In a shocking revelation, former employees of Elon Musk have lifted the veil on his intense and demanding management style, painting a picture of a high-pressure environment that has become synonymous with the billionaire’s leadership across Tesla, SpaceX, and now Twitter. The Wall Street Journal’s latest expos茅 uncovers Musk’s ruthless approach, characterized by 2 a.m. texts and 6 a.m. meetings, where employees have mere seconds to make their case.
Since taking the reins at Twitter, Musk’s management playbook mirrors his crisis-driven tactics at Tesla, where he famously rallied teams around ambitious missions. However, the stakes at Twitter appear less grand, centered around “protecting free speech” rather than the lofty goal of colonizing Mars. This shift has left many employees hesitant, with reports indicating that over half of Twitter’s workforce opted to leave rather than embrace Musk’s vision of “Twitter 2.0.”
Former Tesla and SpaceX staff describe an environment where the pressure to perform is relentless. Musk’s “hardcore” mantra demands 80 to 100-hour workweeks, with employees often found working late into the night. His hands-on approach is evident; Musk is known to sleep at the office, embodying the very culture he expects from his team. Yet, this intensity has its costs. Many employees have recounted feelings of exhaustion and burnout, leading to a rapid turnover of talent.
As Musk attempts to reshape Twitter amid economic uncertainty, he is also cutting costs and staff, reminiscent of his early days at Tesla. The urgency for Twitter to generate revenue is palpable, with Musk warning that without significant subscription income, the platform’s survival is in jeopardy. The pressure is mounting as Musk navigates the complexities of transforming Twitter into a profitable entity, all while facing the fallout from his cutthroat management style. The question remains鈥攃an Musk maintain his vision without sacrificing the very talent that drives innovation? The world is watching as this high-stakes drama unfolds.