553: Do More, More Naturally: How to Increase Productivity with Less Stress and Greater Freedom | Amy Bruske
What if you're not burned out or unproductive—what if you're simply working against your natural instincts? In this episode of the Leaders of Transformation , Nicole Jansen sits down with Amy Bruske, President and Integrator of Kolbe Corp , to explore the powerful principles behind her new bestselling book, Do More, More Naturally , co-authored with David Kolbe. Amy explains why success isn't about forcing yourself to improve your weaknesses or manage your time more efficiently. Instead, it's about understanding how you're naturally wired to take action, solve problems, and make decisions. Together, Nicole and Amy discuss the often-overlooked conative part of the mind, the role of energy management, and how leaders can create thriving teams by leveraging natural strengths rather than fighting against them. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or high achiever feeling stretched thin, this conversation will help you discover how to work in alignment with your instincts and create sustainable success. What We Discuss in this Episode The three parts of the mind: cognitive, affective, and conative What the Kolbe Index measures and why it differs from personality assessments Why capability and desire aren't enough for sustainable performance How natural instincts influence decision-making, problem-solving, and execution The four Action Modes and how they show up in everyday work Why procrastination may be a clue - not a character flaw How to identify the tasks that energize you versus those that drain you The connection between burnout and working against your natural strengths Why time management is often less important than energy management How leaders can build stronger teams by understanding individual strengths The difference between hiring clones and creating complementary teams Why diverse thinking styles improve innovation, adaptability, and execution How to give people freedom while maintaining accountability for results Practical ways to create a more resilient, high-performing workforce Highlights and YouTube Chapter Titles 00:00 – What If You're Not Burned Out? 02:00 – Understanding the Conative Part of the Mind 05:00 – Why Natural Instincts Matter More Than You Think 08:00 – The Four Action Modes Explained 12:00 – The Hidden Reason Behind Procrastination 15:00 – Working in Your Zone of Strength 18:00 – The Kolbe Exercise That Reveals How People Take Action 22:00 – Building Teams Like a Chess Master, Not a Checkers Player 26:00 – Why Great Leaders Focus on Strengths, Not Weaknesses 29:00 – Hiring Complements Instead of Clones 32:00 – The Power of Diverse Thinking Styles 35:00 – Time Management vs. Energy Management 39:00 – Why Certain Tasks Drain You Faster Than Others 43:00 – Doing More by Working More Naturally 46:00 – Creating Sustainable Success and Freedom to Be Yourself Episode Show Notes and Links: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/553-do-more-more-naturally-with-amy-bruske/ Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com ________ 📣 SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast 👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media ▶︎ YOUTUBE ▶︎ INSTAGRAM ▶︎ FACEBOOK ▶︎ LINKEDIN