Summary4 min read

Becker Business Podcast

Host: Scott Becker
Episode: 4 Concepts to Reduce Time in Meetings – 5-13-26
Date: May 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker shares practical strategies for reducing time spent in meetings and managing a packed schedule. Drawing from personal experience, Becker presents four concise concepts that help professionals maintain focus, respect their bandwidth, and prioritize impactful interactions. The discussion is candid, relatable, and oriented toward helping listeners protect their time and energy in business environments where requests for meetings and attention can be overwhelming.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Saying “No”

Scott opens up about the ongoing challenge of overcommitting to small, low-impact meetings and tasks.
He frames the episode around practical methods for learning to decline or redirect requests in a respectful, efficient way.

"This is one of the kinds of things that I'm constantly working on trying to get better at is I fill myself up with so many small and unimportant meetings and events…"
— Scott Becker, [00:57]

2. The Four Concepts for Reducing Meeting Time

1. Expressing Bandwidth Limitations

Strategy: Be direct about current workload.
Recommended phrase:
“I don't have the bandwidth for that right now.”

“First is to say I don't have the bandwidth for that right now.”
— Scott Becker, [01:16]

2. Defaulting to Shorter Introductory Calls

Strategy: Set clear expectations for the length of meetings, especially introductory ones, to 10 minutes instead of the usual 30.
This helps minimize disruptions and allows for more efficient networking.
Emphasized as a flexible rule, not an absolute.

“I try and do 10 minute introductory calls...I want somebody to know we're getting on for 10 minutes, not 30 minutes.”
— Scott Becker, [01:27]

3. Declining Demos That Aren’t a Fit

Strategy: Turn down invites for demonstrations that won’t be useful, saving time for both parties.
Becker points out the futility of attending demos he cannot meaningfully participate in.
Notable use of humor and candor illustrating his feelings about non-value-adding demos.

“It's not a good use of your time or my time to have me watch your demo, which I think is very true... When people start to show me demos, I literally want to shoot myself...it might feel good for them to show it to me, but it's useless because I can't understand or utilize the demo.”
— Scott Becker, [01:54]

4. Optimizing for Phone Instead of In-Person Meetings

Strategy: Whenever possible, request phone calls rather than more time-consuming in-person meetings.
This maintains accessibility while conserving time.

“Can we do that by phone, not in person.”
— Scott Becker, [02:33]

3. Becker’s Summary of Concepts

Becker restates the four concepts:
- "I don't have the bandwidth."
- "Can we do a 10 minute call?"
- "Don't show me a demo."
- "Can we do that by phone instead of in person?"

“Those are four concepts that I'm trying to use to sort of better manage my energy, better manage how I handle things…”
— Scott Becker, [02:39]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On self-awareness:
- “This is one of the kinds of things that I'm constantly working on trying to get better at…”
  — [00:57]
On the awkwardness of demos:
- “When people start to show me demos, I literally want to shoot myself because...they're wasting their time too.”
  — [02:10]
On protecting your time and energy:
- “Those are four concepts that I'm trying to use to sort of better manage my energy, better manage how I handle things.”
  — [02:39]

Timestamps for Key Segments

[00:57] – Episode begins; Scott discusses the problem of overcommitting.
[01:16] – First concept: Saying “I don’t have the bandwidth for that right now.”
[01:27] – Second concept: Making intro calls only 10 minutes.
[01:54] – Third concept: Declining non-useful demos.
[02:33] – Fourth concept: Favoring phone over in-person meetings.
[02:39] – Recap and Becker’s closing thoughts.

Tone and Takeaways

Scott Becker’s approach is straightforward, self-reflective, and laced with his characteristic dry humor. This episode provides a quick yet valuable toolkit for professionals looking to guard their schedules and focus on work that matters. Becker emphasizes respect for both his own time and that of others, offering actionable language that listeners can immediately adopt.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone struggling with calendar overload or seeking permission to prioritize their own bandwidth.

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Transcript4 lines

[00:00]
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[00:30]
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[00:57]
C
This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business and the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Today's discussion is Learning to say no. So this is one of the kinds of things that I'm constantly working on trying to get better at is I fill myself up with so many small and unimportant meetings and events that and things on my task list. So I'm working on these concepts. Here are four ways to say no. First is to say I don't have the bandwidth for that right now. The second thing that I work on saying is, and I've really worked this into my schedule more recently is I try and do 10 minute introductory calls. And that that being in concept that like I want somebody to know we're getting on for 10 minutes, not 30 minutes. And again, these are rules. They're not meant where they can't be broken. But the first two concepts are to say I don't have the bandwidth through there right now. The second one is I try and do 10 minute intro calls. The third concept that I talk about is all of people in technology fields or health tech wanting to show me demos. A lot of people in clinical fields wanted to show me demos of what they're doing. And what I've learned to say is it's not a good use of your time or my time to have me watch your demo, which I think is very true. The demo's gonna be lost on me. They might feel good. Like this old adage, something feels good, but it's really not rain but somebody pissing on your leg. When people start to show me demos, I literally want to shoot myself because and they're wasting their time too. It might feel good for them to show it to me, but it's useless because I can't understand or utilize the demo. And so the third thing I've learned normally saying is it's not a good use of your time or my time to show me a demo. The final thing that I've worked towards and again with trying to be respectful to people inaccessible is can we do that by phone, not in person. And so those are four concepts that I'm trying to use to sort of better manage my energy, better manage how I handle things. Again, I don't have the bandwidth. Can we do a 10 minute call? Don't show me a demo. And we do that by phone instead of in person. Those are for the concepts. Four concepts that working on to reduce time spent. Thank you for listening to the Becker business and the Becker Private equity podcast.
[03:17]
A
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