5 Leadership Skills That Made Steve Jobs Transform Apple
Steve Jobs is one of the most influential personalities of the 21st century. His innovations at Apple have inspired hundreds of entrepreneurs to follow in his footsteps. Everybody wants to come up with something as valuable as iPad and iPhone devices. The need to emulate Steve’s success goes further than that.
There are those who copy his mannerisms and casual fashion style. That’s why many CEOs hold meetings dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt instead of a formal suit. He wouldn’t make Apple one of the most profitable companies in history if he weren’t able to lead the right way. There are a couple of skills people can learn to become more like Steve Jobs.
Don’t Let Setbacks Beat You Down
There’s no denying that life is not a series of successes. You might be an aspiring businessman creating an online startup – but also currently thinking, “I need help writing my resume for me.” Even Jobs had a couple of failures during his career at Apple. But, he was to admit them and move on. His philosophy was that it’s better to improve other products than lament failed ones.
There would be no iPad and iPhone without the misfires of Apple III, Powermac G4 Cube, and Macintosh TV. Nowadays, nobody remembers the failed products, but others are sold around the world. There are a few things leaders need to achieve their goals:
- The courage to take risks
- A willingness to challenge trends
- Conducting intensive studies and research
- The patience to learn from different methods
Innovative leaders have no problem being viewed as crazy or different. Their ideas may not seem rational or realistic for an average person. But, they should be followed through.
Finding Meaningful Work
At the end of the day, people have to realize that having meaningful relationships is more important than material rewards. But, too many are enticed by the offer of social status and wealth. As a result, they give up the actually important things. Leaders have to place people before money gains.
When people focus on money, they lose sight of non-material meaningful things in life. That’s why it’s important to follow natural inclinations and find a career path that suits you. This is a better approach than looking for a path that only offers financial rewards. You’ll be happier in life when seeing your life goals achieved. This is something that money can never buy.
Live Up To Your Standards
Many believe that they should strive for excellence only with their colleagues or in the workplace. But, people rarely apply the same standards to themselves. There are times when they cut corners when nobody is around. They also look the other way when something hinders their work. Do like Jobs and stick to standards even when no one is looking.
Apple’s chief applied these CEO skills even to the smallest details. Of course, there’s no need to set personal and professional standards in an exact manner. They have to be shaped by your background, environment, and influences. It’s often the people you work with that will have you striving for excellence or try to bring you down to their level.
Practice Innovation
There are many stories of pioneers who dreamed bigger and never let anybody get in their way. Everybody knows the names of Alexander Graham Bell, Isaac Newton, Johannes Gutenberg, and many others. They are one of the most famous people across the globe, thanks to their invaluable contributions to progress.
Steve Jobs is the most important innovator of the modern era. The man handles changing the way people communicate, get information, and spend their leisure time. Jobs pioneered the innovations among smartphones, music streaming services, and animated fields. There’s hardly a modern household that doesn’t know the names of Pixar and Apple.
Apple’s former CEO was able to strike a chord with all kinds of people. Its products became popular with consumers of all cultures, backgrounds, and age groups. Jobs wanted to create products that would make people’s lives better. He wanted all goods and services to speak to the human experience for them to be successful.
Prioritize Creativity Over Profit
Steve Jobs was passionate about tech and its use to make the world a better place. He managed to turn this passion into a profitable enterprise. His ideas soon became real. Despite the fact that he earned a lot of money, the man had the same level of passion. This attitude followed Jobs right until the day he died.
People have to understand the value of creativity, passion, and talent over monetary gains. That’s one of the traits that make them true leaders. They have to make decisions not based on profit but on the way it will impact the people they work with. It’s equally important not to exchange a higher salary for spending less time with the family.
Conclusion – Strive For Perfection
Many former and current Apple employees speak of high demands during Human Interaction team meetings. Steve would usually criticize their ideas and ask to think them over. The same proposals were evaluated again two weeks later. The pressure was so high that many former workers said they would never work for him again.
But, this constant stress proved to have a beneficial outcome. It pushed many Apple employees to raise their standards. This dedication and focus were reflected in the company’s products. They are currently one of the most popular goods in the world. Of course, the harsh policy has alienated many employees who couldn’t stand it. But, those who stayed got rewarded.
There is no easy way to get to the top. But, practicing tenacity, creativity, and discipline can lead anyone to success. Keep at it, and you will succeed.
