Award Winning Culture: Part 2

Discipline is the order that allows me to fly- Julie Andrews

So, what is Structured Autonomy?

The quote above sums it up perfectly.

At Premier Education, we follow a Business Rhythm- a framework that synchronizes our entire team. It ensures everyone is aligned, communicating effectively, and able to work with clarity and purpose. This rhythm isn't just about meetings- it's about intentional structure that fuels productivity, collaboration, and focus.

The Role of 'Business Rhythm'

Communication is at the heart of our working day. But instead of endless back-and-forths and random check-ins, we use;

• Set meeting agendas- so every discussion has a clear outcome.
• Consistent team and interdepartmental syncs- reducing miscommunication
• A structured schedule- to support issue escalation and rapid decision-making

But it's not just about talking- it's about creating time.

The Power of Protected Focus Time

We’ve designed our rhythm to protect three daily hours of uninterrupted focus time for every team member. This ensures people can fully commit to their three most important tasks each day—without distraction.

Ever been interrupted mid-task and struggled to regain focus? Studies show it takes 20+ minutes to return to deep concentration after an interruption. Our system eliminates that wasted time.

Here's how it works:

• Scheduled Collaboration: Meetings, emails, and calls happen within fixed hours, allowing teams to focus without fear of missing something.
• Dedicated Focus Blocks: Work is completed in high-energy sprints, ensuring quality over quantity.
• Respect for Time: We structure our day so colleagues aren't constantly interrupted.

And because we work in education, our rhythm also includes two hours of downtime per day.

• Lunch breaks at the same time- so colleagues can connect and recharge
• 30-minute 'playtime' sessions- encouraging movement, conversation, and social interaction.

Where Did This Come From?

We didn't invent this.

At the seminar I mentioned in Part 1, Amy and I were introduced to a concept from Sweden called LAGOM—loosely translated as “not too little, not too much.”

It’s about balance. It structures the day for maximum impact by blending deep-focus work with intentional collaboration.

We didn’t wait. The very next day, we trialled it in one department, tweaking and refining it based on feedback before rolling it out across the business.

Creating Time: The Most Powerful Resource

By merging LAGOM with our Accountability Model, we've done something simple but radical: We've created time.

Our goal isn’t for people to work more. In fact, we only want people to do three hours of deep, high-impact work per day. But when they do, we expect it to be fully focused, highly productive, and truly valuable.

Sounds Easy, Right?

Nothing ever is.

If this was as simple as implementing a schedule and walking off into the sunset, every business would do it. But, like a healthy diet, it requires discipline, reflection, and course correction.

I’ll admit—I still get it wrong. I’ve interrupted people’s focus hours because something was urgent for me, rather than waiting for the right forum. And I’ve had to reset and apologise more than once.

But when it works, it’s transformative. It not only reduces stress—it exposes operational gaps so we can fix problems, not just manage them.

Accountability & Leadership Responsibility

When individuals are overwhelmed, the first step isn't to push harder- it's to assess the system:

1. Are we (am I?) over-scheduling?
2. Do we need better processes?
3. Do we need more (or different) resources?

Because when workload issues arise, they’re often a leadership problem, not a personal one.

LAGOM has given us clarity—helping us make faster, better business decisions while keeping stress levels low and performance high.

And the best part? It seamlessly integrates with The Power of Three—our accountability model that has been a game changer for us.

More on that next time...