Meet Grace.
Lovely to meet you!
Hi, I’m Grace – Head Coach, Chief Encourager and Productivity Ninja (yes, that’s a real job title!)
For the last decade I’ve been helping people explore how they do their best work, whether they’re grappling with procrastination, imposter syndrome, control-freakery, distractions, endless emails, mindless meetings, never-ending to-do lists, hybrid working or the work life juggle.
I’m naturally disorganised. Turns out that gives me a different perspective on productivity! My clients tell me I have a knack for understanding what’s going on in their heads. While I have plenty of tools, tactics and tech tips up my sleeve, my focus is always on people first. Because when you understand how you work best, you can then put the systems and strategies in place that will enable you to thrive, do your best work, and enjoy both life at work and life outside of work.
I care about doing work in a way that does us good (as well as the good we’re doing out there in the world), and love working with creative, compassionate, talented people who care about being world changers, rather than world beaters.
Head coach, Chief Encourager
As a qualified coach, NLP practitioner and DiSC facilitator, I bring both a psychological and a practical perspective to productivity. My clients tell me I have a knack for helping them untangle their brain spaghetti and get to the heart of what’s getting in their way.
“I find speaking to you so transformative in my confidence and motivation. Driving back from Anglesey this morning, I felt quite flat and full of dread – after speaking to you I feel like I can take on the world (or my world at least) and I can’t wait to get started!“
– Sarah Jones, Chief Executive, Mencap Liverpool
Award-winning author
My first book ‘21 Ways to Manage the Stuff that Sucks Up Your Time’ was hailed by readers as the ideal book for people who don’t have time to read a time management book and topped the Amazon UK bestselling ranks for Time Management, Business Management and Small Business Entrepreneurship.
My second book, ‘How to be Really Productive: Achieving clarity and getting results in a world where work never ends’ won The Commuter’s Read category at the CMI 2017 Management Book of the Year Awards, where judges called it ‘a breath of fresh air’.
My latest book ‘Struggle: the surprising truth, beauty and opportunity hidden in life’s sh*ttier moments’ has been described as honest, uplifting and ‘the antidote to fake positivity’.
Productivity Ninja
I joined forces with fellow productivity author Graham Allcott in 2012, to become Think Productive’s first female Productivity Ninja. Over the years I’ve trained and taught over 10,000 people in the practical, playful ways of the Productivity Ninja – from startup founders to corporate managers, artists to engineers, students and CEOs. Officially based in the Midlands in the UK, my workshops and speaking tours have taken me from Norway to New York, with stages ranging from corporate headquarters to a tent in the New Forest.
100% Human
Other random facts:
Proud daughter of immigrants. Grew up between Leeds and Hong Kong, married a Brummie with English, Welsh & Russian heritage, who I met in Stuttgart. I’ve moved around so much that my accent is a bit of a mash-up which often leads people to wonder if I’m Australian.
An extrovert at heart, I considered myself an introvert for much of my childhood. I’ve never really fitted in one place, but I’ve come to find that between worlds is where life is most interesting.
Graduated with a degree in International Management, prepped and primed to climb the corporate ladder. Had my mid-life crisis in my mid-20s and ended up starting a new career, business and family at the same time. (Impatience has always been my driver for getting things done!)
I love reading. At school I was the tiny girl in thick glasses with an even thicker book in my hand, dodging footballs at the edge of the playground. You’ll find me quoting from social scientists like Brene Brown and Adam Grant, activists like Glennon Doyle and Rebecca Solnit, economists like Minouche Shafik and Caroline Webb, thinkers like Margaret Heffernan and Rutger Bregman as well as films like X-Men!
Word geek. I love playing with words, because our words shape our world. That’s why some of my most popular tips are not tech tools but language shifts like these two and a half words that will improve your productivity.
“I know you’re busy…” is the worst way to start a message to me! Here’s why. While we’re at it, I’m no guru. No pedestals please! While I’m short (5’1″) I’m far happier on the ground, getting stuck in with fellow humans, make real change happen.
Teetotal. While I’m a big advocate of champagne moments, I can’t actually drink alcohol! If you give me a bottle of wine, it’s likely to end up in a damn good bolognese.
Work with Me .
Coaching
Workshops
