A635.5.3.RB - Video Debrief of Team MA

A635.5.3.RB - Video Debrief of Team MA

I’ve been called an Apple “fanboy” several times. The products, companies and the career of Steve Jobs have been both amazing and remarkable. I have own basically every product Apple has produced. But, none of these great products could have been envisioned or created without the leadership of Jobs and the work of his teams.

As I watched the video, I wondered how I would fit in with the other members of this team. How would my characteristics have fit with the makeup and culture of the NeXT startup team? Would I get along with the group? What could I bring to the table to help the company grow? I came to realize that as much as I liked Steve Jobs as a technological innovator, we may not be the best leader/follower team. I like to be given direction and/or parameters before acting. But I prefer to follow standard rules and practices rather than shifting processes. This may become problematic in fast growing ventures, since these environments may lack the management layers to regularly provide specific guidelines.

In the video, it was easy to notice that Jobs leader of the company and was not afraid to let everyone know. He was the innovator of the company, and his ideas were going to be used. I believed his demeanor illustrated that this was his company and ideas, and everyone else must format their thinking to fit his ideas. I have more of an aptitude to act autonomously and have confidence in people’s abilities and like to interact with peers both inside and outside their ventures on a regular basis. I have a willingness to seek advice regularly, but strong tendencies to need a large amount of counsel before acting may be an issue in this environment. 

I feel leaders also need to have a level of comfort with structure and rules to successfully lead, along with a willingness to have others direct their actions. Leaders in this environment need to be even more rule and structure conscious. 

In general, a concern I have about fitting into the start-up team is the basic thought of starting up a computer company. Per my MA results, I have a strong desire to follow a structure and dislike creating or conceiving new processes or inventing new products. My characteristics show that I would not enjoy being on a team that is driven by creativity. I strive in a work environment where a secure structure already exists.

My strengths lay in being independent, not working for achievement, or risk, while being able to multi-task. Per the MA, it suggests I tend to direct resources to accomplish goals, build infrastructure, and be able to adjust to job requirements. That I am highly driven by internal goals, often to the exclusion of goals set by others. And finally, that I like to identify problems and likely to be motivated to find solutions. So, I have attributes that could have assisted the work and culture of NeXT, but also some negative attributes that could have stifled communication during the retreats.

References

Assessment. (2017). Management Assessment Profile. NextStep Research.

Brown, D. R. (2011). An Experiential Approach to organization Development. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

Петренко, С. (2012, January 19). Steve Jobs Brainstorms with NeXT Team. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loQhufxiorM&feature=youtu.be