Elon Musk sent an email to the staff at Tesla with his 6 rules for productivity.

Written by Shashank Pore

December 13, 2024

1) Avoid large meetings

Large meetings waste valuable time and energy.

– They discourage debate

– People are more guarded than open

– There’s not enough time for everyone to contribute

Don’t schedule large meetings unless you’re certain they provide value to everyone.

2) Leave a meeting if you’re not contributing

If a meeting doesn’t require your:

– Input

– Value

– Decisions

Your presence is useless.

It’s not rude to leave a meeting.

But it’s rude to waste people’s time.

3) Forget the chain of command

Communicate with colleagues directly.

Not through supervisors or managers.

Fast communicators make fast decisions.

Fast decisions = competitive advantage.

4) Be clear, not clever

Avoid nonsense words and technical jargon.

It slows down communication.

Choose words that are:

– Concise

– To the point

– Easy to understand

Don’t sound smart. Be efficient.

5) Ditch frequent meetings

There’s no better way to waste everyone’s time.

Use meetings to:

– Collaborate

– Attack issues head-on

– Solve urgent problems

But once you resolve the issue, frequent meetings are no longer necessary.

You can resolve most issues without a meeting.

Instead of meetings:

– Send a text

– Send an email

– Communicate on a discord or slack channel

Don’t interrupt your team’s workflow if it’s unnecessary.

6) Use common sense

If a company rule doesn’t:

– Make sense

– Contribute to progress

– Apply to your specific situation

Avoid following the rule with your eyes closed.

Don’t follow rules. Follow principles.

  • Shashank Pore is a seasoned CXO and business transformation expert known for driving strategic growth, scaling brands, and enhancing profitability across diverse industries. With a proven track record in leadership roles, Shashank combines strategic insight with operational excellence to help mid-sized businesses navigate complex market dynamics. His areas of expertise include leadership development, organizational restructuring, and sales & marketing strategies, positioning companies for sustainable growth and long-term success.

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