GYDA - Grow Your Digital Agency
GYDA (Grow Your Digital Agency) is a business consultancy that helps digital agency leaders run the agencies they want to run, so they can live the life they want to lead. We do this by using the mastermind process to spearhead agency growth.
The GYDA Talks Podcast includes interviews and discussions between Robert Craven, Janusz Stabik and Digital Agency Experts. Each podcast is full of knowledge to help you Grow Your Digital Agency.
GYDA - Grow Your Digital Agency
Transforming Profitability Through a Culture of Productivity with Amanda Sokell
The podcast is a conversation between Amanda and Robert Craven discussing Amanda's new book "Unblock" about productivity in organizations.
Amanda Sokell is a process and productivity expert who helps companies thrive. She’s also a popular speaker, author, entrepreneur, creative, polymath and educationalist; lover of learning, chocolate, dancing and difference.
In a 25-year career spanning public relations, software development, coaching, mentoring and training, Amanda has helped transform the productivity culture of organizations from global pharmaceuticals to family-run microbusinesses.
Amanda and Robert discussed:
Book Background
Amanda wrote the book based on her extensive experience in project management, particularly in software development and system implementations. She noticed that many projects fail to deliver significant productivity improvements when not aligned with broader business strategies
Productivity Insights
Amanda highlights a critical observation from a Vistage behavioral economist who suggested that to meet pension demands, businesses need to become three times more productive
Productivity Measurement
Amanda discusses a key productivity metric called output per worker, which is:
- Calculated as gross value added (revenue less external invoiced costs) divided by the number of full-time equivalent employees
- A universal metric recognised by the Office of National Statistics
- Currently not widely used by most companies across industries
Digital Agency Context
- Most digital agencies currently measure productivity through utilisation rates
- Typically, only fee-earning staff are included in productivity calculations
- The current approach doesn't capture the productivity of the entire business system
Broader Implications
Amanda argues that the lack of productivity focus contributes to:
- Stagnant economic growth since 2008
- Challenges with standard of living
- Potential economic challenges for younger generations
The podcast aims raises awareness about productivity measurement and its critical importance for business performance and economic development.