My CEO Life

I hate meetings … especially if they don’t have an agenda, are not lead by someone and go on and on and on.  So what have i done about this, here are a few simple rules i try to live by

1. 30 minute meetings only – i even have a great 30 min timer on my desk as a reminder
2. No agenda, no meeting and the agenda must be sent before we get together
3. No more than 4 people to a meeting
4. There must be a clear leader and that person nominated before the meeting
5. Clear outcomes must be reached including decisions or next steps

Simple in theory but takes discipline to make happen.  They challenge is getting everyone to do it around the business and change the culture from a meetings one to a decision making one.  Now that takes time!!!

1. Can Culture be Managed?

   Can culture in a business be managed – yes i think it can.  However not directly as in “directed” but through coercion, through leadership, and through example.  I believe that the role of a CEO and the leadership is to shape...

2. Pennies from Heaven

   Have you ever had on of those days when things go right and more importantly, something great just pops up and you cant say no. Well i had one of those days last week.  I was working away and received...

3. When Two Cultures Clash

   Have you ever wanted to leap across a table and throttle someone?  Well i had that experience yesterday – the desire, not the action. I was called to a meeting for the launch of a new internal project.  Now i...

4. Great Comebacks – Recovering from Major Stuff Ups

   Have you ever had one of those days when nothing, i mean absolutely NOTHING, goes right. Well yesterday was one of those days. The day started with one of our rocket scientists confusing an “=” sign with a “>” sign...

5. Time Management

   Well time management has to be one of my greatest challenges. I am notoriously bad at saying “yes” to most things. However, how do i broadly split my time? The answer, surprisingly enough, is simple – 1/3rd is Board, media...