Like many individuals, Jensen Huang, the billionaire CEO and co-founder of NVIDIA, experienced concerns about having insufficient time to accomplish all his objectives.
Time Management for Busiest CEOs
Many CEOs have their preferred strategies for conducting meetings. Steve Jobs favored walking meetings, while Jeff Bezos advocated various concepts over time, including banning PowerPoint presentations, speaking last, and promoting messy meetings where ideas can be freely exchanged without a predetermined end time.
During an episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast last year, Bezos discussed his approach to meetings, emphasizing the uncertainty of their duration when focused on problem-solving. He highlighted his enjoyment in collaborative brainstorming sessions, particularly exchanging ideas, addressing objections, and devising solutions with a group of intelligent individuals around a whiteboard.
NVIDIA CEO's Management Approach
Scheduling one-on-one meetings with those who report to him is not an option for the NVIDIA CEO. During a talk at Stanford University in March, Huang disclosed this aspect of his managerial approach to managing 55 individuals, all of whom report directly to him in a structure designed to facilitate agility and let information flow the quickest way possible. As a result, no unnecessary meetings, including regular check-ins, occur between him and his direct reports. Unless they need him, he is ready to prioritize their needs and drop everything else, confirms Huang.
Arranging 55 recurring one-on-one meetings could swiftly consume a calendar, which might present a logistical challenge for the leader of the world's second-most valuable public company. On Wednesday, the chipmaker, pivotal in advancing artificial intelligence, surpassed Apple in market capitalization, only trailing behind Microsoft.
Instead, Huang and his executives maintain regular communication throughout each workday to ensure alignment without relying on meetings. This approach also applies to performance evaluations, with Huang mentioning that he does not provide reviews for them but rather constant feedback, which he receives from his executives.
The Risk of "Time Famine"
Regardless of one's status, we only get 24 hours a day, and that is it. However, for many of us, our days are filled with multiple responsibilities, leaving little time for leisure, which can lead to feelings of overwhelm and the perception that we can never quite keep up with our obligations.
According to Yale University psychology professor Laurie Santos, who spoke at SXSW in March, having a fully booked schedule can carry psychological implications. The feeling of being excessively busy, known as time famine, can lead to negative outcomes such as decreased productivity, subpar work performance, and burnout.
To address time famine, Santos suggested reviewing your to-do list to identify tasks that do not need scheduling. She also recommended consciously acknowledging time saved, like when a phone call ends early or a meeting is canceled. The feeling of being strapped for time often arises because many believe constantly working is essential for accomplishing their life goals.
