Ep 294: How Auditors Can Take Back Control of Their Time w/ Bill Engelhaupt (Auditology)

This week on The Audit Podcast, Bill Engelhaupt, author of The Productive Auditor and founder and principal of Auditology LLC, joins the show to discuss how internal audit professionals can take back control of their time, reduce distractions, and build more productive audit teams.

Bill explains why productivity isn't simply about getting more things done. It's about protecting your attention for the work that matters most. He shares how interruptions, fragmented work, and constant notifications can turn a task that should take 20 or 30 minutes into an hour, and why creating dedicated blocks of uninterrupted time can make such a difference.

Bill also breaks down his approach to the "Power Hour," a protected block of time where teams agree to eliminate interruptions and focus entirely on getting important work done. He explains how audit leaders can establish this as a team norm and why it can be just as valuable for managers and leaders who need uninterrupted time to review and complete work.

The conversation then shifts to prioritization and productivity for audit leaders. Bill explains why teams can fall into the trap of cherry-picking easier tasks while more important work gets pushed aside. He shares how sprints, daily huddles, and clear team priorities can help auditors stay focused on the work that matters most.

Bill also discusses psychological safety and its role in high-performing audit teams. He explains why auditors and clients need to feel comfortable speaking up about problems and concerns, and how leaders can create an environment where people feel safe sharing uncomfortable information. He also introduces the idea of a pre-mortem as a way to identify potential problems before an audit begins.

The conversation also covers building trust with audit clients, including why auditors should focus on asking questions that encourage real information rather than simply confirming what they already expect to hear. Bill explains why asking "why?" can sometimes put people on the defensive and offers a better approach for getting people to open up.

Finally, Bill shares practical strategies for managing distractions, from turning off Slack and Teams notifications to putting your phone away and preparing your workspace before starting a focused work block. He also discusses the growing challenge of AI as both a productivity tool and a potential distraction.

03:36 Why Interruptions Are Killing Productivity

05:01 How to Protect Your Attention

06:06 The Power of 90-Minute Work Blocks

08:55 How Fatigue Impacts Audit Judgment

11:29 Why Slack and Teams Make Work Take Longer