Bob Sulentic, CEO of CBRE, and Jeff Hill from BCG discuss the importance of time management for CEOs. They explore different approaches to managing time, including leaving open hours for thinking. The impact on company culture, meeting efficiency, and personal brand building is also discussed.
CEOs should prioritize tasks and responsibilities based on their fixed amount of time.
Having unscheduled time allows for flexibility and productive thinking, leading to a more effective leader.
Deep dives
Importance of Time Management for CEOs
Successful CEOs have different approaches to managing their time, but they all have a system in place. Allocating time to think clearly and make the right decisions is crucial. CEOs should prioritize tasks and responsibilities based on their fixed amount of time. Time management evolves with changing responsibilities. As the company and role grow, CEOs should focus more on impacting things through others. A significant amount of unscheduled time allows for flexibility and productive thinking.
Different Approaches to Time Management
CEOs have diverse approaches to time management. Some CEOs schedule almost every minute with a focus on highly operational business and external events. Others, like Bob, have more open time in their calendar to flexibly address what matters each day. Setting priorities, reading, and educating oneself are essential. Bob emphasizes the importance of having white space on the calendar to be responsive and allow for serendipitous moments.
Impact of Time Management on Company Culture
Bob's philosophy on time management has cascaded down to the entire company. CBRE group prioritizes thinking time, values being prepared for meetings, and avoids wasting time on activities that do not align with their goals. The company has become more adept at using important meetings efficiently and promoting work-life balance. Bob's availability and responsiveness have created a culture of respect and appreciation throughout the organization.
Time is a finite resource. What is the best way to spend it? Bob Sulentic, CEO of the multibillion-dollar company CBRE explains why he deliberately leaves hours of his workday open for thinking, reading, and being available to his direct reports. That approach may not work for all CEOs. What’s important, explains BCG’s Jeff Hill, is that CEOs spend time thinking about time. An unexamined calendar is a missed opportunity to become a more effective leader.