He read everything he could find about space travel and rocket technology. These are the brutal facts a new leader must confront. Recognizes business imperative of anticipating and embracing changes occurring in the competitive environment through continuous improvement in all aspects of the business. Authentic leadership has three components to its definition that I believe Elon Musk meets criteria for. Musk is a natural leader who cares about his employees. If we can overcome the initial fear of being told "no" and understand that no truly means nothing, we'll be better for it. It certainly wouldn't be that way without Mr. Musk's unblinking focus at the forefront. The 49-year-old Elon Musk is someone who has countless achievements under his belt. Musk has remained true to his vision for the future throughout his career. Companies that pay the price to cultivate a strong office culture will increasingly set themselves apart and experience substantial organic growth as employees step up to become effective managers and branch out the organization. He was also a man with a wonderful vision. Musk would do well to start surfing, running, and/or meditating anything that helps him recharge and be present (and not rely on Ambien to get a good night's sleep). In 1989, Musk moved to Canada and began undergraduate studies at Queens University in Ontario. Who Will Win? Opinions expressed are those of the author. How can you schedule your day so you can complete one task, then move to the next, effectively, excitedly, and purposefully? I'll talk about them here. 3. Over the years, he has been compared to the likes of Steve Jobs and Henry Ford, and even Iron Man, with actor Robert Downey Jr allegedly modelling his portrayal of Tony Stark off of the SpaceX and Tesla CEO. On Teslas blog, Musk gave his rebuttal to the public, For consumers concerned about fire risk, there should be absolutely zero doubt that it is safer to power a car with a battery than a large tank of highly flammable liquid.15 And can we not only quantify those things that make Musk so successful, but also begin to embody themin our own lives? As a child, Musk became interested in computer programming and taught himself to code. As a student of leadership, I can see three key requirements for anyone considering or being considered for this role right now: A new Twitter CEO will want assurances that they will be free to take decisions about the direction of the business without being second-guessed by Musk as the majority owner. Stay laser focused and don't procrastinate. The Digital Global Supply Chain: The Growing Case for Blockchain Technology Expansion Within Global Supply Chain, Our new episode with BYU Professor and Marriott St, Tips on getting your great ideas published!! Elon Musk has always been remembered as a transformational autocratic leader. The current study is narrowly focusing on the leadership traits of Elon Musk in Tesla motors. As of October 2016, his estimated net worth is US$11.5 billion. Musk is the. While Musk's business ventures have been driven by his unique vision, Musk takes very little input and often makes impulse decisions that haven't been vetted by team members. . Many people would consider Musk to be the most innovative entrepreneur of our time. 1. You have two choices in life - to see the world as a pessimist, or . By 8. 2017 BluePointe Capital Management, LLC. He praised Elon Musk's ambition, revealed the traits and attitudes he looks for in people, and cautioned against becoming a VC just to get rich. Musk doesnt create and lead in a vacuum: Hes surrounded by employees, board members and stockholders who look to him to guide their next move. 4. When considering Elon Musk under the lens of authentic leadership, it is clear he has the necessary leadership traits. Is New Business Creation Still Setting Records? To Start and Grow Your Entertainment Business With These Five Tips, Carbon Credit Could Be the Answer to Eliminating Pollution, Cannabis Stocks on Fire as House Prepares Vote on Federal Legalization, Attorney Jeremy Goldstein & Employment Law UPDATED. You can't . While there are lots of impressive leaders, few touch his superhero scale. But can we describe why the SpaceX CEO is the way he is? This focus has allowed Musk to perfect the art of getting into a "flow state," which is when "a person becomes fully immersed in an activity," per Very Well Mind. Biography.com. Errol shot and killed . All three of these components together are what make an authentic leader and are what makes Elon Musk an authentic leader. From a turbulent childhood in South Africa, to the forefront of global entrepreneurship and innovation, Elon Musk is attempting to lead the world to a better tomorrow. I first became aware of Elon Musk from a tiny blurb in the newspaper. By Andrew Fayad, CEO of ELM Learning, a creative agency focused on designing custom multimedia and digital learning experiences. But he wouldn't take no for an answer. Elon Musk is a billionaire and inventor who has reshaped the business world with his work in PayPal, Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity. Their first son, Nevada Alexander Musk, died at the age of 10 weeks. His solar company is cash-flow positive. In 2017, Musk resigned from his post with the White House Advisory Council over the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Managing other people probably puts a lot of strain on him. Elon Musk is such kind of a leader who possesses a lot of leadership qualities and styles. You Can Lead Like Jobs and Musk If You Can Apply These 4 Skills. Many leaders share the mindset to "just get it done" or accept it's good enough even when it's not. Musk has taken out personal loans amounting to millions to keep his ventures afloat. An electric railroad that goes through an enormous tunnel, dug into the side of a mountain. But can we. We can also absentmindedly rattle off a stream of adjectives that describe him: innovator, leader, genius, visionary, futurist, entrepreneur. A new Twitter CEO will want assurances that they will be free to take decisions about the direction of the business without being second-guessed by Musk as the majority owner. Chatham: Newstex, 2015. https://search-proquest-com.erl.lib.byu.edu/docview/1652311317?accountid=4488. Although former employees sometimes describe him as autocratic and blunt to the point of offensive, they remain remarkably loyal.10 While employees may either revere or loathe the man for his methods, bright minds are consistently attracted to Musks leadership and populate his companies today. He believes in clean energy and is helping to advance it by spending most of his time on the two companies devoted to this cause: Tesla Motors and SolarCity. I've known too many people who attempt to bring a certain amount of intensity to their work and burn out, break down or go too far. But any replacement will need to be able to steer Twitter back to calmer waters, with Musk remaining majority owner. Many of Musk's grand ideas come from small questions. His interpersonal qualities hold a lot of weight in Musks life as he is very active with new startup companies such as cryptocurrencies, Twitter, his appearance on SNL, and overall presence in news and tabloids connecting him to his followers. For leadership profiles of other famous business leaders, including Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffett, check out our Business Leadership Profiles section. An electric railroad. It turns into a mission or game, and we find ourselves enjoying what we're doing. Along with the transformational approach, Elon Musk as a leader believes in achieving the impossible, embracing failures, cutting back on unimportant . While most industries are still waking up to the realities of global warming and some are still ignoring it (how are climate change deniers still a thing? Today, Musks 100-hour-work weeks lie at the core of his success. The ability to face facts. Its one thing to know when to say no; knowing how to cushion that statement with a better option is an example of masterful leadership skills. An authentic leader creates better relationships with colleagues, creates higher levels of trust, increased productivity, and a more positive working environment (Gavin, 2019). Do what Musk did in the same situations: Read biographies and books about leaders you look up to. Elon Musk Biography. Skip to document. as well as other partner offers and accept our. The billionaire talked about his early days in Dallas when he was strapped for cash. They push people out, spiral out of control, or end up underperforming dramatically. Let your vision guide you Musk summarizes his emotional response to being bullied as a child, If you get up in the morning and think the future is going to be better, it is a bright day. Think of your own work-life and the way you go about your day-to-day tasks. What more noble cause is there? I think thats the single best piece of advice: constantly think about how you could be doing things better and questioning yourself.. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates or to get a second opinion on your portfolio. 19 Nicholas A. Christakis, and James H. Fowler, Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks (New York: Back Bay Books, 2011). Confidence and independence. He is considered a visionary business leader who is advancing technology in areas such as space exploration and sustainable energy. There are three main models used in this essay to explore the leadership of Elon Musk, namely behavioral theories, Transformational theory, and path-goal theory. 2023 Leaderonomics Sdn. After all, it was Musk himself who said, If you read a lot of books and talk to a lot of people, you can learn almost anything. A good leader is equal parts confident in their own skills and curious about what others have to offer. Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, where he lived until he moved to Canada at age 17. 2.1.3 Transformational Leadership in Action Musk's leadership behaviors coincide with each of Bennis and Nanus (1985) four strategies typically used by transformational leaders. Elon Musk is a true visionary using his entrepreneurial mindset, passion for innovation, personal integrity, empathy, and boldness to create an exceptional business. The novel led Musk to deduce that the only thing that makes sense is to strive for greater collective enlightenment.9 Musks vision of a better future for humanity is the driving power behind his success. Having cofounded and sold PayPal, he quickly moved on to launching a range of ventures with world-changing aspirations for how we generate . In this case, a core task for the new CEO will be to recognise what sort of business Twitter is, and decide whether it is really a conventional for-profit business at all. And Musk fits that bill perfectly. However, Musk does it in a healthy, constructive way. How do we make California transit more convenient? Apparently, the billionaire had been the highest bidder for a Lotus Esprit from the James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me.In the film, the car had been able to transform into a submersible vehicle at the push of a button. It's natural to feel afraid when faced with new challenges, but understanding the danger of complacency can help employees overcome the fear and trepidation around failure. Even though he had complete control of his company, he gave his employees the motivation to accomplish their targets and tasks through his characteristics. Elon Musk was born on June 28th, 1971 in South Africa, where he grew up with his father after his parents divorced in 1980. Working 120-hour weeks doesn't leverage your unique qualities, it wastes them. Otherwise, its not.16 For Musk, the only viable option was to hold on firmly to hope. Musks business practices create an environment that makes employees feel valued and helps them to reach their potential. And Musk quickly became one of my personal heroes. Nominate him or her for our award by visiting here. He loves what he's doing because he does what he loves. This event makes him a charismatic leader. A railroad. Self awareness refers to the leaders understanding of themselves, their strengths, their weaknesses, and how they impact others (Northouse, 2019). If [employees] work in an environment in which leadership tells the truth [and] in which layoffs are not the default in hard timesthe result, thanks to the increased levels of oxytocin and serotonin, is trust and cooperation.8 Leaders who think of their employees before themselves create a work environment that dramatically increases the teams effectiveness. Way without Mr. Musk 's unblinking focus at the forefront traits of Elon has! The impossible, embracing failures, cutting back on unimportant focused and don & # x27 ; t procrastinate afloat! 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