Jeff Bezos reveals his bizarre meeting rules

164

The leadership styles of prominent business figures often provide valuable insights into successful strategies. Jeff Bezos, the former CEO of Amazon, shared some of his best meeting tips during a recent appearance on “The Lex Fridman Podcast.” Bezos, who grew Amazon from an online bookstore into a global powerhouse, emphasized the importance of effective meetings in fostering innovation and decision-making. Here are some key takeaways from Bezos’s meeting strategies:

Crisp Document, Messy Meeting:
Bezos expressed a preference for a “crisp document and a messy meeting.” This implies that the preparation and documentation before a meeting should be clear and concise, allowing for a more dynamic and open discussion during the actual meeting.

Speaking Last:
A notable aspect of Bezos’s approach is that he always speaks last in meetings. This tactic aims to avoid influencing the opinions of other participants prematurely. By allowing others to express their thoughts first, Bezos ensures a more diverse range of perspectives in the discussion.

No PowerPoint Slides:
Bezos is known for discouraging the use of PowerPoint slide presentations. Instead, he encourages employees to engage in discussions by asking challenging questions. This approach aims to prevent the concealment of incomplete or unclear thinking behind bullet points.

Avoiding Compromise:
Bezos criticized the concept of compromise as a suboptimal way of resolving disputes. Instead, he advocates for a thorough exploration of ideas and opinions to arrive at more robust and innovative solutions.

The “Two Pizza Rule”:
Bezos has implemented the “two pizza rule” for meetings, suggesting that if two standard-sized pizzas are not sufficient to feed everyone in attendance, the meeting is too large. This rule promotes smaller, more focused meetings where everyone has an opportunity to contribute.

Speaking Order Based on Seniority:
Bezos recommends a speaking order based on seniority, with the most junior person speaking first. This approach ensures that opinions are heard in an unfiltered manner and prevents the influence of senior figures from shaping initial perspectives.

Bezos’s meeting strategies reflect a commitment to fostering a culture of open dialogue, diverse perspectives, and efficient decision-making within Amazon. These principles contributed to Amazon’s success as a global e-commerce and technology giant under Bezos’s leadership.