Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, is widely remembered for a number of things, His signature black turtleneck, his drive for constant innovation, and arguably, his leadership style. Diving into his mystique leadership style, we find ourselves amidst a convergence of relentless passion and groundbreaking vision.
Many past employees have shared their accounts of what he was like to work for- and it wasn’t a walk in the park. He was known for his high expectations, impatience, and relentless passion for his company.
Despite everything, one thing is for sure: Steve Job’s leadership style was effective. Apple tops the list of most successful technology companies of all time, coming ahead of Google, Microsoft, and IBM.
Needless to say, there are so many things you stand to learn from Steve Job’s legendary career. Venture with us as we unearth the facets of the ‘Jobs Legacy,’ a potent blend that redefined the paradigms of modern business innovation.
What Was Steve Jobs’ Leadership Style?
When it comes to the more academic leadership styles, Steve Jobs’s approach is perfectly defined as autocratic. He followed the ‘my way or the highway’ approach to leadership, and believed that he was solely responsible for the direction and decisions of his team.
Steve Jobs knew that he was the one in charge, and he didn’t have to count on collaboration and input from his team to keep things moving forward. He constantly believed that work was more efficient and effective when he made all the choices.
While some people criticized his abrasive management style, there is no arguing that Jobs possessed several qualities that define great executive leaders today. Here are a couple of things you can learn from his leadership qualities.
Steve Jobs Was Demanding
Steve Jobs had a lot of expectations from anyone who worked for him. He was known to set a high bar for his employees and made it clear that they were supposed to meet it if they wanted to maintain their jobs.
He needed from his employees long working hours, sacrifice from their personal lives to help the company realize specific goals, and be people who could contain harsh criticism. Jobs was also incredibly impatient, and wanted his employees to take action right away. He wanted them to work hard, and work hard now.
Steve Jobs Was Innovative
Steve Jobs didn’t only help change tech, he also transformed the world. And you can, he didn’t achieve that by sticking with the status quo. He was a real innovator and had a very specific vision for the future of Apple. Jobs reportedly saw a future with a computer on every worker’s desk, and he tirelessly pursued that vision.
Steve Jobs Was Passionate
Aside from being demanding and passionate, Steve Jobs was passionate. He loved his work and loved creating something out of nothing. Jobs believed in his vision and his ability to turn ideas into realities. With his passion, he wasn’t easily deterred, even when the company faced lawsuits and severe financial setbacks.
In Conclusion
Steve Jobs’ approach to leadership wasn’t without its flaws, and it certainly doesn’t need to be emulated exactly. But there are a host of lessons you can extract form how he led his team and company. For starters, you should always hire the right people and push your employees to be their best.
One of the most remarkable things about Steve Jobs was that he didn’t expect his employees to live up to values that he didn’t embody himself. In short, you should lead by example to get the most from your team.
