Like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Siemens’ CEO has no recurring meetings with direct reports to save time—he also replies to emails with just ‘OK’ or ‘No’

Like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Siemens’ CEO has no recurring meetings with direct reports to save time—he also replies to emails with just ‘OK’ or ‘No’

Source: Fortune

Summary

Siemens CEO Roland Busch emphasizes efficiency in his work habits, keeping his email inbox below 100 messages by responding quickly and using few words. He also avoids recurring one-on-one meetings with direct reports, instead keeping his door open for them to come to him when needed. Busch credits his physics background for teaching him to isolate core issues and make decisions with incomplete information. Other CEOs, such as Jensen Huang and Jamie Dimon, are also pushing back against traditional meeting-heavy corporate calendars.


Our Reading

The numbers tell one story. Siemens CEO Roland Busch’s minimalist approach to email and meetings is not just about efficiency, but also about control. By keeping his inbox tidy and avoiding one-on-one meetings, Busch is able to maintain a sense of order in a chaotic corporate environment. But what’s driving this trend among CEOs to cut back on meetings? Is it a genuine desire for productivity, or a way to assert power and control?


Author: Evan Null