Calm isn’t an App: Culture, Autonomy, and the Myth of Productivity (with Kacie Brennell)

Meetings don’t equal management—most of the time, they’re just control theater. Freelance project manager Kacie Brennell joins Susan to unpack how autonomy—not attendance—drives real outcomes. They dig into async accountability, why tools fail without culture shifts, and how perfectionism + codependency quietly sabotage calm. If you’ve ever looked up from a day of calls with a longer to-do list, this one’s for you.

What you’ll learn

• How to shift from presence-driven management to outcome-driven autonomy
• The simple async cadence: owner → outcome → deadline → 3-bullet update
• Why software alone won’t save you (and what culture change must come first)
• Spotting perfectionism and codependency at work—and what to model instead
• How to use efficiency to create margin (and then actually keep it)
• Practical scripts for moving “quick calls” into written, visible decisions

Connect with Kacie

• Connect with Kacie on LinkedIn

• (00:00) - Introduction: The Myth of Meetings
• (00:55) - Guest Introduction: Kacie Brenell
• (01:13) - The Importance of Autonomy in Work
• (03:16) - Challenges and Solutions in Modern Work Culture
• (05:50) - The Role of Technology and Tools
• (42:38) - Conclusion: Embracing CALM Management

Check out the SOP Swap at ProcessDriven