Work is noisy. Not just the hum of open-plan offices or the ping of endless emails, but the soul-sapping, productivity-killing corporate noise—the meetings that should have been emails, the politics that should have been resolved, and the reports that should have been binned. In this episode of A Job Done Well, Jimmy and James dissect the chaos of modern workplaces, where conflicting agendas, ego-driven leaders, and short-termism turn even the simplest tasks into a slog through quicksand.

From the absurdity of "magnet ball" management (where everyone chases the same ball, achieving nothing) to the silent killer of organisational focus, they expose why noise thrives—and how you can fight back. Their advice? Be proactive, face into the problem, and for God’s sake, stop blind-copying people on emails. With their usual mix of dry wit and hard-won wisdom, they arm you with tactics to cut through the clutter, protect your sanity, and maybe—just maybe—get your actual job done.

Key Points:

• Noise is inevitable, but not unstoppable. It’s the corporate ivy choking your productivity—meetings, emails, politics, and misaligned objectives.
• Ask: Does this make the boat go faster? If not, it’s noise.
• Egos and silos fuel the chaos. Leaders broadcast; teams retreat. The result? A symphony of distraction.
• Data beats drama. Facts cut through opinion. If someone says “they always…”, ask: Who’s ‘they’? What’s ‘always’?
• Don’t be part of the problem. Stop blind CC’ing the world, own your mistakes, and—above all—do something about it.

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