Elon Musk’s 6 productivity rules
Avoid large meetings
In an email to Tesla employees, CEO Elon Musk shared 6 productivity rules:
Avoid large meetings
Avoid regular meetings
Leave a meeting if you’re not contributing
Use simple language
Communicate directly
Follow logic, not inappropriate rules
1. Avoid large meetings
Large meetings blight organisations and often get worse over time. Keep necessary meetings short and ensure they provide value to all attendees. Here are my suggested 3 Steps to Transform Your Meetings.
2. Avoid frequent meetings
The only reason to have a meeting is to do something collectively that you could not achieve on your own. - Kevan Hall & Alan Hall
Get rid of frequent meetings unless they deal with urgent matters. Meeting frequency should drop rapidly once the urgent matter has been resolved.
3. Leave a meeting if you’re not contributing
Leave a meeting as soon as you realise you aren’t adding value. It is not rude to do so. It is inconsiderate to make someone stay and waste their time.
4. Use simple language
Most readers' energy tends to flag part way through an article or essay. If the friction of reading is low enough, more keep going till the end. - Paul Graham
Don’t use acronyms or nonsense words for objects, software or processes. Anything that requires an explanation inhibits communication. Don’t force people to memorise a glossary.
5. Communicate directly
Communication should travel via the shortest path necessary to get the job done, not through the chain of command. A major source of issues is poor communication between departments. Instead, allow the free flow of information between all levels. It is Ok for people to talk directly and help the right thing happen.
6. Follow logic, not inappropriate rules
Pick common sense as your guide. If following a company rule is obviously ridiculous in a particular situation, such that it would make for a great Dilbert cartoon, then the rule should change. Here is The First Principles Method Explained by Elon Musk.
Other resources
How to Find Your Passion talk by Elon Musk
What Jeff Bezos Taught Me post by Phil Martin
My Top 5 Startup Teachers post by Phil Martin
While Elon Musk works crazy hours per week, he seems to know how to optimise his productivity.
Have fun.
Phil…
