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.

See also: Elon Musk’s 6 Productivity Secrets for Tesla