The Better Workday Podcast

EP 103 | Hand Over the Task, Not the Panic

When the pressure is on, and everyone is waiting on you, how often do you stop to think about the person reading your message? In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh looks at what happens to clear, concise, complete and considerate communication when things get busy. She shares a few small habits that help, along with her three-question check for handing over the task without handing over the panic. This is part of the relationship management pillar of the Better Workday framework, and it's a timely listen for anyone heading into a busy Q4. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 102 | Stop Chasing Updates: Helping Your Team Manage Up

Do you spend more of your week chasing your team for updates than getting your own work done? In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh Moynihan shares how she went from micromanager to learning how to manage up herself. She looks at why people at every level hesitate to manage up, and what managers can do to help their team build the confidence to try it. Download the My Desk template to help your team manage up with confidence: https://abetterworkday.com/mydesk Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 101 | Delegation Starts With Choosing the Right Person

If you want it done right, do it yourself" is one of the most common reasons we hold on to work we could hand over. What if delegation is less about the task and more about who you hand it to? In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh Moynihan shares four factors to consider when choosing the right person to delegate to, and the questions you need to ask yourself so you don't end up getting in their way. Download the delegation template here: https://abetterworkday.com/delegation-template-for-managers Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 100 | The Five-Star To-Do List

Better time management doesn't have to be complicated. In Episode 100 of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh shares the 5-Star To-Do List. Niamh first shared this approach in 2018, when Better Workday was still a side hustle, and it has proven time and again to be a practical, immediate way to improve how you approach a busy workday. If you are feeling overwhelmed with an endless list of things to do, then this episode is for you. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 99 | Set Yourself Up for Daily Success

Do you log in to work in the evenings and weekends just to get one more thing done? In this episode, Niamh highlights the challenges of desk-based roles and explains why it's important to define what "enough" looks like for a productive workday. She shows the difference between metric-driven roles and project-based work, highlighting how the lack of clear success indicators can lead to overworking. This episode includes practical ideas to help you recognise your daily achievements and clock off guilt-free. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 98 | How to Avoid VOMIT Goals Derailing Your Workday

You may have heard about SMART goals, but have you ever found yourself working on a VOMIT goal? In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh explains exactly what a VOMIT goal is and why this is the acronym you should be using to evaluate any goals you are currently working on. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 97 | What's the Real Weight of Your Workload?

Workload management is not a one-size-fits-all formula, yet people often try to copy strategies from teams with completely different demands. A massive to-do list doesn't automatically mean you are over capacity, just as a short list doesn't guarantee an easy day. True management begins with understanding the specific weight of what you are lifting and how it aligns with your actual capacity. In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh introduces a practical analogy to help you measure the real cognitive and emotional load on your desk so you can approach your workday with clarity. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 96 | How to Actually Improve Your Meetings at Work

Have meetings overtaken your workday? In this episode, Niamh shares practical, proven ways to improve your meeting experience. Whether the problem is poor organisation, the sheer number of meetings, or the drain of being on camera for so much of the workday, Niamh has ideas you can try in your very next meeting. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 95 | The Fresh Start Effect: How to Reset Without Burning Out

There's something about September that makes you want a blank notebook and a fresh start. But before you try to squeeze everything your summer left undone into the next few weeks, Niamh has a better way to approach it. In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, she shares how to review your workload with grace instead of guilt, rebuild your routine without overplanning, and protect your energy and attention as you get back on track. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 94 | Five Questions to Improve Any Work Relationship

You can be the most organised, productive person on your team, but if you can't work well with others, everything gets harder. In this episode, Niamh shares five simple questions to map and improve your key working relationships, plus a mindset shift that makes collaboration easier for everyone. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 93 | Why You Can't Focus (and How to Fix It)

Do you end your workday with more on your list than when you started? In this episode, Niamh explores two of the most overlooked drivers of focus at work: attention management and energy management. She introduces the DIPS framework — distractions, interruptions, and procrastination — and shares simple, practical ways to tackle each. You'll also hear why taking breaks isn't optional, how the start of your day sets the tone for your focus, and how all the elements of the Better Workday framework fit together to help you do your best work. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 92 | Stop Managing Time. Start Managing Yourself

Everyone wants to manage their time better. But what if the problem isn't time; it's how aware you are of what you're doing with it? In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh Moynihan reframes time management as self-management. Instead of adding a new system or app, she explains that becoming more aware of how you move through your day is the most effective change most people can make. She covers why time management looks different depending on your role, what capacity planning means at an individual level, and shares a simple in-the-moment habit that helps you stay on track without a complicated system. This episode is part of the Better Workday framework series, covering time management as one of five pillars alongside role clarity, attention management, energy management, and relationships at work. 00:00 Let's Talk About Time Management 00:23 The Better Workday Framework 02:14 Is Time Management Worth Focusing On? 03:05 What Time Management Actually Means 04:02 Time Management in Responsive vs Autonomous Roles 06:12 Is Time Management Really The Problem? 09:19 Capacity Planning for Effective Time Management 12:00 The Awareness Habit That Makes a Difference Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 91 | Why Role Clarity Changes Everything at Work

You have 20 things on your to-do list. How confident are you that you're choosing the right three to do today? In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh explains the importance of role clarity in managing workload, prioritising tasks, and reducing stress at work. She shares practical exercises to help individuals and teams define their roles and prioritise work with confidence during busy periods. 00:00 Understanding Role Clarity 01:36 What is your job? 02:59 Identifying the Gap in Your Role 07:57 The Order of Importance 12:51 Managing Expectations with Others 13:30 Different Types of Work 15:47 Reframing Interruptions 17:01 Be More Confident in Your Decisions Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

• Chapters

EP 90 | How to Build a Better Workday

What does a better workday mean to you, and how do you achieve it? In this episode of the Better Workday podcast, Niamh Moynihan breaks down what actually creates a better workday and why small improvements matter more than chasing perfection. Drawing on conversations with over 3,000 professionals, this episode explores the three core elements of a better workday: looking forward to work, making meaningful progress, and being able to properly switch off at the end of the day. You'll also learn why continuous improvement, experimentation, and team collaboration are essential for creating healthier, more productive workplaces. If you're a leader, manager, or professional trying to improve workplace culture, reduce friction, and help teams work better, this episode gives you practical ideas to start making changes immediately. 00:00 What is a Better Workday? 04:05 The Importance of Continuous Improvement 07:50 The Role of The Team and Organisation Niamh Moynihan helps organisations improve productivity, collaboration and sustainable performance. She works with organisations and teams across Ireland and the UK. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 89 | Working Well with AI

Is AI helping you be more productive - or just busier? In this episode of The Better Workday Podcast, Niamh shares strategies to work sustainably with AI, so you can unlock its benefits without risking AI fatigue or burnout. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by rising expectations or taking the first steps on the AI learning curve, this episode offers actionable steps to work smarter with AI in your workday. 00:00 Navigating AI in the Workplace 01:44 Understanding Deep and Shallow Work 05:28 Information Overload 07:04 AI as a Team Member 11:03 The Bottomless Pit of Possibility 13:32 Embracing AI at Your Own Pace Niamh Moynihan helps organisations improve productivity, collaboration and sustainable performance. She works with organisations and teams across Ireland and the UK. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

• Chapters

EP 88 | What Really Happens When You "Quickly Log On" While Sick

Have you ever told yourself you'd just do "the important bits" while sick, only to pay for it later? In this episode, Niamh breaks down the real impact of presenteeism at work and why logging on while sick might be doing more harm than good. You'll learn how working while unwell reduces productivity, creates rework, and sets unrealistic expectations within your team. Niamh also explains how remote work has evolved presenteeism, why it hides critical workflow issues, and what leaders can do to build more resilient teams. 00:00 What Presenteeism Looks Like in 2026 02:29 The Impact of Working While Unwell 04:18 Single Points of Failure in Your Workflow 07:07 Semi-presenteeism and The Expectations Problem 09:25 What this means for managers and RTO policies Niamh Moynihan helps organisations improve productivity, collaboration and sustainable performance. She works with organisations and teams across Ireland and the UK. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 87 | The Illusion of Perfection in Hybrid Work

Do you ever feel like everyone else finds work easier than you do? In this episode, Niamh explores how hybrid and remote work can create the illusion that our colleagues have everything figured out. When we only see the final output of someone's work, and not the messy process behind it, it can make us feel like we're the only ones struggling. She explains why this happens, how it can lead to procrastination and perfectionism, and what individuals, managers, and teams can do to create more openness about the reality of work. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 86 | Time Management vs. Productivity (What's the Difference?)

You've organised your to-do list, blocked your calendar and turned off notifications. So why do you still end the day feeling behind? In this episode, Niamh Moynihan goes back to basics and explains what time management actually is. She explains why your experience of time differs based on demands and resources, how to build realistic containers around your workday, and why even perfect time management won't make you productive without clarity on priorities, energy management, and how you work with others. Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 85 | The Smarter Way to Build Presentations

If you want to create better presentations, start by doing one simple thing differently. In this episode, Niamh Moynihan is joined by Fiona Walsh, a Microsoft PowerPoint MVP and the founder of Empower Presentations, to learn a smarter way to build presentations. And the first lesson is that it doesn't start in PowerPoint. They discuss: Why opening slides first can slow you down How to use a hook in workplace presentations The importance of a clear call to action Why most decks are structured backwards Built-in PowerPoint tools that improve delivery How to rehearse effectively and stay within time Whether presenting to clients, leadership teams, or colleagues, this episode offers practical, immediately applicable advice to improve clarity, confidence, and impact. Connect with Fiona on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionawalsh1/ Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com

EP 84 | Should You Track Your Time? What 2 Weeks of Tracking Taught Us

Should you track your time — or is it just another productivity habit that adds pressure? In this episode, Niamh and Tricia share what happened when they both tracked their time for two full weeks. From minute-by-minute logging to more flexible tracking, they explore what worked, what didn't, and what surprised them. They discuss: Time blindness and how it affects perception Why you might feel busy even when you're not working as much as you think The difference between task time and real-life time How built-in buffer time changes everything And whether time tracking actually improves your workday If you've ever questioned your productivity, struggled with overwhelm, or wondered where your week went, this conversation will offer a practical, honest perspective. Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations about building a better, more sustainable workday. Related Resources Toggl Track - https://toggl.com/ The HeadPlan (Niamh's Go-To) - https://amzn.to/4rRLgna Get In Touch Visit our website abetterworkday.com/ Email us at podcast@abetterworkday.com