Introduction
Elon Musk is a famous entrepreneur and investor who has made a name for himself with his bold and unconventional approach to business. He is the founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and The Boring Company amongst many other successful ventures. His ambition and creativity has made him a leader in the world of technology and business. In 2017, Elon stirred up headlines after he was spotted carrying a sink across a Tesla production facility. Many were curious as to why he was carrying a sink, but the truth of the matter is that he was teaching his workers a lesson, demonstrating that no task was too small for him.
Background and Rationale
When news broke about the sink, Elon’s decision came as a surprise to many. He tweeted about it stating, “Sometimes, when things come up, you just have to roll up your sleeves and get the job done.” This statement encapsulated his philosophy on taking ownership of and willingness to perform any task no matter how simple it may be. His approach to problem solving and his commitment to go the extra mile to get any job done can be traced back to his upbringing. He was born and raised in South Africa and the adversity he faced growing up – from complete strangers telling him he would amount to nothing – shaped his work ethic. He emphasized his leadership lesson, stating, “If someone at your company is asking why they are doing something mundane or menial, the answer is that no task is beneath any of us.”
Relevant Data and Perspectives
As pointed out by Neil Pasricha, director of the Institute for Global Happiness and author of the book The Happiness Equation, deeds like this can be major morale boosters for employees. Workers respond well to visible demonstrations of leadership and values, with 84% of senior executives believing that it’s ‘very important’ for leaders to embody the values and principles of their organization. This not only show that the leader is willing to take action to equip themselves with information to understand what their teams have to do and why, but it also demonstrates that the leader is willing to take on tasks considered to be ‘menial’.
In addition to boosting morale, Elon’s decision to carry the sink embodies a greater message within the business world – an emphatic resistance to a conventional and standardized approach to change. The world of business is ever-changing, and often requires people to break out of the box in order to bring about successful outcomes. Taking ownership of menial tasks and demonstrating the capability to think outside of the box leads to better solutions and efficient trajectories, something that Elon embodies in his approach to problem solving.
Analysis and Insights
Elon’s demonstration of leadership has become a well-known example in the business world. It reminds us of the importance of taking ownership of all aspects of a project, regardless of how ‘menial’ a particular task may seem. Moreover, it tells us to not be scared of breaking the mould and thinking outside of the box in order to bring about more effective solutions.
As leaders, we must push ourselves and our teams to perform tasks that are not always conventional. Teamwork and collaboration are only strong if every member feels as though their voice is heard and their skills are respected. Being willing to take ownership of small tasks encourages increased innovation and contributes to the overall success of a project.
Sustainability
Taking ownership of small tasks also helps to create a culture of sustainability within a company. Sustainability isn’t often associated with small tasks, which is why it is so important for leaders to make an effort to promote sustainability practices even with mundane tasks that are often overlooked. For example, while carrying the sink to the Tesla facility, Elon could have put forth the effort to make it a sustainable experience, through the use of recyclable resources. This could have been a great opportunity to provide his team with a lesson on how to approach sustainability with every task.
Moreover, fostering a sustainable workplace begins with strong leadership, and this can be enabled by encouraging behavior that models sustainability even in mundane tasks. Leaders have a great opportunity ahead of them in taking ownership of the ‘unexciting’ parts of the project and using it to set an example for their team.
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are integral values for any successful business, and Elon’s example provides a powerful insight into how leaders can create a culture of respect and acceptance. Carrying the sink demonstrates that Elon is not afraid to embrace and value the skills of his team, irrespective of the tasks they are being set. All team members are valuable, and their skills and expertise should be respected, no matter how ‘reverential’ they may seem to some. Creating a culture of diversity and inclusion is essential for any business to succeed, and this begins with the leaders and their behaviour.
In addition to this, when Elon shared the photo of himself carrying the sink it prompted a huge mixed reaction on social media. While some commented in shock, many praised the billionaire for his demonstration of strong values, particularly with respect to diversity and inclusion. By taking on small tasks like this he sent an important message to his team and their detractors – that he values every employee and won’t discriminate on tasks no matter how ‘menial’ they may seem.
Emotional Intelligence
Leadership is often associated with a set of qualities that allow one to inspire others, and one of the most important of these qualities is emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence enables leaders to demonstrate empathy and understand the perspectives and motivations of the team, which leads to a more cohesive and productive team. Elon’s example provides a glimpse into how leaders can use their emotional intelligence to take responsibility and inspire their team to do the same.
There is no denying that Elon is a highly intelligent and ambitious leader. His demonstration of ownership and leadership, as seen with the sink example, shows that in order to be an effective leader, one must be emotionally intelligent and humble. Leaders must be able to think with empathy and build bridges with their teams, motivating and encouraging them to emulate this behaviour.
Cultural Implications
Elon’s example has creative implications for the business world, particularly in terms of cultural evolution. His demonstration of leadership and willingness to perform ‘menial’ tasks is one that can be applied to any business, and is an important reminder to put people first, no matter what the task. Such behaviour creates a shift in thinking, helping to foster a culture of welcoming diversity and creating a platform for success.
Involving people in decision-making and taking ownership of small tasks also encourages creativity and allows teams to better understand the organizational big picture. It is essential that team members are encouraged to question the norm and challenge themselves, as this is necessary for true innovation. Leaders should aim to embody these values and create an environment that is conducive of the same.
Emerging Technologies
Innovation and creativity is at the core of any successful business, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have immense potential for companies. These technologies have the ability to streamline processes and operations, reducing time and cost, as seen with Elon’s decision to utilize AI for his Tesla production facilities.
Despite this, the successful implementation of such technologies should not come at the expense of human involvement. People should still be included in the decision-making process, and the utilization of AI should not come as a substitute for the imagination and skill of human workers. Elon’s example shows us how important it is to involve people in everyday tasks and decisions; this provides a learning opportunity, encourages creativity and supports the development of skills.
Collaboration
The success of a business depends on a collaborative environment, and it is integral that leaders lead by example. People will respond to their leader’s actions and decisions, and it is essential that leaders not only embody a willingness to work together, but lead by example. With the Tesla sink incident, Elon demonstrated that he is not only willing to take on small tasks, but that he expects his team to do the same.
Team design and collaboration require leaders who are, first and foremost, willing to collaborate and support their teams. Leaders also have to be willing to involve all team members, regardless of their particular skills, in the decision-making process. Such involvement encourages growth, creativity and, eventually, developments that are beneficial for the entire organization. Involvement in everyday tasks also encourages trust, respect and collaboration amongst teams, which is key to the success of any business.
