Business-culture Quote by Walter Isaacson
““Bob Iger, Disney's chief operating officer, had to step in and do damage control. He was as sensible and solid as those around him were volatile. His background was in television; he had been president of the ABC network, which was acquired in 1996 by Disney. His reputation was as an corporate suit, and he excelled at deft management, but he also had a sharp eye for talent, a good-humored ability to understand people, and a quiet flair that he was secure enough to keep muted. Unlike Eisner and Jobs, he had a disciplined calm, which helped him deal with large egos. " Steve did some grandstanding by announcing that he was ending talks with us," Iger later recalled. " We went into crisis mode and I developed some talking points to settle things down.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, 2011
Bob Iger’s steady, pragmatic leadership helped Disney navigate crises and manage volatile personalities, using calm and talent insight.
In simple terms: Calm leadership steadies crises.
Key Takeaway
Embrace calm, focus on talent.
Themes
leadership
crisis management
talent spotting
Mood
steady
analytical
Type
business
leadership
insightful
When to use this quote
- corporate crisis
- executive decision making
- team dynamics
Key Concepts
organizational behavior
emotional intelligence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can calm leadership be balanced with decisive action?
- What role does talent insight play in crisis resolution?
A Different Perspective
Calm alone may not solve deep systemic issues.
