There are highly influential people whose decisions affect the field of action in which they work; Elon Musk is one of them. But the behavior of the mogul behind Tesla and Twitter has already begun to raise concerns among Tesla shareholders, who see him as the biggest threat to the business, second only to growing competition in the electric car market.
According to the Bloomberg Market Live Pulse survey, published this Monday, 26% of those consulted stated that the greatest risk for Tesla in the next two years is Elon Musk. While 53.7% consider that rivals are the main reason for concern.
These results are due to the volatile and unpredictable nature of Musk when making statements and decisions regarding the operation of his companies, and the effect that these may have on the value of their shares.
The last most tangible sign of this situation occurred at the end of last year, when Musk bought Twitter. Market conditions coupled with Musk’s ups and downs at the start of his operations at the helm of Twitter led Tesla’s shares to lose 65% of their value between August and December 2022.
It should be remembered that at that time Musk made two important sales of millions of Tesla shares to finance Twitter operations.
But the idea of this column is not to focus on the volatile statements of Elon Musk, his way of being, but on the responsibility that the subjects who are in charge of organizations on which thousands, hundreds or a dozen jobs depend , or on which the capital of small and/or large investors rests.
The uncertainty that their decisions can generate opens the way to mistrust in their field of action, and with this they not only put the value of their businesses at stake, but also the livelihood or professional career of their collaborators.
If we get out of the big spotlight that falls on Elon Musk and transfer that behavior to any business leader, the consequences can be just as impressive. It seems that sometimes the ego, the megalomania, exceeds the responsibility that must be had in positions of power.
Elon Musk creates uncertainty among Tesla shareholders. What were previously taken as reckless messages, business tactics, are now permeating to the point that they see it as a risk for the company that, in one way or another, they are part of.
But that uncertainty can also be generated on another scale with a comment at a cocktail party, a networking meeting or a business appointment. Elon Musk should be a sample of the consequences that irresponsibility in the image that is communicated can have within organizations.