Steve Jobs’ ‘no excuses’ theory on leadership

The father of Apple and leader in technology was a highly revered figure in the tech and business industry. Bringing innovations that changed the world including the iPhone and iPod, Steve Jobs was no stranger to leadership, and had many qualities that solidified him as a leader. It is known that Jobs has a ‘no excuses’ theory on leadership. In instances when people were promoted to vice president, he would tell them that everything under their order was their responsibility, and any mishaps was their fault. No excuses.

The ‘no excuses’ theory is to do with taking responsibility till the end.

Many people believe that if something doesn’t succeed, then it is someone else’s fault, caused by external factors. If they failed, then someone let them down, or didn’t support them or help them. Jobs’ theory was that in the event of failure, contingencies should have been put into place to prevent it. He believed that successful people expected the worst but aimed for the best, and set clear expectations. They help those around them and support them through mentoring and training, but ultimately they will accept the final responsibility.

The thinking behind this is that if they accept full responsibility, then all they know is control. If you they succeed, then they did that. If they failed, then they caused that. Having this type of thinking will motivate them to ensure that the risk of failure is at a minimum, and all angles are observed in a situation before proceeding. This will ensure that all energy is put into making something happen rather than worrying about what might happen.

It is this ‘no excuses’ leadership theory that got Jobs to the top, and it’s one that he instilled into new vice presidents, and those that made decisions for Apple.