The transition to Tim Cooks leadership style when he took over as CEO at Apple necessitated some changes within the company. This started at the very top as Cook transformed the companys board of directors toward being more finance-oriented as opposed to product- and marketing-oriented. For senior managers, Cook tends to be more hands-off in terms of letting ideas develop, but is much more deliberate, cost-conscious, and careful in his approach. To those employees used to receiving strong direction, it was an adjustment that required a change in how collaboration happened within and between teams. One former HR executive says of Cook, Then you have Tim, who is a processor. He likes to listen a lot. Time and patience are his favorite warriors. One operations executive says of Cooks style, It drives a level of detail so everyone becomes Cook-like.
One of the ways in which Tim Cook has differed from Steve Jobs is in his willingness to openly advocate for values such as privacy, sustainability, and human rights. Of course, once a company does that, it faces challenges from a lot of different directions because every move can be judged on those values. One of the issues that causes the company the most consternation is the companys operations in China. Not only does a large portion of Apples manufacturing come from China, the country is also Apples second-largest market. Cook has driven Apple to become a more diversified company, but its dependence on China has only grown. One former executive explains, If youre talking about making a million a day of something, launching on a dime, and having the capacity to do that, every machine has to be preciseand to have that happening in multiple countries is challenging. The question becomes: Are you relying too much on one place?
Given all the roles he has to play as CEO, Cooks leadership style has to be ready to switch at any given moment. Cook must be ready to drive a hard bargain with suppliers, hob-nob with Apple TV celebrities, and placate political figures in various countries on any given day. He has literally helped lessen diplomatic tensions between China and the United States across three different sitting U.S. presidents (Obama, Trump, and Biden). Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, said, Tim may not be able to design a product like Steve, but Tim understands the world to a degree that very, very few CEOs Ive met over the past 60 years could match.
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14.1What are the challenges for employees when one leader takes over for another and each has a very different leadership style?
14.2Do you think Apples reliance on China for manufacturing is problematic? How much responsibility should Tim Cook bear for this and what should his role be going forward?
14.3Does Cook fit your perception of what a transformational leader is supposed to be?
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