Meetings Are Not Work: Southwest Airlines CEO Blocks Calendar to Regain Lost Time

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan has expressed concern about the proliferation of meetings in the workplace. Jordan argues that many leaders mistake constant activity in meetings for true leadership. In an intervention at the New York Times DealBook Summit in December 2025, Jordan stated: "When you start, it's easy to confuse being busy and attending meetings with leadership."

Jordan emphasizes that excessive meetings prevent productive work, which is the fundamental task of a CEO. Therefore, he has taken measures to protect his time and focus on the tasks that require his exclusive attention. This stance reflects a growing concern for efficiency and productivity in the business world.

For 2026, Jordan plans to keep his calendar completely clear every afternoon of Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, blocking any meeting requests during those hours. He acknowledges that this measure might seem unusual to some executives. However, he justifies his approach based on the need for CEOs to concentrate on the tasks that only they can perform.

Jordan seeks to create a space for individual work and reflection, allowing him to focus on priorities and communicate with key people. This strategy aims to optimize his time and ensure that the most important tasks receive the necessary attention.

Despite a challenging 2025 for the airline industry, Southwest Airlines managed to obtain unexpected profits in its October 2025 quarterly report. The company's stock price has increased approximately 16.5% year-over-year. This financial success could be an indication of the effectiveness of Jordan's strategy to optimize his time and the company's productivity.

The company has not issued any additional comments on the matter. The situation at Southwest Airlines contrasts with the growing widespread frustration in the workplace, where excessive meetings are a common complaint.

Jordan's frustration is shared by many workers and executives, as meetings have become a common problem. During the pandemic, meetings took on a role of emotional support, replacing in-person interactions. A 2024 Atlassian study, which surveyed 5,000 workers across four continents, revealed that almost 80% of people feel overwhelmed by the number of meetings and calls, preventing them from doing their real work.

The study also indicates that 72% of meetings are considered ineffective. This situation has led to a growing number of executives reducing or eliminating meetings from corporate schedules, even establishing meeting-free days. However, some experts warn that eliminating meetings altogether could affect the sense of belonging and backfire in the long run.

Other CEOs have adopted unconventional approaches to address the problem of excessive meetings. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, does not have one-on-one meetings with his more than 50 direct reports, as he believes this would overload his schedule and slow down the team's ability to solve problems and maintain transparency. Huang stated at Stanford University last year that his company is designed for agility and the rapid circulation of information.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has adopted a more direct approach, urging employees to question the need for each meeting and emphasizing punctuality, purpose, and follow-up. Dimon has emphasized that meetings must demand the full attention of participants, without distractions.