The process of working through ideas inside those meetings is usually not shared with others so that everyone can learn how to solve problems in the most effective way.
The way we learn in a work environment is often by observing other people around us. We learn much from other people and their different ways of thinking, and it helps to create a generalised group way of approaching problems collectively.
There’s something genuinely wonderful about being able to hear, in real time, how other people process ideas, and all that gets lost if it only happens behind closed doors. The solution, according to Chesky, is to hold larger group meetings with all his direct reports at the same time where everyone can collectively workshop their problems together.
Nvidia’s Huang takes this to the extreme. He has a whopping 55 direct reports (which I would not recommend!), so obviously can’t schedule in regular reoccurring meetings with them all.
Instead, he gathers them in group sessions to share things together. “They never hear me say something to them that is only for them to know,” he said. “In that way, our company was designed for agility, for information to flow as quickly as possible.”
There are a couple of caveats, of course. Replacing all your one-on-ones does depend on the quality of the managers and colleagues that you work with, as even a good meeting structure can be overpowered by bad intentions.
Loading
There will always be a place for small meetings to discuss topics that are sensitive or require confidentiality, and if you do decide to experiment with this, you also have to ensure that all participants can share their problems and solutions equally.
Challenging the traditional mode of private meetings can be a healthy exercise. When you replace some of your recurring one-on-ones with four-on-ones instead, you’re giving yourself the ability to have four times the brain power to learn from others, solve problems and find better solutions collectively.
Tim Duggan is the author of Work Backwards: The Revolutionary Method to Work Smarter and Live Better. He writes a regular newsletter at timduggan.substack.com
