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"会議が好きな人は何も担当すべきではない"

Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell Economist
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Quote meaning
The essence of the quote is straightforward: those who genuinely like meetings typically lack the practical, action-oriented mindset necessary for effective leadership. Meetings, while sometimes essential, can often be time-consuming without driving real progress. Leaders should focus on tangible outcomes rather than endless discussions.

This sentiment likely arises from the frustration many experience in professional settings. Meetings often feel like wasted time, filled with endless chatter and little action. The quote suggests that enjoying such unproductive environments is a red flag for leadership potential.

Consider a real-life scenario: a tech startup. Imagine you're part of a small team working on an innovative app. Your goal is to launch before your competitors. You have two leaders to choose from: Jane, who loves organizing and attending meetings, and Tom, who prefers to dive into problem-solving and coding.

Jane schedules daily meetings, each lasting a couple of hours, to discuss every minute detail. Meanwhile, Tom skips unnecessary meetings, focusing on coding and troubleshooting with the team directly. Under Jane's leadership, the team spends more time talking about what needs to be done rather than doing it. Under Tom, the team tackles issues head-on, iterating quickly based on immediate feedback.

The team led by Tom will likely launch their app faster and more effectively. This example shows how leadership needs a bias for action over prolonged discussions.

If you want to apply this wisdom, start by evaluating how much time you spend in meetings versus doing meaningful work. Are you discussing more than doing? Consider whether each meeting is necessary. Could an email or a quick chat suffice? Encourage your team to focus on deliverables and results rather than just talking about them.

Picture this: You run a small marketing agency. You’ve got a client deadline looming. Instead of calling a meeting to discuss the project status, you check in with your team members individually. You ask specific questions and offer quick feedback. The team stays focused, working efficiently.

By skipping the long meeting, your team saves time and maintains their workflow. They know you're there for guidance but trust them to manage their tasks. This approach underscores that leadership involves enabling your team to perform, not bogging them down with endless discussions.

In essence, when you think about effective leadership, think less about how often you meet and more about what actions you’re driving. Meetings should be tools for alignment and decision-making, not ends in themselves. Prioritize action and results. Leadership is about making things happen, not just talking about them.
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Decision-making Efficiency Leadership Management Motivation Organizational culture Productivity Time management Work ethics Workplace
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