It seems on the surface little, but when you look at it more closely, a lot.
Both are (or were) leaders, who found themselves in that place through performance, and the promise of more to come.
Both are young, and you cannot put an old head on young shoulders, no matter how much you would like to, and how smart they might be.
Both are in the public spotlight, and have been for some time, without any real preparation.
Both are leading organisations in which many of us have a lot of emotion invested.
Both are paid outrageous amounts of money. OK, Zuck is a multi billionaire, and Smith just has a lazy 10 mill or so in his accounts, but how much does one person really need?
Both have made unbelievably stupid decisions that have destroyed the trust most had in them and their institutions.
This led me to think about the questions a leader should ask themselves in their quiet moments, those they have available for a bit of introspection.
How should we make smarter decisions?
What is the best way to get the job done?
What do we have to change?
What does success look like?
How will we prosper?
What disciplines need to be in place?
How do we attract customers?
How do we innovate and differentiate?
What really gets the job done?
What sacrifices do we need to make?
What does leadership mean to me?
How do we become the best we can be?
How do I want others to see me?
Pity they both did not subject themselves to these questions, and perhaps many others, before they forever dumped on themselves.
They did however ask themselves one of the key questions left, but came up with the wrong answer.
How will we win?
Mark of course can afford to retire, and do anything he likes, any time. I assume Steve can as well, should he choose to, although early retirement may not be what he planned, and the comfort of it may be compromised. I personally hope he does not, but waits out the ban, then regains his place in the test team on performance. I question however his right to ever again be captain, but the wisdom gained from current experience will be valuable to whoever may be so honoured.
