Steve Jobs and Bill Gates: A Comparison of Leadership Styles

This article compares the leadership styles of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, two iconic figures in the world of technology. It explores their backgrounds, family lives, and philosophies, and discusses the impact of their leadership styles on their companies. The article highlights the differences between their approaches and the contributions they have made to the field of technology.

Running Head: STEVE JOBS AND BILL GATES 0
Contemporary Leadership

STEVE JOBS AND BILL GATES 1
Introduction
Bill Gates was born on 24 October in an upper middle class family. As compare to this, Steve
Jobs was born on 24 October that came from humble beginning. Steve Jobs was adopted
child therefore he was self-made. Steve Jobs was having approach that is more futuristic. Due
to this, he went into the debt in the initial year of invention. As compare to him, Bill Gates
was more focused on the present time. Therefore, its plan was proved realistic when he
invented Microsoft. Due to this, Bill Gates has earned the high amount of profit and proved to
be one of the rich man of the World. Moreover, Steve jobs was more outgoing and a good
and effective public speaker. As compare to him, Bill Gates was more reserved (Mauri,
2017). Both these people are taken in the report as they have worked hard in order to grow
well. Besides this, both these people are considered as one of the effective leader in 21st
century.
Bill Gates father William H. Gates is Seattle lawyer and mother named Mary Gates was the
school teacher in the university of Washington regent. As compare to this, Paul and Clara
Jobs adopted Steve Jobs as an infant. Paul was the machinist and Coast Guard veteran and
Clara was working as the accountant. Bill Gates is now the chairman, founder, as well as
chief executive officer of the Microsoft operation. At the young age of 13, Bill Gates started
his career in the programming personal computer. Besides this, it was also given emphasis on
his vision that made him market leader in the software industry (Wallace and Erickson,
2012).
Comparison between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates
The vision of the Bill Gates was that every household as well as business, must have
computer. As per the vision, he was able to tackle the world in similar way. as compare to
this, the vision of Steve Jobs was to bring the top most and personal computing experience
for all the users across the world. Moreover, Bill Gates made the operative system that was
sole to IMB. It was proved to be quite helpful for the Bill Gates (Hunt and Fitzgerald, 2018).
Steve Jobs is the most successful entrepreneur who works with the Steve Wozniak, co-
founder of the Apple computer. Some of the products of Apple include iPod, iPhone and
iPad. All the products of Apple dictate the modern technology. As compare to this, Bill Gates
was the smart student who exceled in science and Maths. He also enrolled in Harvard in the
year 1973 as the law student. He also dropped the college in 1975 in order to pursue the

STEVE JOBS AND BILL GATES 2
Microsoft business with the partner Paul Allen. Both have started their company in the year
1975 that was not proved to be well for Bill Gates. In the year 1979, they have earned $2.5
million. In the recent time also, Microsoft is the most successful business. Equations,
numbers, and economics drove Bill Gates. As compare to this, Steve Jobs was driven by
finding out and studying people. This is the reason he invented the device in order to affect
the people by making their life more easier (Rubens, Leah and Schoenfeld, 2016).
In the starting time of invention, Jobs was not able to work well that went into debt. Bill gates
was however given emphasis on short-term profit and gained huge success. In this way, Gates
as always able to maintain the co-workers and followers in the effective and proper manner.
Besides this, Gates was always to clear the objectives to his followers (Isaacson, 2012). In
contrast, Jobs was not able to experience the benefits of follower leader relationship. Both
Jobs as well as Gates was proved to be master in their fields through their experience and
knowledge. Co-workers as well as followers were able to enjoy the remuneration as well as
various kinds of rewards as their motivation. In addition to this, Jobs was having full control
in order to evaluate the performance of employees in order to determine their rewards and
promotions. Coercive power is also used much by the Steve Jobs in order to get the task done
on time as well as according to the requirements (Grigore and Coman, 2017).

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Leadership style of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs
Bill offers the more participative approach of leadership. Using this, it believes in the getting
the input from the employees in order to ensure the overall success of the company. As
compare to this, Steve Jobs put more emphasis on the autocratic leadership style. Therefore,
it does not collect input from the team members. Besides this, he is the only person in the
charge of decision-making and decides based on the idea of those members rather than solid
evidence. The driving success of the Microsoft (Bill Gates) is the hardworking and
enthusiastic attitude of Bill Gates. Using such mind-set, it believes that business much has
changes and fluctuations that are required to adapt for success. The autocratic leadership style
of Steve Jobs on the other hand may seem harsh, as it has helped in opening the door of
success for the Steve Jobs. By bringing the innovative ideas, Steve has also created one of the
successful technological companies across the globe. Bill Gates was having the business
attitude that helped the Gates in creating the company that come out as the shining star. By
adopting the process of delegation of tasks, Bill was able to develop the company that tends
to utilise the skills of team members in effective manner. In contrast, Steve Jobs has properly
understood the importance of taking risk and therefore, considered as the most effective
leader in taking risk (Krapfl and Kruja, 2015).
Unlike Gates, Steve did not understand the advantages of working together as a team with the
employees of the organization. Therefore, it was seen as the more demanding for its team
members. Steve Jobs was having the creative mind set. It also had the ability to recognise the
skills of the people in unique way as compare to the Bill Gates. Steve Jobs was proved to be
one of the best motivational speakers that has the ability to get people passionate and interest
about something. In addition, it also created the working atmosphere more innovative and
positive (Steinhouse, 2017).
Bill Gates was highly considered in the business world by ranking in the top most 10 fortunes
admired business leaders. The style of Bill Gates leadership style was proved to be quite
effective in the emergency situation where quick decisions were required. Bill Gates has
always given the emphasis on the vision that helped in thinking big not only for himself but
also for the company. Bill Gates was also proved to be the transformational leader that
encourages its followers to share his vision (Gupta, 2017). As compare to this, Steve Jobs
also practiced the leadership style of communication, honesty, learning, and constant. It was

STEVE JOBS AND BILL GATES 4
successful in bringing the best computing experience for the educators, students, consumers,
as well as creative professionals across the world. In addition to this, Steve Jobs was able to
convert the unique and innovative ideas into the technology that has changed the way of
digital technology in recent time. Job challenge has also changed the way to engage its
employees. In addition to this, the most significant information received regarding to the
leadership style of Jobs is that it often lead to bring the conflicting behaviour and bring the
tears in the eyes of its employees (Finkle and Mallin, 2010). Moreover, he sometimes also
fires the employees. In such a way, the leadership style of Steve Jobs was more reliant of his
follower’s capabilities and skills.
Philosophy and Reflection
The philosophy of Steve Jobs was based on futuristic approach. It always believed in making the
future progress. As compare to Steve Jobs, Bill Gates always give emphasis to work on the present. It
helped a lot to Bill Gates in achieving success. I also believe that working on the present always help
a person in working better. As per my perception, it is beneficial to use the participative leadership
approach so that employees also get motivated.
Conclusion
In the limelight of above discussion, it can be concluded that both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates
are icon in the world of technology. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are having different mind-set,
but are hardworking and genuine persons. In the recent time, both the person is benefitting
many persons. Apple is dominating the technological gadget across the world whereas
Microsoft issued by the Office software that is imperative in the corporate world. By
comparing the leadership style of both, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, it is proved that they both
are very different. However, the common thing was the dedication and passion to bring the
innovation in the world of technology. In addition to this, it is also founded that Steve Jobs
have only one set of ideas but he was genius also when it comes to innovation. By learning
from the mistakes, Steve Jobs made the most successful business in the mobile technology.

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References
Krapfl, J.E. and Kruja, B (20150 Leadership and culture. Journal of Organizational Behavior
Management, 35(1-2), pp.28-43.
Steinhouse, R. (2017) Mindful business leadership. United Kingdom: Routledge.
Gupta, P. (2017) Leadership for Manufacturing in the 21st Century. Quality, 56(9), pp.47-51.
Mauri, T. (2017) Why leadership styles matter. Strategic Direction, 33(1), pp.1-4.
Rubens, A., Leah, J. and Schoenfeld, J. (2016) Using Biographies to Teach Leadership Skills:
A Classroom Example. Journal of the Academy of Business Education, 17.
Grigore, A.M. and Coman, A. (2017) The many faces of leadership: an entrepreneurial
perspective. Manager, (25), pp.155-161.
Hunt, J. and Fitzgerald, M. (2018) STYLES OF LEADERSHIP. Leadership: Regional and
Global Perspectives, p.62.
Finkle, T.A. and Mallin, M.L. (2010) Steve Jobs and Apple, Inc. Journal of the International
Academy for Case Studies, 16(7), p.31.
Isaacson, W. (2012) The real leadership lessons of Steve Jobs. Harvard business
review, 90(4), pp. 92-102.
Wallace, J. and Erickson, J. (2012) Hard drive: Bill Gates and the making of the Microsoft
empire (p. 74). New York: Wiley.
Heller, R., van Osch, G., & Hayward, A. (2010) Bill Gates. London: Dorling Kindersley.

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Appendix
Bill Gates
and Steve
Jobs
Compare
Traits (3-4) Bill Gates Steve Jobs
Democratic leader autocratic leader
Work on current approach work on futuristic approach
Always interested in the study and work on people
Equations and economics.
Characters
(3-4)
Bill Gates always takes the participative approach whereas
Steve jobs have the rigid approach.
Bill Gates was having the family support and Steve Jobs was
adopted child.
Bill offers the participative approach and Steve Jobs always
take the strict approach.
BACKGROUND
Bill Gates
Early life
Bill Gates was born on 24 October in an
upper middle class family.
Steve Jobs
Early Life
As compare to this, Steve Jobs was born on
24 October that came from humble
beginning.
Family Life
Bill Gates father William H. Gates is Seattle
lawyer and mother named Mary Gates was
the school teacher in the university of
Washington regent.
Family Life
As compare to this, Paul and Clara Jobs
adopted Steve Jobs as an infant. Paul was
the machinist and Coast Guard veteran and
Clara was working as the accountant.
Philosophy
Based on the current present.
Philosophy
Based on future
What people say about them
People always state that they have made the significant changes in the world of technology. They
have made the innovative improvements by bringing the creativity and some innovative ideas.

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