Several years ago, I wrote an article here entitled “Why Steve Jobs is a Leadership Nightmare.” I wrote it with my college students in mind because, at the time, Jobs, Apple’s CEO, was one of the most popular and successful leaders in the world. As such, many of my students admired him. That was the problem, because as successful as Steve Jobs was, he could sometimes be a tyrant—throwing tantrums, belittling employees, displaying arrogance, and allegedly taking credit for others’ ideas. The message was: it’s okay to behave poorly toward others as long as you are successful. The ends justify the means.
But that is dead wrong.
It isn’t enough for a leader to be successful. Beyond success, a good leader needs to develop followers, boost their confidence and sense of efficacy, and treat them with respect. The very best leaders are positive role models for their followers—demonstrating positive and ethical behavior, and giving credit where credit is due.
So, what about Elon Musk—CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and, more recently, Twitter?
One of my readers wrote to me recently after seeing my Steve Jobs post and said, “I work in the tech sector and in tech it is impossible to overstate the level of influence Elon Musk is having. To some of my younger friends, he is like a God.” He went on to say that even his leaders admire Musk and seek to emulate his behavior.
Let’s be straight: Elon Musk has been extremely successful with his companies (although we will have to see about Twitter). However, Musk’s behavior is dictatorial: laying off scores of Twitter employees, taking credit for the accomplishments of others, and more recently, belittling a disabled employee (among other misdeeds). Again, as in the case of Jobs, it is not enough to be successful. A true, good leader needs to also encourage and develop followers, behave in an exemplary and ethical manner (because, after all, high-level leaders are role models), and treat people with dignity and respect.
But you don’t have to take my word for it. This past weekend we hosted a conference on good and bad leadership. Experts from around the world came to discuss the entire “spectrum” of leadership, from virtuous to destructive. Elon Musk was mentioned many times as one of the bad examples for the very reasons outlined above.
So, why do I say that business leaders like Elon Musk and Steve Jobs are “nightmares”? Because their success alone leads people to believe that they are “good” leaders—role models to be emulated. But success alone does not make a good leader. As someone who teaches leadership to young adults, the thought that my students would idolize and (God forbid) follow in the footsteps of leaders like Elon Musk is what keeps me up at night.
So, who are leaders that were or are highly successful, but who also had good character and developed followers? How about Walt Disney, Warren Buffet, Reshma Saujani, Indra Nooyi, Charles Clinton Spaulding, or Oprah Winfrey? There are many effective and ethical business leaders who are better role models than Jobs or Musk.
References
Newstead, T., & Riggio, R.E. (Eds.). (2023). Leadership and virtues: Understanding and practicing good leadership. Taylor & Francis/Routledge.
FAQs
Elon Musk's approach to leadership is highly innovative and forward-thinking. He encourages his employees to take risks, think outside the box, and push boundaries in order to develop groundbreaking products.
What do psychologists say about Elon Musk? ›
Isaacson writes that Elon Musk's psychology includes his difficulties in understanding other people's emotions and his need for constant, intense stimulation as a means to ward off depression.
How would you describe Elon Musk? ›
He is the founder, chairman, CEO, and CTO of SpaceX; angel investor, CEO, product architect, and former chairman of Tesla, Inc.; owner, executive chairman, and CTO of X Corp.; founder of the Boring Company and xAI; co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI; and president of the Musk Foundation.
How is Elon Musk an intelligent leader? ›
Self-Awareness: Musk is known for his ability to reflect on his strengths and weaknesses, learning from failures and adapting his approach accordingly. Empathy: His empathetic leadership is evident in his concern for employee well-being and his ability to connect with customers on a personal level.
Is Elon Musk good or bad leader? ›
While Elon Musk has been a successful entrepreneur, his dictatorial behavior suggests that he is not a “good” leader. Good leadership is about more than just success. Good leaders develop their followers, and treat them with respect and dignity.
What are the weaknesses of Elon Musk? ›
Here are some of Elon Musk's weaknesses:
- Overcommitment: Musk has a tendency to overcommit himself to multiple projects at once, leading to delays and setbacks. ...
- Micro-management: Musk is known for his hands-on approach to management, which can sometimes lead to micromanagement.
Furthermore, Musk's personality type also influences his leadership style. As an INTJ, he is known for his directness, strategic thinking, and high standards. These qualities have not only attracted top talent to his companies but have also allowed him to drive his teams towards achieving extraordinary goals.
Is Elon Musk empathy? ›
Musk's empathy for humanity
While Elon Musk is known not to prioritize empathy in personal relationships, he consistently exhibits a broader empathy toward what he perceives as a greater mass of humanity.
Has Elon Musk helped anyone? ›
Since 2020, he has seeded his charity with tax-deductible donations of stock worth more than $7 billion at the time, making it one of the largest in the country. Musk has not hired any staff for his foundation.
Why is Elon Musk so special? ›
Musk has achieved global fame as the chief executive officer (CEO) of electric automobile maker Tesla (TSLA) and the private space company SpaceX. Musk was an early investor in several tech companies, and in October 2022, he completed a deal to take X (formerly Twitter) private.
Musk is known for his intense work regimen. Stories of him working multiple jobs, sleeping on factory floors, or staying at the office for days aren't just tales but testify to his unparalleled dedication. For Musk, it's not about clocking hours; it's about making every moment count toward his ambitious goals.
What is Elon Musk's most famous quote? ›
“When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.”
Who is more intelligent Elon Musk or Bill Gates? ›
Einstein IQ: 160+, Bill Gates IQ: 150+, Elon Musk IQ: 155, Zuckerberg IQ: 152, Sunny Doel's IQ: over 160.
Does Elon Musk have the highest IQ in the world? ›
Although there are no publicly available statistics to support his IQ, it is believed to be between 150 and 155. He might qualify as a genius. With an IQ of 150, Elon Musk belongs to the "GENIUS" category, and with a score of 155, he belongs to the "HIGH GENIUS" category.
Is Elon Musk a charismatic leader? ›
Certainly Musk – and his style of leadership – seems to be constantly in the spotlight. The German sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) might have described his leadership style as “charismatic”.
What characteristics of leadership made Elon Musk successful? ›
Let's take a dive into the values Musk holds as a leader and how they've created the successful companies that he has today.
- Lesson #1: Lead by Example.
- Lesson #2: Lead with Purpose.
- Lesson #3: Be Creative.
- Lesson #4: Be Collaborative.
- Lesson #5: Encourage Innovation.
- Lesson #6: Be Decisive.
Legitimate Power
Others comply with the requests these individuals make because they accept the legitimacy of the position, whether they like or agree with the request or not. For example, Elon Musk, one of the founders of Tesla has legitimate power as CEO of the organization.
