The Next Big Idea Daily Drowning in Meetings, Emails, and Chaos? There's a Better Way to Work.
37 snips
Aug 26, 2025 Nelson Repenning, a Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management and co-author of 'There's Gotta Be a Better Way', dives into the chaos of workplace inefficiencies. He discusses how poorly designed workflows often mask genuine efforts, leading to wasted productivity. Repenning highlights the pitfalls of excessive meetings and emails, advocating for strategic communication techniques like handoffs and huddles. He also emphasizes the power of visualization in improving organizational processes, fostering accountability, and transforming collaboration.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Factory Walk Reveals Design Flaw
- Don Kieffer recounts a walk through a large Harley-Davidson plant that revealed a chaotic forklift schedule and poor workflow design.
- Observing frontline work closely led him to redesign scheduling, boost productivity, and win employee support.
Handoffs Versus Huddles
- Email overload and meeting bloat stem from using the wrong communication mode: handoffs vs huddles.
- Use handoffs for routine transfers and huddles when conversation is required to solve problems or decide.
Match Meeting Type To Need
- Avoid long email chains when a quick meeting would resolve the issue faster.
- Conversely, skip status meetings that need no discussion and send concise written updates instead.
