What numbers lead to better meetings, prioritization, management, work/life integration and leadership?

0

As in 0/0 (zero injuries and zero accidents). In any company, the safety of employees and customers every day should be of highest concern.

1

As in one page: the ideal length for most documents and reports. Kept to one page, plans and analyses are short, to the point and laser focused on the essential.

2

As in two sides. Any time a manager has to mediate a dispute or decide an argument, the two sides of the story must be heard before a decision is made.

3

As in “thinking in threes,” a communication technique that organizes and summarizes most concepts and actions in three points. Three points force prioritization on what is most important, can be communicated more easily and can be remembered.

4

As in four people: the ideal limit to the number of people in a meeting. Keeping meetings to as small a group as possible allows work to get done and progress to be made.

5

As in the “five whys,” Toyota’s technique to determine the root cause of a problem. In using the five whys, start with a why question. To every answer, ask another why question. Repeat five times.

6

As in six days: the maximum number of days in a week that anyone should work. We all need to have a day off to rest.

10

As in the “rule of 10,” a maxim which asserts that a new concept may need to be communicated as many as 10 times before being internalized by listeners.

20

As in 20 minutes, the amount of time each day devoted to that big, important but not urgent, task that we all too often avoid doing. With 20 minutes a day every day, even the biggest “elephant” can be disappear in just weeks.

30

As in 30 minutes, the ideal time limit for nearly every meeting. A half-hour limit for all meetings will  require participants to prepare, stay on point and keep the discussions moving along.

70

As in 70 percent, the percentage of people on any typical conference call who are sending and responding to emails while only half listening.

80

As in the 80 /20 rule, the observation that 80 percent of all work can be done by focusing on the most important 20 percent of activities.

100

As in 100 percent, the amount of time that we need to be focused on and committed to doing what is right and ethical.

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