Auckland business owner Nat Milne hopes to improve NZ’s woeful productivity performance with a new training programme,
developed in Sweden, utilising neuroscience to help Kiwis work smarter, not harder.
New Zealand has one of the worst levels of productivity and growth compared to other countries in the OECD, according to
NZ’s Productivity Commission. Per person, our income is only about 70% of that in countries that perform in the top half
of the OECD, it says.
However, Milne, a business owner, HR and People specialist, and mother of two wants to help change that. She is
introducing a new scientifically-backed productivity training programme, called Beminded, to NZ workplaces. She
partnered with the Swedish founder of Beminded, to launch Beminded NZ, and is rolling out the programme around New
Zealand. Together they’re teaching the new methodology to Kiwi businesses and organisations, and their staff, with
workshops held in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wanaka in March 2024.
Milne experienced “life-changing results” earlier this year when she completed the productivity training, which focuses
on the prefrontal cortex and how brains operate in the information-heavy, modern world. It uses tools and methods
teaching people to triage information streams, declutter mental space, and maximise cognitive thinking for better
performance and results.
Developed by Sweden’s Anna Bojlert, who has a background in behaviour science, the programme has been taught to more
than 4000 people, in 50 different businesses, mainly around Europe.
Before completing the Beminded programme, Milne worked hard at her HR and People Consultancy, The People Place. She
founded her business while pregnant with her first child. On average, she used to work 20-25 hours a week, employed 13
staff, and juggled family life with her young children, now aged 3 and 6 years old.
“I was busy, stressed, tired, and high-functioning, but I wasn’t really productive, which is similar to a lot of
workplaces and businesses in NZ,” she says.
Since completing the Beminded training in April this year, Milne estimates she’s improved her productivity by about 25%.
Within two months, she also improved her business turnover to a level not seen since before the global COVID-19
pandemic. At the same time, she has reduced her working week to 15 hours in the office and enjoys more quality time with
her children.
“Now I never check work emails in the evening, or first thing in the morning. I don’t check them until I start work for
the day. I’ve stopped letting lots of information, and electronic alerts, interrupt my focus and attention. I’m a
different person now at work and more present at home with my children.”
“To improve productivity in NZ, we need to treat skilled staff as “knowledge workers”, focusing on results, instead of
how many hours are spent in the office. The Beminded approach teaches and supports staff, and workplaces, to a smarter
way of operating with less stress,” Milne says.About BemindedWhat is BeMinded?Be Minded is a scientifically-backed productivity training programme. It was developed in 2013 by Sweden’s Anna Bojlert,
who has a background in management, human resources and neuroscience. It enables workplaces to operate smarter not
harder for improved results.How does it work?The unique, results-focused programme provides knowledge, tools and practical techniques, enabling individuals and teams
to be more focused, engaged, and productive, without stress. It includes how to triage information streams and minimise
distractions in our information-heavy, modern world. At the same time, participants learn how to prioritise and support
high-level thinking and creative solutions for better outcomes. The results are instant.Who is it for?
New Zealand organisations, workplaces, and their people, that want to improve productivity and performance. The
programme has already been taught to more than 4,000 people, in 50 different companies, in 11 different countries. NZ
works will be held in Auckland, Christchurch and Wanaka from 4 March 2024. Expressions of interest to join the training
programme are open: