One of the biggest complaints of assistants is wasted time meeting....
Thad Wells@ThadWells
72 views
Nov 26, 2025
~2 min read
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One of the biggest complaints of assistants is wasted time meeting.
Jeff Bezos' 6 Meeting Rules is something every head football coach should study.
🧵THREAD
Jeff Bezos' 6 Meeting Rules is something every head football coach should study.
🧵THREAD
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Rule #1: Two-Pizza Size Limit
If your meeting needs more than two pizzas, it's too big.
More than 8 people = nobody talks except the loudest voice.
Keep it to essential staff only. Everyone else gets the memo after.
(Bezos obviously hasn't seen how much a football staff can eat!)
If your meeting needs more than two pizzas, it's too big.
More than 8 people = nobody talks except the loudest voice.
Keep it to essential staff only. Everyone else gets the memo after.
(Bezos obviously hasn't seen how much a football staff can eat!)
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Rule #2: No PowerPoint
Bezos discovered you can hide terrible ideas behind good-looking slides.
Write memos instead using these principles...
Bezos discovered you can hide terrible ideas behind good-looking slides.
Write memos instead using these principles...
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1) Start with the problem (with data).
2) Explain root cause (not symptoms).
3) Present 3 options with pros/cons.
4) Recommend one with clear reasoning.
5) End with WHO does WHAT by WHEN.
6 pages max. Complete sentences. No bullets.
Writing = Clarity
2) Explain root cause (not symptoms).
3) Present 3 options with pros/cons.
4) Recommend one with clear reasoning.
5) End with WHO does WHAT by WHEN.
6 pages max. Complete sentences. No bullets.
Writing = Clarity
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Rule #3: Read the Memo Before the Meeting.
Everyone reads the memo, takes notes and comes prepared to share.
Introverts get time to process. Everyone starts from the same place.
Everyone reads the memo, takes notes and comes prepared to share.
Introverts get time to process. Everyone starts from the same place.
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Rule #4: Leave an Empty Chair
One chair represents your players.
Every decision gets filtered through: "What would the players think?"
Keeps you from making staff-convenient decisions that hurt the team.
One chair represents your players.
Every decision gets filtered through: "What would the players think?"
Keeps you from making staff-convenient decisions that hurt the team.
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Rule #5: Encourage Disagreement, Then Commit
Debate hard during the meeting. Challenge every assumption.
Once decision is made, everyone commits 100%.
No hallway complaints. No undermining. Full buy-in.
Debate hard during the meeting. Challenge every assumption.
Once decision is made, everyone commits 100%.
No hallway complaints. No undermining. Full buy-in.
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Rule #6: End with Clear Ownership
Every meeting ends with WHO does WHAT by WHEN.
Not "we need to fix special teams."
But "Coach Smith installs new punt protection by Thursday practice."
No ambiguity. No dropped balls.
Every meeting ends with WHO does WHAT by WHEN.
Not "we need to fix special teams."
But "Coach Smith installs new punt protection by Thursday practice."
No ambiguity. No dropped balls.
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After installing this system:
Your meetings get cut in half.
Decisions actually stick.
Quiet coaches finally contribute.
You have written record of every decision.
Your meetings get cut in half.
Decisions actually stick.
Quiet coaches finally contribute.
You have written record of every decision.
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If you like this you'll love the War Map calendar system.
I'm doing a free clinic on it in December.
Over 1,000 coaches have signed up.
Learn more at the link in my bio.
🙏
I'm doing a free clinic on it in December.
Over 1,000 coaches have signed up.
Learn more at the link in my bio.
🙏
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Here’s Bezos talking about his perfect “crisp” memo driven meetings…
Thad Wells@ThadWells
Jeff Bezos believes the perfect meeting should start with a "crisp" document.
And it should be written with such clarity that it's like "angels singing from on high".
In this video Bezos details the document behind effective meetings.
▶️ VIDEO
And it should be written with such clarity that it's like "angels singing from on high".
In this video Bezos details the document behind effective meetings.
▶️ VIDEO
