Leadership lessons, Steve Jobs-style

The Apple co-founder was a trailblazer in the technology industry, but Jobs' ability to motivate and inspire others made him a dynamic leader.

From the personal Apple computer to the MacBook to the iPhone, Steve Jobs' visionary innovations revolutionized the tech industry and changed how we interact with personal technology. And while there's no shortage of organizational leaders whose products and companies have forever altered how we live and work, Professor of Management Chris Neck says Jobs' dynamic leadership style sets him apart.

"Jobs' ability to combine technology with artistry was revolutionary," says Neck, citing Jobs' technical innovation, marketing acumen, and focus on customer experience as three reasons he is an exemplary model for business leaders.

Neck specializes in leadership, self-leadership, employee and executive fitness, group decision-making processes, and self-managing teams. He's written over 27 books and uses Jobs as a model of transformational, authoritative, and charismatic leadership styles in class.

"Through Jobs' example, I encourage students to pursue bold ideas, learn from setbacks, and constantly refine their leadership approach," says Neck.

Jobs exemplified each of these leadership styles at different times in his career. When he co-founded Apple in 1976, his authoritative leadership style created a strong organizational vision for the company's goals. However, his impulsivity and difficulty collaborating with others led to Jobs being ousted from the company in 1985 after clashing with team members while building the Lisa computer. After exiting Apple, Jobs founded the software company NeXT Inc. and purchased what would become Pixar Animation Studios in 1986.

When Jobs returned to Apple as CEO in 1997, his transformational leadership skills — a leadership type focusing on motivating employees and changing organizational teams — shone through when he rescued the company from bankruptcy by partnering with Apple's rival, Microsoft. The decision was heavily criticized but ultimately stabilized Apple financially and aided in reinventing the company. In his new role, Jobs also exemplified transformational leadership when he simplified the organization's product line to focus on a handful of groundbreaking products like the iMac and iPod.

Jobs' authoritative leadership was evident when developing groundbreaking products like the iPhone and making difficult decisions initially met with skepticism.

"His presentations such as the "Think Different" campaign and 2007 iPhone launch highlighted Jobs' ability to inspire not just his team, but the public to see Apple as more than a company: It became a cultural movement," says Neck of Jobs' charismatic leadership skills, which helped him excel at motivating others.

Jobs' was also an expert at building brand affinity. He designed the 1984 Macintosh to feel personal, inviting, and user-friendly, and his focus on a positive retail experience with the creation of the Genius Bar revolutionized tech customer service.

"His intense focus on customer experience made him a model for leaders," says Neck.

Jobs' leadership evolution
Jobs' resilience helped him succeed at founding NeXT and taking over Pixar after being ousted from Apple. His commitment to his vision allowed him to push the boundaries of what was deemed possible. Jobs demonstrated his dedication to continuous innovation during the development of the iPhone. When Apple engineers insisted that creating a glass screen for the phone in Jobs' expected timeframe was impossible, Jobs disagreed and urged them to meet his expedited timeline. Ultimately, the engineers completed the product within Jobs' timeframe, which Neck describes as creating a "reality distortion field."

"His belief inspired teams to achieve what they initially deemed unattainable," says Neck. "But this ability to challenge perceived limits was a double-edged sword — it inspired extraordinary outcomes but also created immense pressure on teams."

Jobs is revered as a visionary entrepreneur and innovator but often criticized for his intensity when working with others. He was prone to perfectionism and micromanagement, which led to interpersonal challenges in the workplace, like when he berated employees over font spacing in the Macintosh interface.

"It created a high-pressure environment," says Neck.

But Neck says these traits were inseparable from Jobs' vision and ultimately secured his reputation as a visionary innovator and leader.

"He pushed the original Mac team with impossible deadlines, often clashing with engineers but producing a revolutionary product," says Neck. "However, his abrasive approach led some key talents, like Jef Raskin, to leave Apple."

Jobs adopted a more collaborative leadership style at NeXT, Pixar, and ultimately, Apple as his career progressed, delegating more work to colleagues so he could focus on product design and company vision. The shift highlighted the importance of interpersonal skills and how they can elevate team performance.

Leadership lessons for the modern workplace
Neck says Jobs' commitment to self-leadership, or empowering oneself to achieve personal excellence, was evident in his ability to evolve and refine his leadership skills to create a more collaborative and efficient work environment. If Jobs were founding Apple today, his visionary leadership and design-driven approach would thrive in an era that values innovation and customer-centricity; however, his abrasive interpersonal style would face backlash as today's work culture values inclusivity, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety.

"Leaders today are expected to inspire without alienating their teams," says Neck, "a balance Jobs might need to refine if starting fresh."