Pete Docter, a long-time Pixar executive, recently shared insights about working with Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple and former CEO of Pixar. Docter, who has been with Pixar for 35 years, had the opportunity to observe Jobs closely and identified both a key leadership strength and a significant habit that defined Jobs’ approach. According to Docter, Jobs excelled at distilling conversations down to their essence and delivering the core idea succinctly.
“He could walk into rooms where he knew nothing about what was going on,” Docter explained, “sit for about five minutes and analyze what the conversation was really about.” This ability made it easier for Jobs to help employees solve problems, a skill that Docter believes came from years of practice rather than inherent talent.
Key leadership lessons from Jobs
However, Docter also pointed out a habit of Jobs that he hopes never to adopt: his disregard for people’s personal time.
“He would call — especially the producers — at any time, day or night, 3 in the morning, you’re on vacation, doesn’t matter,” Docter recalled. “He wants to talk to you about it, you’re on.” While Docter assumed this habit stemmed from Jobs’ intense passion for his work, he tries to avoid similar practices in his own leadership style. Despite understanding Jobs’ motivation, Docter is aware that contacting employees outside of business hours is something his wife encourages him to stop doing.
These insights from Docter highlight the balance of strengths and challenges that came with Jobs’ leadership style, offering valuable lessons for leaders in any industry.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
