If you’re new to the business world, you may not understand at first the inherent difference between being a manager and being a leader.
The manager acts as a hierarchical figure of authority who ensures the necessary process are in place within the company. On the other hand, the leader is a different kettle of fish. The leader provides guidance and inspiration. Unlike the manager, who you listen; the leader is someone the team follows through good and hard times. It’s precisely because leaders have an explicit effect on a group of people that they are the power to transform a situation.
In the business world, nobody better than Steve Jobs demonstrated the power of positive leadership. After being initially removed from Apple, Jobs was called back to step in as an interim CEO in 1997 by a struggling Apple. Jobs restructured the entire product line, launching countless best-selling products from the iMac to the iPods, and iPhone, which, ultimately saved the company from an early death. Jobs’s most poignant leadership moment has been his ability to not only convince his team to follow him but also to drive them to success.
Be the leader others want to follow
It’s not just work; it’s a purpose
Put yourself back into Steve Jobs’s mind in 1997. He knows he’s coming to a company that experiences difficulties. His top priority at the time is to keep his staff happy and productive. To do so, Jobs starts his leadership journey with a breathtaking speech in August 1997 that details exactly what’s right and wrong with Apple. But he insists that if the products have to remain great, the company needs to “think different” to supply the tools the creative spirits need. His speech helps the Apple team to find a purpose to their skills within the company.
Be the leader who makes changes possible
It’s not just a purpose that Jobs gives; he says aloud what many have been thinking for a long time. He confirms that the war between Microsoft and Apple has to end for the company to grow again. He voices what employees have felt and thought and connects with them to make the change happen within Apple. Jobs’s success story lies in his ability to implement effective change leadership – you can find out more at TomFlick.com. Needless to say, Jobs’s first speech is instrumental in bringing change closer. But more importantly, he is able to create a competitive advantage for Apple by empowering a volunteer army of people throughout the company to achieve the vision that Apple can be great again.
Be the leader who connects with people
Many describe Jobs as an individual who could be harsh and experience mood swings. As a result, he might, at first, rank low in terms of emotional intelligence. However, EQ in leaders is about motivating others to accomplish their goal. According to Gottman.com, emotional intelligence makes good leaders by letting them override negative sentiments. With this in mind, Jobs was a man who knew precisely how to create products people love and get a team of enthusiasts behind them.
The question, of course, is not whether you can be the next Steve Jobs. It’s about understanding Jobs’s legacy in the leadership world and making sure that you can follow in his legendary footsteps in your own company.