A leaked email highlights a specific type of meeting that Elon Musk consistently walks out of, offering insight into his time management strategy.
All we know is that Elon Musk has a busy schedule, which is why he often walks out of meetings.
You know, Elon Musk is no stranger to a packed schedule. As the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and owner of X (formerly Twitter), he balances numerous responsibilities.
However, Elon Musk is leading the effort to drastically reduce the federal workforce in DOGE, despite announcing his decision to step down from the role after 130 days.
On top of his professional commitments, Musk is a father to 13 children, possibly 14.
Despite his relentless schedule, Musk has made it clear that he doesn’t tolerate time-wasting meetings.
Musk walks out of meetings that waste time
A 2018 email sent to all Tesla employees, verified by CNBC, sheds light on Musk’s approach to time management.
According to report, the email ounlines several productivity tips, emphasizing his stance on meetings.
Musk described excessive meetings as “the blight of big companies” and warned they often worsen over time.
He explained: “Excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time. Please get [out] of all large meetings, unless you’re certain they are providing value to the whole audience, in which case keep them very short.”
Addoitionally, he also encouraged employees to avoid large meetings unless they are certain they will add value.
Musk’s advice was blunt: “Walk out of a meeting or drop off a call as soon as it is obvious you aren’t adding value. It is not rude to leave, it is rude to make someone stay and waste their time.”
Email reveals Fostering efficiency at Tesla
In addition to meeting efficiency, Musk stressed the importance of fast communication.
He opposed a rigid chain of command for information flow, stating, “Any manager who attempts to enforce chain of command communication will soon find themselves working elsewhere.”
Musk’s message was part of a broader effort to streamline Tesla’s operations. At the time, the company was halting production at its two main factories for upgrades, aiming to increase output to 4,000 vehicles per week.
The email also took aim at Tesla’s suppliers. Musk challenged those who couldn’t meet the company’s exacting standards.
Musk said: ” Some parts suppliers will be unwilling or unable to achieve this level of precision. I understand that this will be considered an unreasonable request by some. That’s ok, there are lots of other car companies with much lower standards. They just can’t work with Tesla.”
Elon Musk’s evolving role at Tesla
Since 2018, Musk’s responsibilities have only grown.
His increasing workload has led to more scrutiny, especially as Tesla faces challenges such as violence at dealerships and calls for a boycott. Additionally, there are growing concerns from investors about his leadership at the company.
Despite Elon Musk’s stance on meetings and productivity, which reflects a broader push for constant improvement at Tesla, his involvement continues to face significant challenges.
Some investors are calling for change.