Video Debrief of Team MA

A635.5.3.RB

After watching the video above, write a well-written reflection blog, discuss how your characteristics would have fit with the makeup and culture of the NeXT startup team. Your reflection should be very specific to the environment that you witness in the video. Make sure that you use your MA results as the basis for your discussion.

This week’s video provided valuable insight to some of Steve Job’s strategic thinking and leadership methods. The video is centered around Steve Job’s efforts to lunch a new start-up NeXT, after leaving Apple. In doing so, eleven personnel decided to leave Apple as well and follow Job’s in his pursuit of creating another high-tech company. During the NeXT’s first retreat, the team mainly collaborated about the company logo, discussed the expected timeline for distribution, and the actual product needed to get NeXT off the ground. However, during the company’s second retreat, the team began to really focus more on problem solving and many of the limitations that are associated with start-ups such as establishing processes, marketing, making deadlines, and shrinking resources (capital).

As I observed Job’s employ his leadership methods during the first and second retreats, it was clear to me that he is a visionary with extreme passion. He is true to his purpose and expects those around him (team) to contribute to the whole with the same purpose as he demonstrates. At certain points during the team’s brain storming session, Job’s behavior (leadership) could have been interpreted as overbearing or controlling. Furthermore, as his team members began to discuss limitations or challenges, Job’s always reminded everyone of the larger picture (vision) in order to provide perspective.

As I watch the team’s interaction with each other (to include Job’s) and how they brainstormed, I began to imagine how or where I would fit in during this process and environment. One of the main considerations was the attributes and characteristics feedback I received as a result of a Management Assessment (MA) profile I took part in with NextStep Research. The feedback validated what I am well aware of, that I am on the opposite spectrum of operating in a start-up team (small organization). My profile results indicated that I am better suited for a large rapid growth company. Moreover, while the NeXT company was in the beginning states of creating a company with its own culture, processes, and directions; my profile revealed that I prefer to work within an existing framework where I have the need to improve systems, processes, and functions of the department/organization.

Another aspect that may have been a point of friction for me is being in a position where Job’s overwhelming need to be in the “weeds” about certain details. I believe that leaders, for the most part, want to know and understand how some things get done. However, as a leader, I believe one of their most important duties is to find the right people to put in the right places to work out and become subject matter experts (SMEs) in their respective field/duties. Thus, I could understand such behavior initially, especially since the company is a start-up and the situation may need a more hands-on approach. However, if this behavior was indicative of normal behavior or an indication of what was to come, I would have significant reservations about remaining with the company.

Another important factor, as revealed by the MA profile, I have a low desire for personal risk. The start-up environment at first seemed intriguing to me because of its dynamic nature, however, at the end of the day and going back to working more effectively in a framework, dealing with the minute details from everything to logos, bank accounts, office space, etc. is far from interesting to me. Furthermore, having jumped off the Apple ship to begin the start-up endeavor would be well outside of my comfort zone.

The factors I believe that would have played to my strengths in the NeXT brainstorming (start-up) environment, according to the MA profile, is that I very aggressive with internal goals and that I am highly motivated by challenges and to excel. Furthermore, that I have a strong desire to solve problems and prefer operating in a fluid environment. With such characteristics, as I alluded to above, the start-up environment at first provides a formidable challenge suited to my strengths. While assessing the situation holistically, I believe that if or when my internal goals have sifted as a result of the mundane issues associated with a start-up; taking my time and effort away from my purpose, my desire to remain would wane. Thus, overall I believe that my attributes and characteristics would prevent me from flourishing in the NeXT (start-up) environment.

References

EverySteveJobsVideo. (2014). Entrepreneurs. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNeXlJW70KQ.

Management Assessment Profile. (2017). NextSteps Research.