Leadership Capacities

            Steve Jobs exemplifies a moral purpose.   He clearly articulates to his customers and employees that he wants to create the best products for consumers.  His staff is motivated under this goal, but it’s more than just producing a product according to Jobs.  He wants to give back to the “human experience.” (ICON, 2010)  He promotes giving back to the world and contributing “to the higher good.” (ICON, 2010)  Jobs also believes in the change process.  He is an innovator; however, his ideas for innovation do not only come from within, but also with the help of his team of employees.  These employees forecast the changes in the technology field, create products that correlate with that forecast, and make adjustments to challenges as they arise.

            Building relationships has been key in Jobs’ success.  He has managed to gather together a loyal group of employees.  Apple is known for its secrecy of products an element that Jobs has promoted within the company and has been successful through building relationships of trust with his employees.  Apple also has dedicated employees that have stayed with Jobs after his reinstatement as CEO.  Along with this loyalty, Jobs exemplifies the capability to build and share knowledge.  He promotes the sharing of ideas amongst his employees in order to create the best products possible.  A part of his success has come about by surrounding himself and listening to intelligent and creative people.

            Lastly, Jobs demonstrates a coherence making capability.  He has organized Apple so that one person leads each department.  These department leaders meet weekly in order to review the overall goal of the week, and discuss their contribution to it.  He does not rely on committees, but instead individuals.  This method of organization avoids miscommunication and confusion. (Wisher)

Fullan, Michael. (2002).  Principals as Leaders in a Culture of Change. (pp. 5-10).

ICON.  Posted 6/20/10 Retrieved from http://www.iconperformanceonline.com/?p=1283#

Wisher, Kara and Mossberg, Walt. (2010) [Interview with Steve Jobs]  Apple CEO Steve Jobs at D8:     The Full, Uncut Interview

Leadership Qualities

Steve Jobs possess many leadership qualities.  He is known as being motivational.  His presentation of new Apple products creates a “rock star” type atmosphere.  Jobs is usually positioned in front of a giant screen and demonstrates his newest release.  He can excite customers into waiting in line for days outside retail stores for these new products.  He also possesses the quality of an innovator.  His visionary mission results in creative and high quality products, which make him a leader in the industry.  Resilience is a quality that he sustains through professional rejection and personal health problems.

A turning point for Steve Jobs was when he was fired from Apple on September 6, 1985, because of disagreements over the company’s future.  The company that he started was no longer his; he was forced to make difficult decisions about his future.  Another turning point for Jobs was when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.   During his 2005 Stanford Commencement speech, he honestly acknowledges not even knowing what a pancreas was before his diagnosis.  He informed his employees in 2004 of his health problems, but continued to stand as the face of Apple at important speaking events. 

Jobs’ was able to overcome his removal from Apple in 1985.  He came to see this unexpected challenge as an opportunity instead of an obstacle.  It gave him the freedom to be creative without the risk of corporate pressures.  He created NeXT Computer, Inc. and purchased Pixar from George Lucas.  Pixar was an enormous success, and Apple thereafter purchased NeXT.  Jobs’ clear vision is what brought Apple back from the brink of liquidation.  He had the vision to restructure their products, eliminate staff, and lead the company to where he always wanted it to be.  He turned a job loss into a success with perseverance and attitude.  The lesson learned from his health scare is yet to be written.  A liver transplant in 2009 was followed by news of an excellent prognosis, but he has yet to fully discuss its impact on his life.

StanfordUniversity (2008, March 7) Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement

Address [Video file].  Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=steve+jobs&aq=f

Overview

Steve Jobs is the Cofounder and CEO of Apple Computer.  He was born in February 1955, near San Francisco, California, to an unwed, graduate student.  His biological mother gave him up for adoption on the condition that he would be placed with college graduates.  That adoption fell through, and he was instead adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, a machinist and an accountant.  Jobs never had an interest for school, and in fact dropped out of Reed College.  Although he withdrew from college, he continued to attend classes that he appreciated.  He followed his interests and learned about typography and eventually used that early learning in his Mac typeface design.

He started Apple Computer in his parents’ garage with Cofounder Steve Wozniak.  Within ten years the company flourished into a two billion dollar enterprise and over 4000 employees.  However, only after a year of introducing the Macintosh, Apple’s Board of Directors fired him because of divergent goals.  At 30 years old, all his life’s focus was gone.  In months, however, he realized that although his company was gone, his passion for the industry was still strong and in five years he purchased Pixar and created NeXT.   NeXT was bought by Apple in 1996, and Jobs was back again.

From the iPhone to iPad, from iPod nanos to MacBooks, who has not heard of one of the most recognized CEOs in history?  I chose Steve Jobs because of his amazing story of perseverance.  His inner passion to pursue his interests is unyielding.   So much could have gone wrong for him, from infancy to present day, yet his determination to never give up on his dreams is inspiring.  Even today, a pancreatic cancer survivor, Jobs pursues his innovative ideas and pushes Apple to further success.  His commitment to his company, and now to cancer research, is a testament to his resilience.

Dylan Roscover. (2009). Steven Paul Jobs [Digital Image], Retrieved September 25,

2010, from http://dylanroscover.deviantart.com/art/Steven-Paul-Jobs-113968783

StanfordUniversity (2008, March 7) Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement

Address [Video file].  Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=steve+jobs&aq=f

  TAM the apple museum. (1998-2010).  Biography: Steve Jobs – by Darren Vader. 

Retrieved September 25, 2010, from http://www.theapplemuseum.com