Jamie Dimon Advocates for Presence in Meetings

No Phones in Meetings

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, refuses to bring his phone into meetings. He keeps his phone in his office, disabling all notifications except for messages from his three daughters. If someone needs to contact him urgently, they call his office. During meetings, if he notices someone with their eyes on an open screen, he asks them to close it, deeming this behavior "disrespectful".

Lessons About Presence

Dimon emphasizes that it's not about control, but about reclaiming something we have lost in the era of constant connectivity: presence. This personal experience reflects what it truly means to be present both at work and at home. Many of us are tempted to believe that we can manage multiple tasks at once, but science consistently shows us that multitasking is a myth.

The Cost of Attention Splitting

The human brain cannot complete more than one cognitive task at a time. From responding to an email while listening to a presentation to writing a report and checking your inbox, all these activities come with a cost of "switching". Studies suggest that attempts to multitask can lead to a decrease in productivity by up to 40%.

Cultivating Presence in Organizations

Leaders who model presence allow the rest of the team to do the same. By setting a tone from the start, such as putting your phone aside during a meeting, you send a strong message about the importance of the discussion. Therefore, if you want to improve organizational culture, start with your own attention and presence.