With a few exceptions, most of us hate waiting. And this can be particularly frowned upon at work… Steve Jobs, one of the greatest visionaries of the technological age, was no exception to this rule.
In fact, the Apple co-founder had a strict policy on punctuality, not hesitating to start his meetings without any late participants. However, behind this strictness sometimes lay surprising gestures, such as the one he made to his secretary, a single mother, when she arrived late for work. This story was told by Ron Givens, former Quality Director at Apple from 1981 to 1986. According to Givens, when Jobs’ secretary arrived late one day, rather than reprimand her or even fire her, as might be expected given her strict nature, Jobs simply asked her what had happened. He listened to her explanation and seemed to understand the situation. She then admitted that she had had difficulty starting her car. But what happened next did not fail to surprise.
After this incident, Steve Jobs arrived one day with the keys to a car, a Jaguar, and handed them to his secretary. “Take them, so you’ll never be late again”, he told her. Far from being an insignificant gift, it was a pragmatic solution to a logistical problem. Jobs wanted to ensure that his secretary could arrive on time, but by giving her a car, he was also giving her a solution for being more punctual and managing her time better.
This astonishing gesture did not appear to be an isolated act, but rather an illustration of Jobs’ leadership style. Ron Givens describes him as an excellent motivator and leader, capable of taking unexpected initiatives to encourage his teams. Jobs understood that motivating his employees went far beyond mere professional requirements. For him, keeping a team focused and free from distractions was essential to innovation. Far from simply managing, Jobs sought to solve the problems that might inhibit his teams’ creativity. According to Givens, Jobs believed deeply in the importance of teamwork, stimulating ideas and keeping people motivated. As a result, he often began his meetings with the question: “What’s on your mind?” More than just a formality, this phrase was intended to let his employees express their concerns before focusing on innovation.
At first sight, this gesture might seem surprising, but it perfectly illustrates Steve Jobs’ complex approach to leadership. He knew how to impose strict rules, but he also knew how to be pragmatic and offer creative solutions to overcome obstacles. Thanks to his unique vision of management, Jobs was able to create an environment conducive to creativity, where his teams felt supported and motivated to innovate.
