The key lesson that Tim Cook learned from Steve Jobs: changing your mind to lead

Tim Cook, current CEO of Applehas highlighted on several occasions the influence that Steve Jobs, co-founder of the company, had on his development as a leader. One of the most important lessons he learned from Jobs was the ability to change his mind when presented with new evidence, a rare trait in the business world.

In a recent interview, Cook explained that one of Jobs’ most admirable skills was his willingness to revise his views. ““Steve changed his mind when someone showed him the right arguments.”Cook said. This openness to new ideas was key to leading Apple to become the technology company it is today.

Cook recalled how he left a stable career at Compaq to join Apple, at a time when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. Despite the difficulties, Cook assures that was “the best decision of my life”. He worked alongside Jobs for more than a decade, and witnessed how the Apple founder did not hesitate to rectify when circumstances required it.

According to Cook, few people have the ability to change their minds, since most stick to their initial beliefs. “Not many people can let go of their past opinions. Steve did it, and That ability was one of the most surprising that I discovered in him”he explained.

Science also supports this idea. Studies have shown that changing our minds is difficult due to cognitive biases and emotional factors that influence our beliefs. According to Professor Keith Bellizzi, Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Connecticut, “People tend to hold on to their opinions, even when presented with evidence that refutes them.”.

This mental flexibility, also known as cognitive flexibility, is crucial in leadership.. Cook stressed that, as Apple’s leader, he seeks to apply that lesson learned from Jobs. Accepting that you may be wrong and being willing to modify your ideas based on new data allows you to make better decisions.

Like Jobs, other leaders, such as Jeff Bezos, also highlight the importance of changing your mind to maintain an adaptive and effective approach to business decision-making.