Elon Musk's Intense Management Style: From Tesla to Twitter
Elon Musk is known for his demanding and high-intensity management approach, which he has applied to both Tesla and now Twitter. Former employees of Musk's companies have provided insights into his management style, shedding light on what Twitter's workforce can expect under his leadership.
Rallying Employees Around a Lofty Mission
Musk is skilled at inspiring employees with a grand vision and mission. At Tesla and SpaceX, he was able to rally workers around ambitious goals like reinventing the auto industry and making human life multi-planetary. However, the mission at Twitter is less dramatic, focused on protecting free speech rather than saving the world.
Musk expects his employees to work long hours, often 80 to 100 hours per week, in what he calls a "hardcore" environment. Former Tesla and SpaceX employees describe Musk as tireless, with stories of him sleeping on factory floors and couches to lead by example. This intense work culture has led some to feel "exhausted and mercurial" after working for Musk.
Cutting Costs and Headcount
Musk is known for quickly making his companies leaner, cutting around 20% of Tesla's workforce when he became CEO and laying off roughly 50% of Twitter's staff shortly after taking over. This cutthroat approach instills in employees a sense that they are the "best of the best" working for Musk.
Musk prefers to avoid traditional corporate hierarchy, often communicating directly with employees rather than going through management layers. He also focuses on empowering top talent, believing that a few key engineers can be more valuable than hundreds of others.
Raising the Financial Stakes
Musk has a history of motivating employees by raising the financial stakes, as he did at Tesla during the Great Recession. Similarly, at Twitter, Musk has warned that the company may not survive the upcoming economic downturn without significant subscription revenue.
As Musk continues to reshape Twitter, his former employees' experiences suggest that the company's workforce can expect an intense, high-stakes, and fast-paced environment under his leadership. Whether this approach will ultimately succeed in transforming Twitter remains to be seen.
Part 1/4:
Elon Musk's Intense Management Style: From Tesla to Twitter
Elon Musk is known for his demanding and high-intensity management approach, which he has applied to both Tesla and now Twitter. Former employees of Musk's companies have provided insights into his management style, shedding light on what Twitter's workforce can expect under his leadership.
Rallying Employees Around a Lofty Mission
Musk is skilled at inspiring employees with a grand vision and mission. At Tesla and SpaceX, he was able to rally workers around ambitious goals like reinventing the auto industry and making human life multi-planetary. However, the mission at Twitter is less dramatic, focused on protecting free speech rather than saving the world.
Demanding a "Hardcore" Approach
Part 2/4:
Musk expects his employees to work long hours, often 80 to 100 hours per week, in what he calls a "hardcore" environment. Former Tesla and SpaceX employees describe Musk as tireless, with stories of him sleeping on factory floors and couches to lead by example. This intense work culture has led some to feel "exhausted and mercurial" after working for Musk.
Cutting Costs and Headcount
Musk is known for quickly making his companies leaner, cutting around 20% of Tesla's workforce when he became CEO and laying off roughly 50% of Twitter's staff shortly after taking over. This cutthroat approach instills in employees a sense that they are the "best of the best" working for Musk.
Avoiding Hierarchy and Empowering Top Talent
Part 3/4:
Musk prefers to avoid traditional corporate hierarchy, often communicating directly with employees rather than going through management layers. He also focuses on empowering top talent, believing that a few key engineers can be more valuable than hundreds of others.
Raising the Financial Stakes
Musk has a history of motivating employees by raising the financial stakes, as he did at Tesla during the Great Recession. Similarly, at Twitter, Musk has warned that the company may not survive the upcoming economic downturn without significant subscription revenue.
Part 4/4:
As Musk continues to reshape Twitter, his former employees' experiences suggest that the company's workforce can expect an intense, high-stakes, and fast-paced environment under his leadership. Whether this approach will ultimately succeed in transforming Twitter remains to be seen.