incentives influence where you focus your time and energy
    • Why loss aversion is a powerful motivator—and how to use it strategically
    • How deadlines shift your attention from difficult tasks to quick wins (and when that's actually helpful)
    • Practical strategies for mapping goals, framing incentives, managing deadlines, and celebrating micro-wins
    Ready to stop spinning plates and start making strategic choices? Listen now!
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