THE RULES OF SUBTRACTIONHow working with less can help you accomplish more

Heidi Joy TrethewayOpenStack Foundation

@heiditretheway

Goal settingTime managementFocus on perfectionPerformance management“Final” product

5 things hinder success:

• People• Money • Time

I wish I had more…

• People Intention• Money Objectives• Time Priorities

I will create stronger…

Lower the bar until you can.

Manage priorities, not time.

Trust the process, not the output.

Find and fix blind spots

Skills

Attitude

A PlayerAll-star

Find and fix blind spots

Skills

Attitude

A PlayerAll-star

D Player

Find and fix blind spots

Skills

Attitude

A PlayerAll-star

D Player

Find and fix blind spots

Skills

Attitude

A PlayerAll-star

B PlayerCultural fit, needs to produce

more

D Player

C PlayerGreat skills, hard to work

with

Find and fix blind spots

Something’s not right

here.

We want to achieve X.

How do we fix it?

Who did it wrong?

Here’s how we’ll do it.

Find and fix blind spots

Something’s not right

here.

We want to achieve X.

How do we fix it?

Who did it wrong?

Here’s how we’ll do it.

Forget the word final.

• Lower the bar to make success a habit and make it more attainable.

• Manage your priorities, not your time. It gives your team permission to say no.

• Trust the process (like fishing) to give your team autonomy and mastery.

• Manage your blind spots and use intention to fix breakdowns.

• Value the version—don’t torture the draft.

TAKEAWAYS