Why I idolize Steve Jobs but would never want to work for him?

(Image source: Infogalaxy)




Steve Jobs is the greatest innovators of all times. In terms of his contribution to the propagation of technology he is second to none. He is god to many and is in the same league as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. In his death the world has lost one of the greatest leaders of all times. I idolize Steve Jobs.
But there is another side to Steve Jobs, the one that would ensure that I would never want to work with him, or someone like him. Steve Jobs was a difficult man, there is no denying it. He was great from a distance but was very difficult to work with as well.

Steve jobs once famously said, “My job is to not be easy on people. My job is to make them better.” Now the challenge is the operative word ‘better’. The problem is that it is a very subjective word and open to interpretation. Better by whose standards? I mean are they by the standards set by Steve Jobs? I am not sure what to make of it.

By medical standards, people do perform better when put under a strain. The common medical explanation is that the blood pressure goes up as the heart beats faster and this eventually leads to more blood to the brain and to other extremities. In extreme cases the ‘fight or flight reflex kicks in. It can be helpful if we are surviving an ordeal or sudden threat to life. But would day to day business justify such stress? I don’t think that would be necessary.

In his land mark book’ No Asshole Rules’ Dr Robert Sutton gives the twelve characteristics of a jerk at work. These are
• Personal insults
• Invading one’s personal territory
• Uninvited personal contact
• Threats and intimidation, both verbal and non-verbal
• Sarcastic jokes and teasing used as insult delivery systems
• Withering email flames
• Status slaps intended to humiliate their victims
• Public shaming or status degradation rituals
• Rude interruptions
• Two-faced attacks
• Dirty looks
• Treating people as if they are invisible

I am not sure how many of them were used by Jobs towards his employees but I will not be surprised if he did a vast variety of them on a regular basis. But then Jobs is a genius right and he could have been an exception? Unfortunately that is not the case and work place bullies are the rule rather than an exception.
Often organizations that promote such behavior lose their way as their ‘Star’ employees drive away the productive ones.

I have personally dealt with such a situation twice in my career and on both occasions I saw the warning signs and left long before I could get affected. Many a time’s employees at the receiving end of boorish behavior end up with depression, ill health, loss of confidence, anxiety and other psychological problems.
So is it worth it?

Well Steve jobs himself gives an answer-
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life” So if you think that what you are doing and the manner in which you are doing is your vision for your future then please go ahead. But if it is not then there is point.
These are three questions that I feel are important while dealing with such situations.

• Are you learning new skills on your current job?
• Are you able to maintain work-life balance spending time for self, family
and friends?
• Are you happy and satisfied at the end of a days work?

In case the answer to any of them is no, you might have to reconsider your situation.

It is good to get inspired up by these leaders but few have the energy and resilience not to get burnt. And that is the reason I would never want to work with Steve Jobs.