Accomplish More with Less Stress
Conquer Distractions Be Your Best Self
Overwhelm is Optional
Knowledge workers’ capabilities are too often obscured by distraction, disordered information, constant communication, and the disappointment that comes with unmet expectations.
Even when they love their work, people frequently report that it feels overwhelming and exhausting. And when they feel overwhelmed and exhausted by their work, several negative consequences arise:
To achieve peak performance at home and at work, professionals need skills that are not typically taught in school or on the job.
That’s where Maura Thomas and her Empowered Productivity™ System comes in. Maura designed her system to help busy professionals realize goals without having to pay the excessively high costs that frequently come with high performance and achievement.
The name Maura gave to her productivity system was chosen carefully. The term “empowered” means to make someone stronger and more confident, particularly in managing their work and life. And the term “productivity” she defines as achieving significant, or meaningful, results.
Combining these two ideas reflects Maura’s core mission: to help highly capable people increase their confidence and ability to accomplish results that are significant for them.
Ways to engage with Empowered Productivity
Testimonials
Rachel Freeman, Programme Coordinator, Simple Scaling
“Maura’s session completely opened the eyes of all of our guests to just how distracting the world is. The thought shift between time management to attention management caused a real shift in the room and that was only the beginning. The theme of intentionality and attention ran through the entire workshop, highlighting that what we give our attention not only shapes our day-to-day, but ultimately our lives! A brilliant session that I would recommend to anyone.”
Eric Machan Howd, Director, Extended Studies, Ithaca College
“I want to thank you for your brilliant work with attention management. I’ve been a productivity-style seeker for years, and nothing has really stuck with me like the three books in your Empowered Productivity series. I’m still working on your suggestions but finding many of them easy and impactful. Thank you for your brilliant insights. Switching my brain from time management to attention management has really helped me.”
Tim Brown President at MBW Construction | Engineering
“I must say that the system has made a monumental difference …It has led us to get further out of the reactive mode and into a completely different management methodology. We are operating at a much higher level since implementing your system. I LOVE IT!”
Victoria Yeager, Head of Contracts and Compliance, Genentech, Inc.
“Taking your training has made me realize how inefficient my prior work-life management “system” was! After just one day of utilizing your recommended tool and methodology, I already felt more in control and, as a result, slept better. I am excited about the long-term results of your program for myself and my team and I encourage others to take advantage of what you have to teach.”
Brad Osborne, Senior Quality Manager, Senior Metal Bellows
“Maura, I have to say that I was a little skeptical going into your training…I thought I was pretty well-organized and staying on top of my tasks. But WOW…has the training ever made a difference for me! It has quite frankly been a true “game-changer” for me in terms of managing my day and freeing me from distractions. and now, I feel like I’m getting closer to my team and to where the problems occur…and that’s the real mission of our department. This has truly changed my mindset and is beginning to change my behaviors (and habits) for the better. So thanks for your help and your dedication to really empowering people to regain their time! you’ve created a real zealot for your system.”
John Bellamy, Owner, Rapid Refill
“I just wanted to say thanks. You have helped me to regain my time. It’s actually strange I now find myself with time on my hands. The stress of running two companies has almost disappeared. I whole-heartedly recommend everyone take advantage of your services.”
Chinyere Oparah, Provost, Mills College
“I have implemented what I learned in our training with you and it has been transformative! I have more mental space for strategic thinking, and have experienced immediate stress reduction and a boost in presence and joyfulness. It’s been quite extraordinary, and I thank you deeply for that.”
Ivan Garcia, CFO, Locke Solutions
“I no longer feel that fear or anxiousness of, ‘what am I missing?’ I have peace of mind going to sleep at night. The techniques I learned were so simple, and now seem so obvious, but they have been revolutionary for me. A month into my new role, my CEO told me, ‘I can’t believe how much stuff you’ve gotten accomplished in just a month.’ The whole experience with the EPIC program was fantastic!”
Christine Marsh, Rochester, NY
“I love your work. I use what I learned from your book…and I find my productivity has skyrocketed. Thank you!”
Control Your Attention, Control Your Life
The techniques of time management were designed for a world that no longer exists. In the past, knowledge workers could easily block out specific time on their calendars, shut their office door, and work from their calendar to complete the task at hand.
A lot has changed in the past few decades that has irreversibly altered this work environment:
- The “world in our pocket” via internet on our smartphone
- Email, social media, and the plethora of other ways to communicate, which means so many interruptions.
- Portable devices are making it easier for work to follow us everywhere
- With these technological changes, the pace of work has accelerated
- More of us work in open offices or remotely, which means more disruptions
Because of these factors, today’s worker can’t just set aside the time for a task and get to it, that person must also defend their attention from the constant barrage of distractions.
Read case studies of how attention management and the Empowered Productivity
Empowered Productivity
offers numerous benefits:
Improved Organization
Helps in categorizing tasks, setting priorities, and keeping track of deadlines, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.
Better Time Management
Enables users to estimate how much time tasks will take and plan their schedules accordingly, promoting more realistic time management.
Streamlined Communication
Minimizes the need for excessive emails and meetings by centralizing communication regarding tasks and projects within the system.
Reduced Stress
Knowing exactly what needs to be done and when it needs to be completed can reduce anxiety and stress related to workload and deadlines.
Increased Transparency
Offers leaders and team members alike visibility into the progress of tasks and projects, helping in managing expectations and accountability.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Provides valuable insights into workflows and processes, allowing for data-driven decisions to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Improved Quality of Work
By ensuring tasks are completed in a systematic, timely fashion, a workflow management system helps improve the overall quality of work.
Flexibility and Scalability
Can be adjusted to fit the evolving needs of a team or project, ensuring that the system grows and adapts with the organization.
What is a Personal Productivity Management System
Personal productivity systems blend workflow management and personal productivity concepts to optimize individual and organizational performance.
Workflow is the series of steps that need to be completed in order to achieve a desired result. Most people have a typical workflow, a way that they generally get things done, but well thought out and intentional management of workflow is often a huge missing piece.
Workflow management is the discipline of intentionally creating, documenting, monitoring, and continually improving upon one’s workflow.
Productivity management systems, like Empowered Productivity, fill this gap. They are organized sets of principles, procedures, and resources designed to optimize management of your life and work.
Ways to engage with Empowered Productivity
Testimonials
Rachel Freeman, Programme Coordinator, Simple Scaling
“Maura’s session completely opened the eyes of all of our guests to just how distracting the world is. The thought shift between time management to attention management caused a real shift in the room and that was only the beginning. The theme of intentionality and attention ran through the entire workshop, highlighting that what we give our attention not only shapes our day-to-day, but ultimately our lives! A brilliant session that I would recommend to anyone.”
Eric Machan Howd, Director, Extended Studies, Ithaca College
“I want to thank you for your brilliant work with attention management. I’ve been a productivity-style seeker for years, and nothing has really stuck with me like the three books in your Empowered Productivity series. I’m still working on your suggestions but finding many of them easy and impactful. Thank you for your brilliant insights. Switching my brain from time management to attention management has really helped me.”
Tim Brown President at MBW Construction | Engineering
“I must say that the system has made a monumental difference …It has led us to get further out of the reactive mode and into a completely different management methodology. We are operating at a much higher level since implementing your system. I LOVE IT!”
Victoria Yeager, Head of Contracts and Compliance, Genentech, Inc.
“Taking your training has made me realize how inefficient my prior work-life management “system” was! After just one day of utilizing your recommended tool and methodology, I already felt more in control and, as a result, slept better. I am excited about the long-term results of your program for myself and my team and I encourage others to take advantage of what you have to teach.”
Brad Osborne, Senior Quality Manager, Senior Metal Bellows
“Maura, I have to say that I was a little skeptical going into your training…I thought I was pretty well-organized and staying on top of my tasks. But WOW…has the training ever made a difference for me! It has quite frankly been a true “game-changer” for me in terms of managing my day and freeing me from distractions. and now, I feel like I’m getting closer to my team and to where the problems occur…and that’s the real mission of our department. This has truly changed my mindset and is beginning to change my behaviors (and habits) for the better. So thanks for your help and your dedication to really empowering people to regain their time! you’ve created a real zealot for your system.”
John Bellamy, Owner, Rapid Refill
“I just wanted to say thanks. You have helped me to regain my time. It’s actually strange I now find myself with time on my hands. The stress of running two companies has almost disappeared. I whole-heartedly recommend everyone take advantage of your services.”
Chinyere Oparah, Provost, Mills College
“I have implemented what I learned in our training with you and it has been transformative! I have more mental space for strategic thinking, and have experienced immediate stress reduction and a boost in presence and joyfulness. It’s been quite extraordinary, and I thank you deeply for that.”
Ivan Garcia, CFO, Locke Solutions
“I no longer feel that fear or anxiousness of, ‘what am I missing?’ I have peace of mind going to sleep at night. The techniques I learned were so simple, and now seem so obvious, but they have been revolutionary for me. A month into my new role, my CEO told me, ‘I can’t believe how much stuff you’ve gotten accomplished in just a month.’ The whole experience with the EPIC program was fantastic!”
Christine Marsh, Rochester, NY
“I love your work. I use what I learned from your book…and I find my productivity has skyrocketed. Thank you!”
What is the Empowered Productivity System?
The Empowered Productivity System is a revolutionary productivity system.
After years of study and personal experience, it was created by Maura, who is recognized as a leading expert in time management, leadership, and achievement, and is the primary influencer promoting the importance of Attention Management™.
Why Empowered Productivity Stands Out
Empowered Productivity goes above and beyond other systems in several ways, including the fact that it acknowledges the reality that committing time to people, projects, and tasks only matters if you also dedicate your attention. This is why typical time management solutions fall far short of what people need to make the changes they want and need.
It’s not enough to find the time to get a task accomplished, you must also give it your full attention.
With this understanding, Maura’s Empowered Productivity System redefines the essence of true effectiveness in both personal and professional spheres. At the heart of the system lies the understanding that managing your attention, rather than your time, is the key to unlocking unprecedented levels of productivity. This essential skill, often overlooked, is what Maura’s system brings to the forefront.
With her Four Quadrants of Attention Management, Maura clearly defines what it means to truly ‘manage’ your attention. Expanding beyond the common perception of managing attention as simply the discipline of sustaining focus, she teaches that true Attention Management involves making an informed choice in any moment about who or what should get how much of your attention for how long. She says “its about being in control rather than relinquishing it.”
Components of the Empowered Productivity System
Maura’s system covers all the skill sets that any professional must master to conquer distractions, procrastinate less, stay on top of responsibilities, collaborate effectively, accomplish more, and be their best selves. And, because none of that can happen if individuals and their environments are misaligned, it covers what leaders must model and integrate into their culture to empower people to perform at their highest levels.
Through conversations with leadership, Maura develops customized training programs that mix any of the following six components of the system:
Unlock Your Full Potential
With the Empowered Productivity System, people first learn to avoid letting external demands or distractions dictate access to their mental resources. This approach to personal performance empowers them to allocate their mental resources purposefully, ensuring they align with their own goals rather than being hijacked by others' agendas.
Empowered Productivity puts its practitioners back in charge, helping them harness the full power of their knowledge, experience, and effort to significantly amplify their impact.
Tailored for today’s professionals battling distraction, disorganization, and overwhelming inboxes, the Empowered Productivity System moves beyond old-school time management techniques, offering a more comprehensive workflow management strategy, centered on the power of attention management.
The Empowered Difference
Being “Empowered” means:
- Choosing Attention Over Time: Understanding the superiority of attention management to traditional time management
- Mastering Commitments and Communication: Handling all commitments, communication, and information efficiently
- Bridging Behavior and Technology: Making optimal use of digital tools and software
- Shifting from Reactive to Proactive: Spending more time on proactive activities and less time reacting
- Knowing Your Priorities: Always aware of the best use of your time, ready to take immediate and appropriate action
- Achieving Significant Results: Making consistent progress on your goals, be they immediate or long-term
Maura Thomas’ Empowered Productivity System synthesizes tested productivity techniques with the latest insights from attention management, neuroscience, technology development, and behavior change. It’s a holistic approach to addressing the challenges faced by today’s knowledge workers, from ever-shifting priorities and multitasking to stress and burnout, ensuring your life remains balanced and your work, fulfilling.
