Move Away from the "Genius with a Thousand Helpers" Mentality

Alright, so this one might be a little bit similar to the last post, but it is something that needs to be reiterated.

Actually the term "Genius with a Thousand Helpers" is a Termed that I found to be particularly telling from Good To Great. I've also briefly touched on this subject before, but lets get a little more in depth with it.

What is a "Genius with a Thousand Helpers"? Well... lets see... how about we think of someone like Steve Jobs, the famed founder and current CEO of Apple Computers. He definitely is a technological, marketing, and business genius. He envisioned the golden age of personal computers, turned a shiny white little box into the IT-gadget of the past decade, and turned a small computer company that should have been blown out of the water years ago, into a money making machine.

OK, so now you might be asking... "Why is this bad... it all ended up well?"

I would answer, that it's not as simple as this. Jobs has also been labeled as one of Silicon Valley's leading egomaniacs by Fortune magazine, and it was probably this "genius bordering on insanity" that got him fired from Apple computer in the mid 1990's.

Sure, you can be domineering, bark orders, and not take any advice from others... but how long do you think that will last? How long do you think people will follow you no matter how much money you try to coerce them with?

Jobs lasted about 15 years before he was fired from the company that he founded. It seems almost luck that he has been able to come back to the company as it's CEO. But think how limited the company is. It can only grow as far as Job's vision, because he will not tolerate differing ideas. (Arguments from critics are often quickly dismissed as "bullshit"). Also, I'm generalizing here, but to him, the other senior management in the company, are merely "helpers". People who "make the company work" but do not determine the grand strategies of the company.

The most obvious problem with this is that, treating employees as "peons" doesn't do much to keep them happy, motivated, and productive. Secondly, not allowing team members to make decisions on their own, stunts their own development as leaders. Who will be able to take over the company if this "genius" leaves/retires/dies? No one will have the proper skills to properly take the reigns. Finally, two heads are better than one --> a whole team of heads is definitely better than one (that is if everyone is communicating in an effective and respectful manner).

To me, I think these "Genius's with a Thousand Helpers" or "Rockstar Leaders" just like feeding their egos. Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by people who always acquiesce to your "superior intellect / leadership abilities / whatever". But for me, I think I would rather be surrounded by people who were smarter and better than I am, so that I can maybe learn something from them.

What do you think? As always comments are appreciated.

-Jason