Siemens chief Roland Busch shares seven productivity habits for a hectic schedule

Roland Busch, chief executive of Siemens, detailed seven habits that help him handle a role overseeing more than 300,000 employees and frequent travel. He strives to keep fewer than 100 emails in his inbox, responding quickly and often with a single word. Recurring meetings with direct reports are eliminated; instead, staff approach him only when a genuine need arises.

Drawing on his theoretical-physics training, he breaks complex issues down to core variables before deciding. He pre-plans routine choices like clothing the night before to reduce friction. When flying, he adopts opposite strategies for westward and eastward trips to minimize jet lag, mirroring tactics used by other CEOs. Finally, he reserves time for a hobby—playing guitar—to fully disconnect from work, a practice similar to Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck who flies helicopters to relax.