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In this episode, tech leaders dive into the concept of allowing team members to opt out of meetings to boost productivity and enhance engagement. Ben Shiman, an experienced B2B and e-commerce leader, shares his insights on balancing meeting attendance with focused work time, touching on his own professional journey and some practical strategies for implementation. Learn about the potential pitfalls, the importance of context and communication, and the overall positive impact of granting team members more agency over their schedules.

* Ben Shichman on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benshichman/

* "A World Without Email" by Cal Newport - https://www.amazon.com/World-Without-Email-Reimagining-Communication/dp/0525536558?tag=sommardahl-20

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:07 Ben's Background and Current Focus 02:56 The Importance of Reading and Recommended Books 04:28 Confession Time: Embarrassing Mistakes 07:01 Opting Out of Meetings: Concept and Implementation 10:52 Challenges and Benefits of Opting Out 16:28 Practical Tips for Leaders 23:34 Concluding Thoughts and Final Advice