Elon Musk: Questions Surrounding His Achievements
Elon Musk is a well-known business magnate, technology entrepreneur and investor. While he has made major contributions in various fields, some of his leadership styles have raised eyebrows and caused controversies. Musk has repeatedly received criticism for his actions and decisions in leading companies like Tesla and SpaceX. This article helps understand the consequences of Musk’s leadership and some of the bad things associated with him.
Tesla is well known for developing electric vehicles and in commercializing solar energy. The company has recently revolutionized the automobile industry – making electric cars look stylish and not just like a glorified caravan! But Musk has been embattled in controversies. Employees have reported that Tesla’s production goals are too unrealistic and require them to work long late hours, raising questions about Musk’s commitment to worker safety and wellbeing. Furthermore, Musk has been accused of promoting an unhealthy work culture, whereby long working hours and higher productivity are valued more than employee wellbeing.
Musk has garnered criticism for his leadership decisions at SpaceX as well. SpaceX has made great strides in commercial space technology, and Elon Musk’s leadership is said to have been a major factor in this success. However, non-adherence to safety standards such as safety tests and evacuation protocols are said to have been a cause for concern in the past.
Musk has been criticised for his executive decisions as well. In 2018, he tweeted “Tesla stock price is too high IMO” which affected Tesla’s stock price. This was seen as an irresponsible move, both economically and legally, as it caused the company financial harm. Moreover, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has accused Musk of fraud for posting inaccurate and misleading statements about Tesla’s production and sales forecasts in 2018.
Furthermore, Musk has been labelled as an “Divisive leader” by many. He has repeatedly indulged in public battles with mainstream media outlets and regulators, making it difficult for him to collaborate with organisations for which being diplomatic is a priority. He has also been criticised for his arrogance and tendency to take full credit for his team’s achievements. This has made him unpopular with investors and other stakeholders in the past.
Musk is also often viewed as inconsistent when it comes to his management decisions. He has been accused of making snap decisions and changing his mind frequently , leading to a lack of clarity and stability. This affects business decisions, ranging from product plans, to pricing and marketing. Critics also argue that Musk’s ambitious ideas have often resulted in major time and cost overruns, leaving Tesla and SpaceX cash-strapped and on the verge of financial ruin.
Personal and Professional Life Choices Have Been Questioned
The behaviour of Elon Musk has often been deemed as eccentric. His past personal life choices such as smoking weed publicly, calling British divers heroes and then calling them “pedo-guy” on Twitter and his extra-marital relationships have come under scrutiny for being contrary to accepted norms. On a professional level, Musk has been accused of using his position of power to his advantage. For example, many have argued that he uses his companies’ resources for his own needs. Critics have also raised concerns around Musk’s decision to re-open Tesla’s factories amid the Covid-19 pandemic to manufacture ventilators – this is seen as putting profit before human safety.
Musk’s past decisions have also been brought into question. Many have raised eyebrows at how Musk came to be in
