United CEO caps meetings to 4 hours a day and has a strict rule for PowerPoint presentations: ‘You’re not going to read slides to me’

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has set a limit of four hours of meetings per day in order to maintain focus on important tasks. He discourages lengthy PowerPoint presentations during meetings, preferring to have a meaningful discussion instead. "You’re not going to read slides to me," Kirby insists. The CEO spends about three hours daily reading, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other publications.

This reading habit, according to Kirby, helps him connect dots and identify opportunities that others may overlook. He emphasizes that the goal is not merely managing current operations, but anticipating future industry developments. Kirby's disciplined work schedule, which includes early mornings and dedicated reading time, sets him apart from other airline CEOs who also advocate against excessive meetings.

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan and Delta CEO Ed Bastian share Kirby's sentiment, arguing that a packed calendar does not equate to effective leadership and that the ideal meeting length should be around 10 minutes.