Our reading notes

How to Be an Effective Executive

Article by Delian Asparouhov, from lessons with Keith Rabois

Notes on executive attention: gathering information, choosing high-impact activities, managing a calendar, and making meetings serve a clear purpose.

What to look for

01
Audit time against the priorities the leader says matter.
02
Identify whether a meeting is for a decision, operating review, staff coordination, or a one-to-one.

Keep in mind

A startup-oriented interpretation of executive practice. The output formulas are heuristics, not valid measures of individual worth.

Put it to work

Try this next

Categorize last week’s calendar and remove or redesign one meeting that serves no explicit decision or coordination need.

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Notes and exercises by Awesome CTO. The original work belongs to Delian Asparouhov, from lessons with Keith Rabois.

Work through the bigger question.

Our CTO role guide connects the reading to a practical approach and a template.