Steve Jobs was one of the best - Free Essay Example

Many individuals would say that Steve Jobs was one of the best in the business when it came to leadership. However, many others would beg to differ on this statement. Jobs was changing perceptions in so many areas and creating movements like none other before, yet he lacked skills in other areas. Jobs leadership style is very difficult to point towards one direction, because he had such a broad spectrum of traits that were taken from different attributes instead of just one style. In 1976, Steve Jobs co-founded the company that is so prevalent today (recently becoming the most influential company in the world according to the US stock market), Apple. In 1984, the Macintosh was created by his team, which was the first ?small computer that contained a graphic interface. In 1985, Jobs was forced out of the company he created after an internal tussle with the, at the time, CEO. 12 years after this, Jobs eventually returned to Apple in order to turn the company around after it had dropped to such a low, that it was thought the company would soon be obsolete. While Jobs was away from Apple, he created other ventures to pass the time. Creating. successful companies such as Pixar and NeXT, he was able to continue his leadership legacy. Both companies were later acquired by Disney and Apple, respectively. When Jobs finally returned to Apple from his hiatus, he created tech staples such as the Ipod, Iphone, and Ipad. Devices that are common in many households around the world today. Steve Jobs was also well known for his excellent product launches and speeches which would captivate audiences. He was often thought of as the ?salesperson of Apple. He had such a pull, on different people that it created a great following for all companies he lead and managed. Unfortunately, this all came to an end when Steve Jobs lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. Although he may no longer be present, his legacy lives on in the companies and products he helped create. Great characteristics of a leaders are never difficult to identify. Drive, self-confidence, integrity, and knowledge of business are areas that exceptional leaders excel. Steve Jobs was fortunate enough to have all of the previously described characteristics. Jobs was a very driven individual, not for money, or power, but for the need t o have perfection in everything he did. Jobs had believed that power is a necessity for what actually drove him: achievement itself. Jobs persistence was shown even more after leaving Apple. Steve could have spent his life dwelling over his loss, but instead he created two new, very successful companies. Maybe this drive is why Forbes named Jobs 2007s most powerful person in business. Integrity was important to Jobs; his drive would push him to live up to what he promised. At times, following through with his promise would not always come out in the nicest way. Jobs was known to be difficult to get along with, especially in team meetings. Steve Jobs self-confidence was over flowing and considered arrogant by some, but he always believed in what he was trying to accomplish. Jobs knowledge of his business was extraordinary, revolutionizing technology at every turn. One of Jobs greatest quotes on leadership is Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower (Jobs, 2006). Steve Jobs leadership style is very difficult to clearly identify. Jobs characteristics and traits sporadically fit into different leadership styles. Jobs would be classified as an autocratic leader, he tells people what to do, asserting themselves, and serving as a model team member. Jobs was definitely not a democratic leader, it has been said that Jobs hated team meetings and was rather rude when employees spoke their mind. Steve Jobs could also be classified as entrepreneurial, despite the fact that he is a multibillionaire, his work ethic never changed. Andrew Dubrin defines an entrepreneur as someone with a strong will for achievement and a sensible risk taking, high degree of enthusiasm, tendency to act quickly on opportunity, being impatient, visionary, amongst others (Dubrin, 2010). Dubrins definition describes Steve Jobs to a tee. A transformational leader is one who brings about major, positive change for the group, organization or society (Dubrin, 2010). Jobs leadership showed many similarities to a transformational leader except one, Jobs lacked the humane qualities necessary. Jobs could also be considered a charismatic leader. Steves exceptional ability to captivate his audience during a speech is the time his charisma can be clearly seen. Jobs could fit himself into whichever scenario necessary to reach his audience. The charismatic leader inculcates trust, affection and loyalty among followers, whilst they experience a high sense of involvement and self-worth by aligning with the leaders value system, ideology and ambitions. By invoking self-vision the leader shares values and work role identities of the group, which evokes a feeling of pride among followers about the meaning and importance of their roles. Strong charismatic leader Steven (Steve) Paul Jobs, the famous CEO of Apple Inc. † is widely recognized as a ?strong charismatic leader in the technology and entertainment industry. Charisma, a gift given to few people, nature bestowed that on Steve Jobs, along with a spellbinding ability to captivate a crowd. Born as an orphan, from the age of 17 Steve was constantly reminded If you live each day as if it was your last day, someday youll most certainly be right. Since then, he questioned himself, If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? If the answer was No for too many days in a row, he knew he needed to change something. He said, Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. Pulling Apple out of crisis Steve co-founded Apple Computer in his garage with friend Steve Wozniak on April 1976, revolutionizing computing in the 1970s and ?80s with the ?Apple II and ?Macintosh, which, for the first time, made it possible for average people to use computers at home. Steves charismatic personality has pulled Apple through crises, periods of change, and even compelled employees to work 90-hour weeks (joyfully) in order to meet seemingly impossible deadlines. Following Apple II, Jobs was acclaimed as the ?young prince of technology and attracted national media attention for his meteoric rise. Unlike social charisma which often draws on followers low self-esteem, business charisma is more vision and goal oriented. Jobs grand imagery at press and product announcements were inspirational and are often used today in experiments to measure the effects of inspiration on participants. By 1985, despite initial positive reviews, Jobs Macintosh was a commercial failure. Jobs was finally dismissed as the head of the Macintosh division. His charisma, conviction, and dominating influence also contributed him to be fired from Apple when he adamantly refused to change the course he believed Apple needed to go. Jobs dismissal from Apple prompted him to enter one of the most creative periods of his life, mastering the art of producing animated films. During his tenure at NEXT, Jobs communicated the grand vision for NEXT not in terms of financial performance, but as a mission to revolutionize the educational system of a nation. Jobs offered world shaping visions, fulfilling the key charismatic behaviors within a company-changing setup to a world-changing framework. Steve was invited to rejoin Apple in 1997 and realizing that the company was only months away from insolvency, requested the Board of Directors for a salary of only US$1. Over the next few months, he started from ?scratch and conducted a ?one man focus group of the entire company, deciding which divisions to save and which to close. Jobs exhibited outstanding leadership qualities and slashed Apples product matrix to only four products, arresting financial bleeding and stabilizing the companys ?bottom line. Being rejected by his own company and twelve years in the Wilderness has ?humanized Steve. While he retained his edge, energy, and charisma that drove him in his youth, learned to let others step in and lead to help fulfill his vision. Jobs ability to establish and maintain a powerful ?charismatic image with followers was a combination of a salesmans enthusiasm for the product, an evangelists bible-thumping passion, a zealots singularity of purpose, and a poor kids determination to make his business a success. Steve brought a new leadership style by leveraging a revolutionary vision to create a company with a cult-like following invoking personal an d emotional appeals combined with a radical, world changing vision. In the past, he used his charisma and desire for perfection to control people and command their respect. Later on he used his charisma to lead, but has learned to earn respect by allowing others to work with him. Integration into the system Although charisma could help organizations and nations to be elevated to higher levels, generally charisma is a largely an unstable force that is likely to fade away fast. Hence it is important that consequences of charismatic leadership outlive the charismatic leader, for long term organizational sustainability. The level of energy, values and positive consequences of charismatic leadership continuity within an organization well after the leaders departure depends on to the extent how well those are integrated into the daily routines and practices of the organizations by implementing appropriate policy, legal and regulatory frame works. Jobs left his company in the best shape of its life, with a top-selling product lineup, an enviable management team and an invincible aura of cool. Jobs genius was never in the logistics of running a company; it was the yeses and nos of knowing which visions to pursue and which to abandon. He was doing that almost right up to his death. Apple has a strong talent pool of engineers and designers, but Tim Cooks (present CEO) operational genius will only be able to squeeze out so many efficiencies from the current product lineup. To keep its hot streak going, Apple will have to prove it can still innovate. Steve Jobs is such an exceptional businessman, leader, and innovator. I have enjoyed learning more about his leadership and his career. Jobs has made me realize that there is no cookie cutter style of leadership that one person can follow. I found it helpful to relate different leadership styles to an actual person. To have a detailed explanation about how the text about leadership changes into real life is useful. He has made me open my eyes to the possibility that no one leadership position is more effective than another. Jobs was not necessarily the warmest of bosses yet he was still able to find that personal connection with his customers. Steve Jobs was able to interest and excite the consumer to have his latest miracle. Not every leader is great at everything, even the best struggle with certain aspects of their leadership. For me, I can see how the lessons that I have learned in my research will apply in my future. I have learned not to ever give up, always keep your eyes focused on the goal ahead. No matter how big or small the project is, the end goal is the same; success. Steve Jobs ability to rise above disappointment or despair and move on with such drive to succeed is extraordinary. This drive has motivated me to want to strive for the same. Steve Jobs has given me the examples of leadership that shows that how a strong leader can revolutionize the world. Think of how many homes have Iphones, Ipads, Ipods, or any other Apple product in their home. The products have become the norm in many homes. What a feeling of accomplishment Steve Jobs must have felt. All of his hard work and ingenuity is shown in the excitement his customers show with his inventions. I would consider Steve Jobs to be one of the most effective leaders that I have had the pleasure of researching. Being able to overcome being pushed out of the company that he co-founded is unbelievable. Only to later come back to that company and be able to turn around the sinking company. What a display of true leadership Steve Jobs showed the country. Steve was able to show not only his fellow Apple employees but everyone in the world how drive and perseverance can inspire anyone to reach for the stars.