Creatives everywhere are mourning the death of Apple Computer co-founder, Steve Jobs. I don't know about you, but viewing and reading recent obituaries have introduced a new term (but not a new idea) into my vocabulary--"reality distortion field." Here is some of what Wikipedia has to say about it:
"Reality distortion field (RDF) is a term coined by Bud Tribble at Apple Computers in 1981 to describe company co-founder Steve Jobs' charisma and its effects on the developers working on the Mac project.
"Reality distortion field (RDF) is a term coined by Bud Tribble at Apple Computers in 1981 to describe company co-founder Steve Jobs' charisma and its effects on the developers working on the Mac project.
The RDF was said to be Steve Jobs' ability to convince himself and others to believe almost anything with a mix of superficial charm, charisma, bravado, hyperbole, marketing, appeasement, and persistence. RDF was said to distort an audience's sense of proportion and scales of difficulties and made them believe that the task at hand was possible."
So here's where I call for a show of hands. How many of you have unwittingly invoked RDF to motivate employees or colleagues to go the extra mile, stay the extra hour, complete the extra task, all the while wondering if what you are asking is "unrealistic?" If you raised your hand, you have misunderstood RDF.
To the extent that RDF is a form of magical thinking, the thinker is completely unaware that his thoughts are anything but thoroughly realizable, given sufficient commitment. Such leaders have drank the Kool Aid. Not only have I known leaders like that, but I have been one. And it may not be a good thing.
Steve Jobs, as it turns out, was not a particularly nice man to work with. In fact, he is accused by those who knew him best of being mean-spirited and abusive. Apparently, an office pool existed at Apple whose prize went to the individual most frequently standing up to Jobs' abuse. Interestingly, most of the winners ended up being promoted.
Why is deconstructing Steve Jobs and other flawed heroes helpful? It's a fair question. It is also one that you have probably asked yourself, depending on your own boss, or if you are the boss, your employees. Is Steve Jobs to be emulated or castigated? That's your call. And I would love to hear it.
So here's where I call for a show of hands. How many of you have unwittingly invoked RDF to motivate employees or colleagues to go the extra mile, stay the extra hour, complete the extra task, all the while wondering if what you are asking is "unrealistic?" If you raised your hand, you have misunderstood RDF.
To the extent that RDF is a form of magical thinking, the thinker is completely unaware that his thoughts are anything but thoroughly realizable, given sufficient commitment. Such leaders have drank the Kool Aid. Not only have I known leaders like that, but I have been one. And it may not be a good thing.
Steve Jobs, as it turns out, was not a particularly nice man to work with. In fact, he is accused by those who knew him best of being mean-spirited and abusive. Apparently, an office pool existed at Apple whose prize went to the individual most frequently standing up to Jobs' abuse. Interestingly, most of the winners ended up being promoted.
Why is deconstructing Steve Jobs and other flawed heroes helpful? It's a fair question. It is also one that you have probably asked yourself, depending on your own boss, or if you are the boss, your employees. Is Steve Jobs to be emulated or castigated? That's your call. And I would love to hear it.
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