Steve Jobs is one of those characters in history who needs no introduction. His name is synonymous with innovation, having led Apple to dominate the technology industry, but on this occasion we want to highlight his leadership as the attribute that led him to become an icon.
Championing the principle of “thinking differently” to reach new horizons, Jobs was key in industries as diverse as music, telephony and even animated film. His legacy is undeniable and that is why we wanted to dedicate this article to remembering some of the most important leadership lessons left to us by the genius behind the iPhone.
Acting as a leader is thinking differently
Apple's success and cultural impact around the world are well known, but did you know that it all started in Steve Jobs' parents' small garage? Or that he was fired from the company and only returned years later to rescue it from bankruptcy?
From computing and korea telegram mobile phone number list telephony to film and digital publishing, Jobs distinguished himself by practicing fourteen principles that author Walter Isaacson compiled in his book Steve Jobs: Lessons in Leadership . Here are the seven lessons that have inspired us the most:
Concentrate
It's common to feel pressured to try everything, but Jobs believed just the opposite: after all, if you try too hard, you'll do too little. For him, true development meant being able to determine what a business's priorities were and focusing on fulfilling them perfectly.
Jobs often argued that “deciding what not to do is just as important as deciding what to do,” and this led him to simplify Apple’s products and ensure the highest quality standards on the market.
Take responsibility for the entire process
Nowadays it seems that “user experience” is on everyone’s lips, but it wasn’t always like that. Apple was one of the pioneering companies in worrying about every part of the process in order to optimize the use of its products and provide a better experience.
Think about it: if there's one thing that sets Apple's computers apart, it's their ability to sync with each other quickly and easily, almost like an ecosystem where order and productivity reign. This is the fruit of Jobs' desire to oversee everything, from the operation of a microprocessor to the sale of an iPhone in stores, to ensure that each product was nothing less than perfect.
When you fall behind, take a leap forward
Another aspect that distinguishes Jobs' leadership is that, in times of crisis, he always found a way to step forward and make progress. In the midst of developing applications for editing photos and videos, Apple was lagging behind in managing its users' music.
Instead of panicking and stalling, Jobs opted to implement what he already knew: integrate multiple functions to improve the user experience, and so he created iTunes. There, users could do everything: buy, manage, store and listen to their music from a device also created to make an impact: the iconic iPod.
Distorts reality
Inspired by science fiction series such as Star Trek, Jobs knew that to achieve the impossible, it was necessary to leave the “field of reality” and imagine new ways of doing technology.
Apple's leader constantly challenged his colleagues' ability to innovate, for example to make the Macintosh operating system more efficient or to come up with more elegant designs for his products. The key, according to Jobs, was to see every obstacle as an opportunity and always think of the impossible as something perfectly achievable.