Siemens CEO Roland Busch has 7 strategies for getting things done — including 2-letter emails

Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens, manages a large organization with over 300,000 employees and deals with a high volume of emails each day. He has developed seven strategies to help him stay organized and efficient, which other successful CEOs also follow.

1. Keep the inbox below 100 emails: Busch aims to maintain fewer than 100 messages in his inbox at any given time, responding quickly to prevent the pile-up of unread emails.

2. Use as few words as possible in replies: Busch often responds with simple "OK" or "No" replies, relying on his team to understand the context when he needs to provide a longer response.

3. Don't schedule meetings just to schedule meetings: Busch avoids having recurring meetings with his direct reports and instead asks them to come to him when needed. This approach helps him focus on what truly needs to be accomplished rather than attending unnecessary meetings.

4. Strip complicated problems down to their core issues: Busch's background in theoretical physics helps him simplify complex problems by focusing on the most critical variables and separating them from less important aspects.

5. Eliminate decisions you can make ahead of time: Busch prepares for the following day by laying out his clothing the night before, ensuring a smooth start to his day. This strategy can also be applied to other decisions in life.

6. Create protocols for recurring situations: Due to his extensive travel, Busch has established different rules for dealing with jet lag depending on the direction of his flights. He tries to maintain a consistent routine while adapting to new time zones.

7. Find activities to help you switch off: Although Busch is focused on efficiency, he also has a rule for disconnecting from work. He recently returned to playing guitar after a long hiatus and finds that playing the instrument for a few minutes can greatly improve his mood.