Meetings which require group thinking and discussion to make decisions and are going to be really mentally-challenging, those meetings are known as High-IQ meetings.Meetings are all about teams and collaboration and if you want your group to be at their best, you need to find a time where everyone can have optimal chance to be fully wake up and get the blood flowing.

'High-IQ Meetings'

"I like to do my high-IQ meetings before lunch, Anything that's going to be really mentally challenging--that's a 10 o'clock meeting. Because by 5 p.m., I'm like, 'I can't think about that today. Let's try this again tomorrow at 10.'"

<ul><li>Get enough sleep</li><li>Feed your soul</li><li>Identify your priorities</li></ul>

3 ways to make High-IQ meetings count

<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy-sleep/sleep-science/the-science-of-sleep-understanding-what-happens-when-you-sleep">Research indicates that good sleep is vital for "brain plasticity,"</a> the brain's ability to learn and adapt.A good night's sleep also helps you concentrate better when you're awake, while reducing unforced errors and irritability. So, view getting enough sleep as a sound investment.

Get Enough Sleep

Before starting your work, take out some time for yourself, figure out what would help you, your body, and your mind. <ul><li>Is it a workout? </li><li>Some time to reflect and meditate? </li><li>Or, a good breakfast with your loved ones?</li></ul>By feeding your soul first, you'll be prepared to do great work.

Feed your soul

Sometimes we confuse feeling productive with being productive. You might jump into your workday and knock out a bunch of small tasks.Completing this type of work isn't wrong; it's often necessary. But these are tasks that can often be completed quickly, later in the day.This gives you time to focus your prime thinking time on the more important decisions.The more responsibility you have, the more important focus becomes. So, identify your most important decisions for today, and make those your priority.

Identify your priorities

<figure><picture><source media="(max-width:600px)" srcset="https://www.incimages.com/uploaded_files/image/970x450/getty_1032942784_200013332000928022_369798.jpg"><source media="(min-width:601px)" srcset="https://www.incimages.com/uploaded_files/image/1920x1080/getty_1032942784_200013332000928022_369798.jpg"><img src="https://www.incimages.com/uploaded_files/image/1920x1080/getty_1032942784_200013332000928022_369798.jpg" alt="Jeff Bezos." width="635" height="357"></picture><figcaption dir="auto">Jeff Bezos.</figcaption></figure>In his quest to build the retail behemoth we know as Amazon, <a href="https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/amazon-jeff-bezos-healthcare-formula-success-1-sentence.html" dir="ltr">company founder and CEO Jeff Bezos </a>has&nbsp;sat in on thousands of meetings--and learned a few things along the way. That's why I'm always curious to hear insights Bezos has to share about <a href="https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/jeff-bezos-knows-how-to-run-a-meeting-here-are-his-three-simple-rules.html" dir="ltr">the way he and his company hold meetings.</a>Well, in a&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/xv_vkA0jsyo" dir="ltr">recent interview with the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.,</a>&nbsp;Bezos provided&nbsp;an interesting window into his thinking, namely, that he avoids afternoon meetings whenever discussing major issues."I like to do my high-IQ meetings before lunch," Bezos said. "Anything that's going to be really mentally challenging--that's a 10 o'clock meeting. Because by 5&nbsp;p.m., I'm like, 'I can't think about that today. Let's try this again tomorrow at 10.'"This "before lunch" meeting rule is not only brilliant, it's <a href="https://www.eqapplied.com/" dir="ltr">emotionally intelligent.</a>Think about it: Have you ever noticed how clearly you think after a good night's rest? Or how the longer you work, your productivity&nbsp;begins to sink?Now, wait a sec, you say. What if I do my best work in the evening?&nbsp;That's great if you're doing creative or independent work. But meetings are all about teams&nbsp;and collaboration. So&nbsp;if you need to make decisions that require group thinking and discussion, you want your group to be at their best. And that 10 a.m. slot gives everyone the optimal chance to fully wake up and get the blood flowing.Of course, it's not just about the scheduling. Bezos went on to explain&nbsp;three ways&nbsp;to make those high-IQ meetings count:<h2>1. Get enough sleep.</h2>Bezos says he prioritizes getting eight hours of sleep a night so he can be in the right frame of mind while at work."I think better, I have more energy, my mood is better--all these things [when I get the full eight hours]," Bezos explains. "And think about it: As a senior executive, what do you really get paid to do? You get paid to make a small number of high-quality decisions. Your job is not to make thousands of decisions every day. Is that really worth it if the quality of these decisions might be lower because you're tired or grouchy or any number of things?"<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy-sleep/sleep-science/the-science-of-sleep-understanding-what-happens-when-you-sleep" dir="ltr">Research indicates&nbsp;that good sleep is vital for "brain plasticity,"</a> the brain's ability to learn and adapt. A good night's sleep also helps you concentrate better when you're awake, while reducing unforced&nbsp;errors and irritability. So, view getting enough sleep as a sound investment.<h2>2. Feed your soul&nbsp;first.</h2>Before Bezos even starts his workday, he takes time for himself and his family."I like to read the newspaper, I like to have coffee, I like to have breakfast with my kids before they go to school," says Bezos. "So, I have my puttering time--it's very important to me."Of course, your circumstances may not allow you to take as much time as Bezos&nbsp;does in the mornings--but the point is to figure out what would help you, your body, and your mind. Is it a workout? Some time to reflect and meditate? Or, like Bezos, a&nbsp;good breakfast with your loved ones?By feeding your soul first, you'll be prepared to do great work.<h2>3. Identify your priorities.</h2>Sometimes we confuse&nbsp;feeling&nbsp;productive with&nbsp;being&nbsp;productive.&nbsp;You might jump into your workday and knock out a bunch of small tasks. You might answer 20 emails or decide on a number of small matters that vary in importance.Completing this type of work isn't wrong; it's often necessary. But these are tasks that can often be completed quickly, later in the day. This gives you time to focus your prime thinking time on the more important decisions."If I make three good decisions a day, that's enough," says Bezos. "And they should just be as high quality as I can make them."The more responsibility you have, the more important focus becomes. So, identify your most important decisions for today, and make those your priority.&nbsp;So, there you have it. Want to have higher-quality meetings and make better decisions?Be sure to:<UL><LI>Get enough sleep</LI><LI>Feed your soul</LI><LI>Identify your priorities</LI><LI>Schedule your high-IQ meetings for 10 a.m.</LI></UL>Do this, and you'll start to take control, make the most of your time, and completely transform the potential of&nbsp;your&nbsp;meetings.<div>Sep 17, 2018</div><figcaption class="caption" dir="ltr">Like this column? Sign up to <a href="https://www.eqapplied.com/newsletter" title="Subscribe to this Inc. author's newsletter for more great content" rel="noreferrer noopener" dir="ltr">subscribe to email alerts</a> and you'll never miss a post.</figcaption><figcaption class="caption">The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.</figcaption><cnx>INC. TOP ARTICLES</cnx><img src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-410f5632-726e-414b-a021-8f0a993c478b/f33cb1b6-6f92-422d-a6ef-236664bab1e0/aaf7d29e-0c88-4e78-b30c-4a5a11b77429.jpg?crop=508:286,smart&amp;width=508&amp;height=286&amp;format=jpeg&amp;quality=60&amp;fit=crop" alt="How Temporary Pandemic Modifications Will Evolve in the Future of Restaurants" width="508" height="286"><img src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-410f5632-726e-414b-a021-8f0a993c478b/f33cb1b6-6f92-422d-a6ef-236664bab1e0/b0f8ae6f-0125-478d-a521-d54836ad51cc.jpg?crop=508:286,smart&amp;width=508&amp;height=286&amp;format=jpeg&amp;quality=60&amp;fit=crop" alt="How Emotionally Intelligent People Use the American Airlines Rule&nbsp;to Become Exceptional Leaders" width="508" height="286"><img src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-410f5632-726e-414b-a021-8f0a993c478b/f33cb1b6-6f92-422d-a6ef-236664bab1e0/1e23d97c-2ca7-405f-987d-50dcddad080f.jpg?crop=508:286,smart&amp;width=508&amp;height=286&amp;format=jpeg&amp;quality=60&amp;fit=crop" alt="Behind the Brand with Robb Wolf" width="508" height="286"><img src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-410f5632-726e-414b-a021-8f0a993c478b/f33cb1b6-6f92-422d-a6ef-236664bab1e0/dcfa9686-ad44-425f-9318-a25c4c0416ad.jpg?crop=508:286,smart&amp;width=508&amp;height=286&amp;format=jpeg&amp;quality=60&amp;fit=crop" alt="These Small Changes to Your Weekend Routine Will Super-Charge Your Week, According to Brain Science" width="508" height="286"><img src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-410f5632-726e-414b-a021-8f0a993c478b/f33cb1b6-6f92-422d-a6ef-236664bab1e0/b767f48a-defb-4e78-ba08-d40d55d680af.jpg?crop=508:286,smart&amp;width=508&amp;height=286&amp;format=jpeg&amp;quality=60&amp;fit=crop" alt="Workers Increasingly Prefer Phones to Zoom. What This Means for Your Hybrid Workplace" width="508" height="286">

In a recent interview, Bezos shared some tips on how to make "high-IQ" meetings count.

In his quest to build the retail behemoth we know as Amazon, <a href="https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/amazon-jeff-bezos-healthcare-formula-success-1-sentence.html">company founder and CEO Jeff Bezos </a>has sat in on thousands of meetings--and learned a few things along the way. That's why I'm always curious to hear insights Bezos has to share about <a href="https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/jeff-bezos-knows-how-to-run-a-meeting-here-are-his-three-simple-rules.html">the way he and his company hold meetings. </a>

Well, in a <a href="https://youtu.be/xv_vkA0jsyo">recent interview with the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., </a> Bezos provided an interesting window into his thinking, namely, that he avoids afternoon meetings whenever discussing major issues.

"I like to do my high-IQ meetings before lunch," Bezos said. "Anything that's going to be really mentally challenging--that's a 10 o'clock meeting. Because by 5 p.m., I'm like, 'I can't think about that today. Let's try this again tomorrow at 10.'"

This "before lunch" meeting rule is not only brilliant, it's <a href="https://www.eqapplied.com/">emotionally intelligent. </a>

Think about it: Have you ever noticed how clearly you think after a good night's rest? Or how the longer you work, your productivity begins to sink?

Now, wait a sec, you say. What if I do my best work in the evening?

That's great if you're doing creative or independent work. But meetings are all about teams and collaboration. So if you need to make decisions that require group thinking and discussion, you want your group to be at their best. And that 10 a.m. slot gives everyone the optimal chance to fully wake up and get the blood flowing.

Of course, it's not just about the scheduling. Bezos went on to explain three ways to make those high-IQ meetings count:

Bezos says he prioritizes getting eight hours of sleep a night so he can be in the right frame of mind while at work.

"I think better, I have more energy, my mood is better--all these things [when I get the full eight hours]," Bezos explains. "And think about it: As a senior executive, what do you really get paid to do? You get paid to make a small number of high-quality decisions. Your job is not to make thousands of decisions every day. Is that really worth it if the quality of these decisions might be lower because you're tired or grouchy or any number of things?"

<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy-sleep/sleep-science/the-science-of-sleep-understanding-what-happens-when-you-sleep">Research indicates that good sleep is vital for "brain plasticity," </a>the brain's ability to learn and adapt. A good night's sleep also helps you concentrate better when you're awake, while reducing unforced errors and irritability. So, view getting enough sleep as a sound investment.

Before Bezos even starts his workday, he takes time for himself and his family.

"I like to read the newspaper, I like to have coffee, I like to have breakfast with my kids before they go to school," says Bezos. "So, I have my puttering time--it's very important to me."

Of course, your circumstances may not allow you to take as much time as Bezos does in the mornings--but the point is to figure out what would help you, your body, and your mind. Is it a workout? Some time to reflect and meditate? Or, like Bezos, a good breakfast with your loved ones?

By feeding your soul first, you'll be prepared to do great work.

Sometimes we confuse feeling  productive with being  productive.

You might jump into your workday and knock out a bunch of small tasks. You might answer 20 emails or decide on a number of small matters that vary in importance.

Completing this type of work isn't wrong; it's often necessary. But these are tasks that can often be completed quickly, later in the day. This gives you time to focus your prime thinking time on the more important decisions.

"If I make three good decisions a day, that's enough," says Bezos. "And they should just be as high quality as I can make them."

The more responsibility you have, the more important focus becomes. So, identify your most important decisions for today, and make those your priority.

So, there you have it. Want to have higher-quality meetings and make better decisions?

<ul><li>Get enough sleep </li><li>Feed your soul </li><li>Identify your priorities </li><li>Schedule your high-IQ meetings for 10 a.m. </li> </ul>

Do this, and you'll start to take control, make the most of your time, and completely transform the potential of your  meetings.

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career

Jeff Bezos Schedules His Most Important Meetings at 10 a.m. Here's Why You Should Too

'High-IQ Meetings'

JEFF BEZOS

3 ways to make High-IQ meetings count

Get Enough Sleep

Feed your soul

Identify your priorities

IDEAS ABOUT

MORE LIKE THIS

There are 2 types of confidence. Here's the one that Jeff Bezos has—and why people judge you on it the most

Jeff Bezos and his 2-Pizza Rule

Research Agrees With Jeff Bezos That This Is the Most Important Quality for Success

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

Bite-sized knowledgeto upgradeyour career

Jeff Bezos Schedules His Most Important Meetings at 10 a.m. Here's Why You Should Too

'High-IQ Meetings'

JEFF BEZOS

3 ways to make High-IQ meetings count

Get Enough Sleep

Feed your soul

Identify your priorities

IDEAS ABOUT

MORE LIKE THIS

There are 2 types of confidence. Here's the one that Jeff Bezos has—and why people judge you on it the most

Jeff Bezos and his 2-Pizza Rule

Research Agrees With Jeff Bezos That This Is the Most Important Quality for Success

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career