http://www.airlinereporter.com/2014/07/tips-for-success-from-delta-air-lines-ceo-richard-anderson/
1. Know when to say “no”
Perhaps the best advice for time and workload management – know when to say no. This is a tough lesson to learn as, in school, we are taught to be “yes men” which ultimately leads to being overextended and less effective. Anderson framed this tip in the context of declining meeting invites, which as the leader of a multi-national airline, he must receive many.
The intent of the tip carries well beyond meeting invites, however. For leaders this means trusting that you have hired and developed a team capable of being self-sufficient. For knowledge workers, it’s knowing when to push back so we can focus on those projects with the highest priority and best outcomes. Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates would agree: “My success, part of it certainly, is that I have focused in on a few things.”