Characteristics of Business Leadership: Steve Jobs - Essay Example

? Characteristics of Business Leadership­­­­ (Add (Add (Add Bruce Barton once said, “Most successful men have notachieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand” (Cited in Brainy Quotes, 2012). The very same line can be attributed to the success stories of the most lucrative business leaders of the world. They have set great examples before their successors through their business values, philosophies, vivacity and industrialism. Steven Jobs, former CEO of Apple Computer Inc who passed away recently was such an exemplar for any business leader. He conquered the world technology arena with his compact visions and innovations and thus emerged as the idol of innovations in the computer coliseum. As Mclnerney (2011) reflects, Jobs is regarded as the ‘father of digital revolution’ and the ‘master of innovations.’ Steve Jobs is well known as the co-founder, CEO and chairman of Apple Computer Inc. It was his vicissitudes and visions that made apple the most sought out IT brand in the world. He is considered as the strenuous daredevil of the personal computer revolution. Jobs started Apple with one of the most successful personal computer series Apple II series. He utilized the vast potential of the graphical user interface which used mouse for operations and brought in a number of new ideas into computer technology which later became a bible for the technology world. Though he left Apple in 1985 as an aftermath of a power struggle with the board of directors, Apple had to appoint him as the CEO again in the late-90s when they were nearing bankruptcy. Thereafter, the world witnessed Apple perplex growth as the world’s #1 computer brand under his leadership. It took him just a year to lift up Apple from bankruptcy to profit. IT giants like Microsoft; IBM etc. posed benumbed challenge on Apple in the hardware and software areas. That was the greatest challenge in front of Jobs. It can be mentioned that it was the exclusive thoughts of Steve Jobs that kept Apple alive in the competition with other corporate. Apple had to use the product called NeXTSTEP which Jobs developed when he was outside Apple to make the Mac OS-X which was Apple’s most prestigious operating system ever. Thereafter Apple never had a bad time in the industry. As Halliday (2011) points out, Apple outraged all other electronic and IT brands through their range of products which are commonly referred by the name ‘i’- iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone and the latest iPad. Steve Jobs was not the kind of the business leaders that the world had witnessed before. And he will be counted unique for the future also. He is often termed as a futuristic leader. He was a leader who mingled with his staff as a co-worker and demanded the delivery of complete potential from the staff. He was a frank criticiser. Steve Jobs created gadgets which were going to be the gadgets of future in the present. That is something which made him stand up among other leaders. He showered energy to his staff and motivated them. He encouraged them to think crazy like him and that is why we see such products are coming only from Apple while other companies are merely copying them. Jobs wanted to stand first always and he effectively has done that. He had a strong mind and his mindsets were always clear. He made strong decisions whenever there were criticalities within the enterprise and he was never double minded in making any decision. He told his employees: “The cure for Apple is not cost cutting. The cure for Apple is to innovate its way out of its current predicament” (cited in Maddalone, 2012). He was not reluctant to speak out frankly to the world about his bold decisions in carrying on Apple. This describes his methodology of leading the company. He knew how to draw the full productivity from the workers, and that is why Apple still sustains its reputation. Jobs brought behemoth waves in the field of music with his iPod. He was awarded with the prestigious Grammy Music Award posthumously for his contributions to music. Competitors were unceasingly filing lawsuits against Apple. They were all trying their tooth and nail to overthrow Apple from the arena. They always complained that Apple copied their designs and ideas. But the world acknowledges that the rivals were copying Apple’s designs, and the rivals were always disappointed in the court. People around the world unanimously accept Apple’s quality and brand value. Apple is seamlessly popular among all classes from business class to middle classed workers. In the present day, we can see people trying to have an Apple somehow as it have emerged as a matter of prestige. The credit of this reputation solely goes to that amazing visionary, Steve Jobs. Jobs was also keen to develop devices that were eco-friendly. He also took initiatives for the evolving of green computing. All the latest gadgets designed by Steve Jobs were made eco-friendly by keeping harmful elements like Arsenic and PVC out of them. Apple has evolved an eco-friendly method of device production. He also stood for charity especially for causes like AIDS, children, health, poverty, women etc. He gave support for organizations like the Global Fund and RED for charity operations. The Apple Computer Inc. is a partner in the operations of a NGO called RED which is in a venture to combat AIDS. Steve Jobs was born on 24 February, 1995. He never came to meet his biological father who was a Syrian. He had to drop out of the college when his guardians were not able to support his education. It was then the Apple Company took its birth. Steve Jobs and two of his childhood companions were the founders of the firm. They started the firm on the car-shed in Jobs’ home. And world’s first portable personal computer series took its shape there. And his service to the technological world through the last three decades got him the name as the most creative designer and the most vibrant technocrat the world had ever seen. He was diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour in 2003. He underwent many treatments but he could extend his life only till 2011. He passed away on 5 October, 2011. He was a follower of Zen Buddhism. Tim Cook, the current CEO of Apple remarked that Jobs was a visionary and creative genius and the world has lost an amazing personality through his death. Microsoft owner Bill Gates remembered Jobs was one of his intimate friends and also his strongest opponent in the IT sector. Crum (2011) says such persons who make esoteric impact on the world are rare to find and the effects of his inventions will be felt by many following generations. US President Barack Obama said that Jobs was a visionary and the fact that a good number of people came to know about his death through a device which he invented marked his success. The word’s of Obama reveal the depth of the impact he has made through Apple. There has been no other entrepreneur who made such an overwhelming reach throughout the world through his products, and the world cannot even think of a day without an Apple device. An Apple device of one kind or the other is used in every field including education, research, trade and commerce, arts etc. Creating such a widespread reach is the goal of every business leader and Steve Jobs is a right example for anyone who cherishes such dreams. References Brainy Quotes- Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/brucebarto389436.html Crum, C. (2011). 100 reactions to the death of Steve Jobs. WebProNews/ Technology. Retrieved from http://www.webpronews.com/steve-jobs-death-quotes-2011-10 Halliday, J. (06 October 2011). Apple's top 10 products. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/06/apple-top-10-products Mclnerney, S. (2011). Steve Jobs: An unconventional leader. The Age. Retrieved from http://www.theage.com.au/executive-style/management/steve-jobs-an-unconventional-leader-20111007-1lcmo.html Maddalone, J. (2012). 13 Memorable Quotes from Steve Jobs/Jack Welch/Mark Zuckerberg. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/joemaddalone/2012/02/22/13-memorable-quotes-from-steve-jobsjack-welchmark-zuckerberg/ Read More