Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s top 5 work tips to instantly boost productivity and leadership skill

From humble beginnings in India to becoming Alphabet and Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai's journey is not just remarkable but also inspiring to many. But what are the habits and things that Pichai does differently from others that makes him a successful leader? Here we list some of Sundar Pichai's top 5 work tips which he has shared in several earlier interviews. These help him stay calm, focussed, and productive even under pressure-- thus contributing to his success. Read on to know Pichai’s top 5 work tips to instantly boost your productivity and leadership skills:

Sundar Pichai lives by a simple yet powerful leadership principle: make quick decisions, because most of them aren’t permanent. He picked up this habit during his grad school days, and it's something he continues to rely on—especially when the pressure’s high.

Instead of getting bogged down by endless debates or trying to please every viewpoint, Pichai believes in taking action. When teams present conflicting opinions, he moves forward decisively. Why? Because making a decision—any decision—is better than being stuck in uncertainty. It keeps momentum going and helps teams stay focused.

He also reminds us that what feels like a big, risky move in the moment often doesn’t seem as critical in hindsight. For Pichai, mistakes aren’t failures— instead having a growth mindset and by learning from them, one can become better.

Sundar Pichai often credits much of his growth and success as a leader to the late Bill Campbell, who was the former Intuit CEO and advisor to many Silicon Valley leaders. Recalling how Bill Campbell helped him become a better leader, Pichai shared that during his time at Stanford he Campbell would often ask him one question, 'What ties did you break this week?'. That question stuck with Pichai—it taught him a valuable lesson about leadership that great leaders don’t just guide their teams, but they also step in to break deadlocks when needed and give solutions to problems.

Pichai also believes that one should step outside of their comfort zone and keep learning; this will help them stay relevant and grow professionally. One can also do this by being in the company of other high-achieving professionals as they'll inspire and motivate them, Pichai shared on the Lex Fridman podcast.

In the podcast, Pichai also spoke about the importance of loving your job and finding joy in it. Pichai believes that doing meaningful work can make a huge difference in one's professional life.

Having work-life balance is a hot topic today, and Sundar Pichai agrees with it too. While working hard is important, Pichai believes that getting adequate rest is equally important. For Pichai, sleep is one of his top priorities in his routine, and he tries to have atleast six hours of quality sleep every night. This habit helps him stay focussed and more productive.