I just finished reading Steve Job's biography by Walter Isaacson which I highly recommend. I like top 10 lists so I compiled the biggest lessons I took away from his impressive accomplishments: 1. Put Design First Most companies design around engineering constraints. At Apple, design was first, like designing the computer case first and having engineering make the components fit. I thought of the many times I’ve heard designers get pushback on their designs because of “feasibility issues”. If we’re going to create great products, let’s rise up to the challenge of figuring out how to implement the best designs we can think of with a can-do attitude. 2. Put Products Before Profits Steve Jobs’ describes his passion as “to build an enduring company where people were motivated to make great products. Everything else was secondary.” There are numerous examples where Apple put products befo...
This article was first published on LinkedIn . In organizations, one of the most common complaints you’ll hear about is decision making. These include some variants of decisions taking too long to be made, poor decisions being made, or the right people not being consulted. Ironically, because we are all intimately involved in decision-making processes (as drivers of decisions or stakeholders), we all play a part in the problem we're complaining about! So how can we shift from just complaining about poor decision making to doing something about it? A great framework to learn and use in your work life is Decision Making Modes. Decision Making Modes define the approach decision drivers engage with their stakeholders. The five decision modes are: Tell, Sell, Test, Consult, and Join. As illustrated in the diagram above, the level of collaboration between the decision driver and her stakeholders increases as you move from left to right. One immediate benefit for a ...
This article was first published on LinkedIn . Quincy Jones was arguably the most influential and successful music producer of our generation. When he passed away in 2024, he left an indelible mark on the music, film, and television industries—one that will likely never be rivaled. His career spanned multiple musical generations and genres, and he collaborated with some of the greatest artists of all time, including Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson. Along the way, he amassed an astonishing 28 Grammy Awards, solidifying his place as a true legend. Beyond his musical genius, Quincy Jones was a leader whose legacy offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to inspire, innovate, and excel. Here are four of the most impactful leadership lessons we can learn from him. ...