Apple Store Memorials
When Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs died, people left loving notes at every Apple store around the world. There was tremendous gratitude for the innovations and advancement Jobs had brought to our planet.
However, there was something else going on in direct response to Steve Jobs’ passing– “The Canonizing Effect.”
This is an odd phenomenon that often occurs when someone dies. We instantly erase all their “sins” and turn them into some kind of saint. Once they are gone, we suddenly seem able to say only “nice” things about them and what they did. We don’t feel like we can bring up any of their faults or flaws. (don’t speak ill of the dead etc)
As a result of this canonizing of Jobs, one of the things that I experienced was that I began hearing people in the leadership community speak of how they wanted to be the kind of leader Jobs was.
Really? People wanted to emulate Jobs’ leadership style?
Let’s be clear–there were many things about his leadership style that were highly admirable. For instance, his single-minded drive for innovation was remarkable. However, there was another side, to Jobs as a leader. He was oftentimes nothing short of cruel to those under him and very much isolated and unapproachable. (You can read all about this in the book Steve Jobs)
You might argue, “Yeah, but his style of leading worked. Apple Inc is a vastly successful company and the #1 recognized brand in the world!” Of course, you would be right. Apple is one of the most successful companies in the world. However, the question that rises here is not one of Steve Jobs’ innovative genius, (which I highly respect), but rather his ability to effectively lead now and in the future.
Therefore, we are left to consider:
Was Steve Jobs a Leadership Dinosaur?
We have to consider what it takes to be a leader, more specifically an Authentic Leader in this, the new economy. As we move forward, we must face the fact that the old model of leadership, based on being unapproachable and speaking down to those under our leadership will no longer work. It does not build loyalty either with our teams or with our customers. Fake relationships, which in many ways were the back bone of the old boys club are the kiss of death for doing business in the new economy.
Unless you are completely ignorant of the economic changes and the impact of how business is operating today, you now know that business is and will be done via relationship, real, nurtured relationships. (This is one of the fundamental reasons, and rightly so, why women are becoming the dominant force in business)
Now hold on a minute! Don’t let that little Chihuahua in your head start yapping about how you already know all that. We aren’t talking about the old fake smile, pat you on the back, and then badmouth you behind your back kind of relationship.
That is the old model.
The outdated model.
The model that just won’t work anymore.
In the new economy you better be willing to “show up” and let people actually see you. Transparency and Authenticity go hand in hand.
Authenticity will be—and already is—the hallmark of leadership today.
The question comes down to this: Do you have the heart, soul, voice, balls (or ovaries) and willingness to be transparent to make it?
I trust that you found this article valuable, if so feel free to send this to your friends.
I eagerly anticipate your feedback and comments. Please share, like and comment below!
With gratitude,
Dov Baron Speaks internationally on leadership in the new economy. He is the Leading expert on Authentic Leadership and is the world’s Only Corporate Cultural Strategist. To bring Dov in to speak to your group or organization please contact Baron Mastery at +1 604 436 2063
P.S. Have you heard “The Accidental Guru” Radio Show yet? The Very Best in Personal and Professional Leadership. DOv is the Host and Executive producer every Thursday Morning from 10:00 AM (PST) 1:00PM (EST) Details are at: http://radiodov.com
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“Looking through the bookstore shelves and listening to all of the business gurus out there, we read and hear about a lot of trends in leadership. The only problem is that true leadership doesn’t follow trends.
Good for you to teach people it takes more than the ability to earn money to earn hero status. I think people are starved for others to look up to.
Excellent points Dov. As much as Steve did – he left so much “Potential’ revenue and success on the table. One example is that He dramatically limited himself with the Safari browser on all of his apps and most websites use Adobe Flash and Shockwave software as a standard for playing videos while Safari uses their Quick Time only.
This has made it very hard to view many sites in their full capabilities and also a huge reason why Google was able to come up with the Droid operating system now owns 74% of the market and counting. Android is “Open Source’ which means anyone can use the “kernel” of the program and customize it to build applications.
Additionally as much as I like Steve (he’s not as heartless as many purported though) he was known to be tyrannical and often alienated people and many a person left Apple and went on to be legends elsewhere like Guy Kawasaki their Former Chief Evangelist (his real title) Guy has written many books, founded a Tech VC firm called Garage.com and the ultra popular site Alltop.
Other Prominent Apple alumni include:
~ Marc Benioff – founder of Salesforce.com
~ Trip Hawkins, who started Electronic Arts
~ Andy Rubin, Found the Android operating system and now leads
mobile efforts at Google
~ Reid Hoffman, Co-founder LinkedIn
~ Evan Doll, a former iPhone software engineer, left to
co-found iPad reader Flipboard.
~ Loren Brichter left Apple and created the popular application
Tweetie, which Twitter acquired and turned into its official mobile app.
~ Dave Morin co-created Facebook Platform, which enables
developers to build apps on the social network, and Facebook Connect, which
allows people to sign in to other websites using their Facebook profiles.
Imagine if THOSE were owned by Apple. And Apple is in the BEST position of anyone to own its own mobile network and Wireless 4g network for Streaming TV PLUS they could have the World’s largest Social Network but never had the Cohesive Teamwork to get it done.
I created the first Social Network for kids at Disney Interactive and Michael Eisner, like Steve Jobs, ran the company by fear, intimidation and massive control and they too had the chance to be of MUCH greater service to Customers, have REVOLUTIONARY people with technologies and platforms that could literally change the course of humanity in so many ways that I would digress to mention them.
The “New Economy” CAN NOT and WILL NOT allow the likes of these individuals to have such a disproportionate amount of power – equivalent almost to that of World Dictators who have had their day and People are beginning to understand that THEY have much more power than they were TAUGHT to believe about themselves and “It is to that end” that anyone ever hoping to succeed anywhere in the arena of tens to hundreds of thousands of Customers MUST understand that “The ‘King’ (Absolute Power) is dead – Long live the New King (Co-operative, Synergistic Teams).
Thank you Sterling for your very clear and insightful feedback…now you got me thinking…and that’s a good thing!
YES.
It takes its time but I have advocated your thoughts for decades. Being a European (25 years in the US) it was rather clear to me early in my career that what you guys are saying is correct. I do not know that Steve Jobs did a lot to move the process further, neither did he sabotage the progress. I do recognize his result and can admire them as well as agree that he is worth a lot of the canonizing as in the end result is what counts.
I’d say producing TV programs like “The Apprentice” keeps the old culture alive. I do not think Steve Jobs had a negative impact on the progress – Donald Trump does.
Now when we understand how a great leader needs to be. Isn’t it time to see what type of organization we need? I agree it is a chicken and egg situation. However, to pay attention to what needs to happen with the organization will be crucial.
In my opinion the only reason we have those large companies and government entities is that once upon a time it were shortage of qualified workers. We simplified the jobs so the unemployed farm workers could mange the jobs. That required a large companies with many simple tasks. The US and western Europe has since long lost a competitive edge when it comes to production with that model. However, we have a well educated workforce able and willing to take initiative. We have knowledge and technologies to handle tasks of a very complex nature better than any of the nations we are competing with manufacturing labor intensive products.
An effective modern organization is depending on small entities combining resources and utilizing our technology advantage for short periods of time. A just in time process in regards to manpower (intelligence) as well as for material. Flexibility and authentic communication is the only way in small organizations.
We need to break down those large permanent organizations we have built the last 150 years. They are unnatural. They are almost impossible to lead. (I.E. the government, HP 350,000 people) – it must be obvious that the message disappear in the matrix and stupid policies are used as crutches to support the vision, but they ultimately just verifies Nietzsche’s statement; “Insanity in individuals is something rare – but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs , it is the rule.”
Combine that with the facts we are given on an everyday basis:
a. employees are dissatisfied with the jobs.
b. when asked people do not say they need higher pay first of all they ask for being part of the process.
c. all NEW jobs are created within small organizations.
In my opinion we need the new type of leaders NOW. We need a large number of them as we need to have smaller and more flexible organizations. We cannot bring back unqualified tasks but the market is screaming for effective handling of complex matters. Just look upon our taxes at the best 50% goes toward the issue it is supposed to solve. The rest is lost because of an ineffective organization. Time to CHANGE.