Acting Jobs

I just watched the Danny Boyle directed movie Steve Jobs.
It left me wondering what makes a good boss? Are these the same characteristics needed to be a good leader?
More on those questions later. First, though, my review of the movie itself.

The film is essentially a three act play centering around product events:

• The launch of the Macintosh
• The launch of the Next
• The launch of the iMac

Aside from these 3 product launches, the movie includes a sprinkling of flashbacks.  Some depict Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the iconic garage, pre-fame and long before Apple became "the most valuable company in the world". I like the pared down scope of the movie. It reminded me of Apple's legendary clean design. The focus on (mostly) just 3 events is a significant departure from many of the other books and movies about Apple and/or Jobs, which typically join many more of the dots for us. The latter approach includes Walter Isaacson's excellent book and biography, also titled Steve Jobs. However, for a 2 hour movie to cover all of that ground would, by definition, lead to dilution and lack of depth.  I also appreciated the choice of Michael Fassbender in the title role.

Fassbender (right) plays Jobs

The actor does not look much like Steve Jobs but he (and the film) manages to convince you that you are watching the opinionated genius himself. The other main character in the movie is Joanna Hoffman.  Coming in, I knew little about her, but I am now interested in better understanding her role in the Apple/Jobs legend.  According to the movie, Hoffman was Jobs's closest confidant at both Apple and Next, and he actually respected her forthright personality.
The movie also does a nice job of representing the Jobs-Wozniak dynamic.  Somehow managing to be best friends despite possessing seemingly opposing value systems.  The story does this without picking a winner.  Jeff Daniels is memorable as John Sculley, a father figure who tragically, in Jobs' view, betrays him.  Finally, the movie riffs on Jobs denial of, and subsequent relationship with, his out-of-wedlock daughter.  The film succeeds in presenting each of these relationships as nuanced, allowing the viewer to empathize with -- and  dare I say understand -- each party.

In summary, a very good movie which I expect to see again.

Genius?  Tyrant?  Both? 

So should we view Steve Jobs as "a good boss"?  Should he be considered "a great leader"?
He seemed to break -- with relish in some cases -- the conventionally held rules about leadership.  For example he would regularly:

• Humiliate subordinates (both publicly and privately)
• Display an extreme lack of flexibility

Yet despite that, he seemed to be able to inspire many around him.  There is also no question that he was genuinely passionate.  Clearly that inspired some around him.
Do we judge a person's "ability to lead" based solely on his/her results and/or legacy?  By that measure, Jobs is, without question, one of the best.  Or must we factor in the methods used to obtain those results?  If so, surely he could not be considered "great".  My theory is that his personality was so polarizing that it resulted in two phenomena.  The first was that he effectively chased away good people who realized they could not work with him.  As a result, many of those that remained were steadfastly loyal, even while recognizing his "quirks".  The Apple/Jobs phenomenon was also, perhaps, largely a result of the place and time (post-hippie, pre-Silicon Valley Palo Alto).

We have not seen a tech visionary or leader like Jobs since his death, almost 5 years ago.  I suspect that we never will.