This week’s case, Insane Leadership Legacy, invites you to examine the complex leadership style of Steve Jobs during one of the most revolutionary moments in tech history — the development of the first iPhone. By now, most people recognize the iPhone as a product that changed the way we live, work, and communicate. What’s less widely discussed is the leadership culture behind its creation.
Insiders say Jobs could be relentless. He was known for pushing his team beyond what they believed was possible, often using intense pressure, direct criticism, and top-down control. Words like “dictator,” “micromanager,” and even “brutal” are used to describe his approach. However, his methods also helped create a device that redefined an industry.
This raises an important question for anyone studying leadership: Is this kind of behavior justified in the pursuit of excellence? Was it necessary for Steve Jobs to act as he did to bring the iPhone to life, or could similar results have been achieved through a more collaborative and respectful approach?
Reflect on how leadership style influences not just results but also team culture and morale. Would you excel under this leadership or burn out? Would you trade kindness for brilliance if it meant creating something great?
This is your opportunity to explore the balance between results and relationships — a theme present in many leadership challenges. As always, link your response to both the case facts and your personal perspective or experience.
Discussion Prompt: Do you think it was necessary for Steve Jobs to behave like a “dictator,” “maniacal micromanager,” and be “brutal in meetings” to develop the iPhone? Would you want to work for someone like Steve Jobs?
Use specific examples from the case and your personal experience. Don’t just summarize, analyze and reflect.
Use these questions to deepen reflection:
Can a leader be inspiring and toxic at the same time?
Is innovation worth the personal and emotional toll on a team?
What alternatives to this leadership style might still produce breakthrough results?
Professor Gandarilla's Classroom 