Effective meetings (Jeff Bezos)

Get everyone prepared for the meeting and start discussing solutions and ideas effectively.

Sessions
2
Steps
3
Last edited
Feb 27, 2022
Created by
Nova

About this process

Bezos created a new way to hold meetings: Meetings start with each attendee sitting and silently reading a “narratively-structured memo” (also known as a proposal) for about the first 20-45 minutes of the meeting. The memo creates the context for what will then be a good discussion. “We read these memos silently, during the meeting,” says Bezos. “It’s like a study hall. Everyone sits around the table, and we read silently, for usually about half an hour, however long it takes us to read the document. And then we discuss it.” This is a very clever tactic because it ensures everyone in the meeting has to read the memo and is educated on what’s being discussed, rather than taking it away after the meeting and throwing it out. This is an effective way to manage your meetings because everyone involved during the meetings has a good understanding of the topic.

Sessions at a glance
#SessionSteps
01Memo discussion302Meeting - Topic/Title0

The process in detail

2 sessions · 3 steps
01

Memo discussion

3 steps

Provide information about the topic and define your goal. Here is a guideline: The topic.** Description. 📅 Meeting/discussion goal:** The goal is to [X] by [DATE] for [H hours] using the Jeff Bezos meeting methodology. Remember to add this date👆 to your calendar. Why this important?** Describe the positive impacts and why their collaboration and perspective are essential. Expectations** How do you describe success? Add additional resources like documents, links, or even a video below. 👇 Additional information:** Create your memo inside our google drive and share the link with the team. The memo should be [1] page long. The objective of the memo is to [X]

  1. 1

    I read the information that was provided by my team about the topic. I understand when and how I need to submit my memo and why my perspective is essential.

  2. 2

    Write your memo and share your document with everyone here.

  3. 3

    The meeting. (Next Session)

Read the full text
1. I read the information that was provided by my team about the topic. I understand when and how I need to submit my memo and why my perspective is essential.
Choose one
  • Yes
  • No
2. Write your memo and share your document with everyone here.

Bezos team writes a 6-page memo. We believe a 1-2 page memo can be sufficient. Ask you a manager or team lead for more details. ″[The memo is] supposed to create the context for what will then be a good discussion,” - Bezos. 👉Share the link to your document here or add a pdf. ✅Mark the step as complete once you are happy with your submission.

Upload files or add links
3. The meeting. (Next Session)

Add this meeting to your calendar. The date, time, and link will be provided by your team lead or facilitator. MEETING AGENDA: Get familiar with the whiteboard and make sure your video is working.** Spend 2 minutes evaluating the whiteboard. Make sure you feel comfortable moving around the board and using sticky notes, voting, etc. The silence meeting:** Spend 10-60 minutes reading. This is known a silence meeting. Silence meetings are great to ensure everyone makes the time to read a document. Bezos is not the only CEO to believe in “silent meetings”: Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey uses a similar method, which includes holding meetings that start with 10 minutes of silent reading from a Google Doc. Everyone invited to the meeting is encouraged to take notes and add them to the whiteboard and after the reading period is over, they discuss the memo. Discussion meeting:** Spend 30-60 minutes discussing the memo. ✅Mark this step as complete after adding your next meeting to your calendar.

Memo Discussion
  • Those participating are encouraged to take notes and add them to the whiteboard. We recommend adding one idea or note per sticky note. After the reading period is over, they discuss the memo.
  • Notes and ideas
  • Meeting resources
  • 1
  • 2
  • Google Drive folder: [Link] Video call or chat link: www.spatial.chat/hexample
  • Conclusion
  • 3
02

Meeting - Topic/Title

Read the full text
New Board
  • Those participating are encouraged to take notes and add them to the whiteboard. We recommend adding one idea or note per sticky note. After the reading period is over, they discuss the memo.
  • Notes and ideas
  • Meeting resources
  • Instructions Add this meeting to your calendar. The date and time will be provided by your team lead or facilitator. MEETING AGENDA: Get familiar with the whiteboard and make sure your video is working. Spend 2 minutes evaluating the whiteboard. Make sure you feel comfortable moving around the board and using sticky notes, voting, etc. The silence meeting: Spend 10-60 minutes reading. This is known a silence meeting. Silence meetings are great to ensure everyone makes the time to read a document. Bezos is not the only CEO to believe in “silent meetings”: Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey uses a similar method, which includes holding meetings that start with 10 minutes of silent reading from a Google Doc. Everyone invited to the meeting is encouraged to take notes and add them to the whiteboard and after the reading period is over, they discuss the memo. Discussion meeting: Spend 30-60 minutes discussing the memo.
  • 1
  • 2
  • Google Drive folder: [Link] Video call or chat link: www.spatial.chat/hexample
  • Conclusion
  • 3
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Created byNova·Official process
Last edited Feb 27, 2022·2 sessions · 3 steps