You can’t outrun busyness.
“I’m always a little tentative when people introduce me as a productivity speaker,” says Daniel Sih. “It can sound like I iron my undies, colour-code every folder and never leave dishes in the sink. I don’t.” Naturally curious and drawn to new ideas, Daniel has at times been stretched thin and close to burnout. That led to the question behind his work: how do we make space in our complex world to be highly productive and deeply human?
His answer isn’t working harder. It’s Both-And thinking: holding competing priorities in tension and navigating both. Daniel shows audiences how to work faster and deeper, embrace Artificial Intelligence while keeping their Organic Intelligence, and keep pace with change while making space to think.
Daniel is a 7-time award-winning author, TEDx speaker and founder of Spacemakers®. His books, Spacemaker, Raising Tech-Healthy Humans and Wise AI (co-authored with Paul Matthews), are acclaimed in Australia and internationally. For more than two decades, he has helped leaders and teams improve productivity, wellbeing and performance. His programs, including Email Ninja® and Priority Samurai, have helped more than 50,000 professionals, and his TEDx talk on unplugging from technology has passed one million views, ironically on a screen.
Daniel lives in Hobart with his wife, Kylie, and their three teenagers. You’ll often find him on a mountain bike or reading a good book (not at the same time).
Talking Points
The Productivity Paradox: Why the Future Belongs to Both-And Thinkers
The future belongs to Both-And thinkers. Leaders face tough choices every day: move faster or think deeper, deliver results or invest in wellbeing, embrace AI or protect human connection. In this keynote, Daniel introduces the Productivity Paradox and shows why we need to get better at doing more and less. Audiences learn to navigate competing priorities, embrace technology while keeping the ability to work unplugged, and harness Artificial Intelligence without losing their Organic Intelligence. They leave with practical micro-shifts that help them keep pace with change, make space to think and adapt in a complex world, without adding to their workload.The Productivity Paradox: Why the Future Belongs to Both-And Thinkers
· The power of Both-And thinking to navigate competing priorities in a complex world
· The Productivity Paradox: why we need to get better at doing more and less
· How to embrace technology while keeping the ability to work unplugged
· How to harness Artificial Intelligence without losing our Organic Intelligence
· Practical micro-shifts to keep pace and make space, without adding to workload
Client outcome: leaders and teams who handle complexity, make better decisions and adapt to change through small, sustainable shifts in how they work.
Wise AI: Using Powerful Technology in a Deeply Human Way
AI amplifies our existing habits and ways of working, for better and for worse. It can save us hours, yet without a wise approach, it can leave us busier than before. Based on Daniel’s new book, co-authored with Paul Matthews, this keynote introduces the posture of Wise AI and the Artificial and Organic Intelligence cycle, showing when to speed up, when to slow down and how to get the order right. Audiences leave with practical AI skills and the four rhythms of Wise AI (deep work, deep thought, deep rest and deep relationships), so they can speed up their work without overcooking their lives.Wise AI: Using Powerful Technology in a Deeply Human Way
· Why saving time with AI doesn't necessarily make us less busy
· The posture of Wise AI and how to embrace technology thoughtfully
· The Artificial and Organic Intelligence cycle, and how to get the order right
· The four rhythms of Wise AI: deep work, deep thought, deep rest and deep relationships
· Essential AI skills for speeding up work without overcooking our lives
Client outcome: teams that use AI with confidence and reinvest the time it saves into higher-value work.
Making Space for Digital Wellbeing: How to Unplug, Unwind and Build Rhythms for Sustained Performance.
In today’s attention economy, our most valuable resource isn’t time, but space. We long for space to think, rest and plan, yet the very technologies that boost our productivity are leaving us wired, tired and struggling to focus. Based on Daniel’s award-winning book Spacemaker, this keynote reveals the hidden cost of digital overload and the upside-down curve between technology and productivity. Audiences learn research-backed strategies to manage distractions, set stronger boundaries and make space for deep thought and focus. They leave with their own rhythm of unplugging, so they can do their best work and live a better life.Making Space for Digital Wellbeing: How to Unplug, Unwind and Build Rhythms for Sustained Performance.
· The hidden cost of digital overload on productivity and wellbeing
· The upside-down curve and the relationship between technology and productivity
· Why digital wellbeing requires both pace and space
· Research-backed strategies to manage distractions, set stronger boundaries and make space for deep thought, rest and focus
· A personal rhythm of unplugging
Client outcome: people with fewer distractions, stronger boundaries and more focus, improving both productivity and wellbeing.
Raising Tech-Healthy Humans: Setting the Right Pace for Children in a Digital World
Smartphones, social media and now AI are reaching our children faster than most parents can keep up. The answer isn’t to reject technology, but to set the right pace: slowing down when children are young, then grading up as they grow up. Based on Daniel’s award-winning parenting book, this keynote gives parents and school communities research-informed guidelines for smartphones, social media and AI, plus practical strategies for healthier tech and non-tech habits at home. Parents leave confident to make decisions about screens and to model the digital behaviours they want their children to embrace. Together, we can raise wholehearted humans who enjoy the fullness of life with and without a screen.Raising Tech-Healthy Humans: Setting the Right Pace for Children in a Digital World
· The opportunities and challenges of raising children in a digital world
· How early adoption of interactive technologies can affect focus, learning, vision and mental health
· Research-informed guidelines for smartphones, social media and AI
· Practical strategies to build healthier tech and non-tech habits at home
· How to model the digital behaviours you want your children to embrace
Client outcome: parents and school communities who make confident, consistent decisions about screens, social media and digital habits.
Video
Daniel Sih | Award-Winning Author, Productivity Speaker & Spacemaker
How to make space in a world with too much technology | Daniel Sih | TEDxHobart
Daniel facilitated our Aesop Global Retail Summit in London and was incredible. His message was pragmatic, actionable, and well-received. Daniel is personable and energetic, he truly had a m ... keep reading Aesop
Daniel Sih is the go-to guy for time management and digital wellbeing. He has influenced the way I work and prepare my time. Jack Riewoldt, Australian Rules Footballer, Premiership Vice-Captain, Coleman Medallist and Co-Founder
Daniel has a rare ability to make complex ideas simple, practical and engaging. His Ways of Working program gave our teams practical tools they could apply immediately, while creating valuable conversations about how we want to work together. Ingrid Shannon-Smith, Chief People Officer
Daniel's keynote session was highly engaging and right on point given the complexity we all deal with every day. I particularly valued Daniel's research into our market, drawing on that understanding to tailor his keynote to our audience. I would highly recommend Daniel to any business looking for improvements in productivity and digital wellbeing. Jeff Dhu, CEO
Daniel headlined our regional symposiums in 12 cities across Australia and New Zealand and was outstanding. He gave our staff exactly what they needed: inspiring frameworks supported by simple, practical tools. First class. Richard Stokes, CEO
