Most meetings, about 71%, are unproductive.
Jeff Bezos refused to accept that. He built Amazon into a trillion-dollar company not by attending more meetings, but by making them truly effective.
Here are six rules he implemented to turn meetings into action:
The Two-Pizza Rule
→ Keep meetings small. If two pizzas can’t feed everyone, the group is too big. Smaller teams make faster, clearer decisions.
No PowerPoint
→ Slides oversimplify and hide flaws. Bezos required written memos instead, writing ensures clarity.
Start With Silence
→ Meetings begin with 15–20 minutes of silent reading. Everyone starts informed, reducing posturing and guessing.
Leave an Empty Chair
→ One seat represents the customer, keeping the focus on who truly matters.
Encourage Debate, Then Commit
→ Open discussion is welcomed before decisions, but once made, everyone fully commits, no passive resistance.
End With Clear Ownership
→ Every meeting finishes with concrete actions. Responsibilities and deadlines must be crystal clear.
Sick of meetings that go nowhere? Implement even two of these rules and watch productivity soar.