T J Rodgers
QUESTION 1
How would you describe the management style of T.J. Rodgers?
T.J. Rodgers management style is described as aggressive, rigorous and down right in your face. As CEO, Chief Executive of Cypress Semiconductor and author of the book, “No Excuses Management”, Rodgers has developed an almost fear inducing management style. On the wall of his San Jose, California office hangs a plaque that reads, “BE REALISTIC, DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE” which exemplifies exactly what Rodgers expects from his employees, Perfection! At Cypress he disregards anyone who engages in what he considers sloppy thinking and no one is shielded from his wrath. He’s known for what some employees refer to as his “drooling psycho face,” which features bulging veins and narrowed eyes, followed by some fist pounding and a barrage of verbal lashing that leaves no doubt of his displeasure.
Surprisingly honest about what he calls his punishment management style, Rodgers describes working at Cypress as “crawling through a muddy battlefield.” It is said that in the past, some employees complained about the long hours. Rodgers got some old army cots and pillows and placed them outside the bathrooms to remind them how easy they had it just working 12 to 14 hour days as compared to when he and other company founders used these cots in the early 1980s when some literally slept in the office. One thing remains certain however, no one has ever accused Rodgers of having a double standard. He holds himself just as accountable as he holds his employees. At one point the CEO fell behind is his own duties and got his pay check cut off. He subsequently had to sell some of his Cypress stock to pay his bills.
QUESTION 2
How suitable is Rodgers’ attention to detail for a top level manager? “If everyone in our company made ordinary business decisions in a commonsense way, we would be unstoppable,” says Rodgers. “It turns out that very few people at our company or anywhere else make ordinary business
How would you describe the management style of T.J. Rodgers?
T.J. Rodgers management style is described as aggressive, rigorous and down right in your face. As CEO, Chief Executive of Cypress Semiconductor and author of the book, “No Excuses Management”, Rodgers has developed an almost fear inducing management style. On the wall of his San Jose, California office hangs a plaque that reads, “BE REALISTIC, DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE” which exemplifies exactly what Rodgers expects from his employees, Perfection! At Cypress he disregards anyone who engages in what he considers sloppy thinking and no one is shielded from his wrath. He’s known for what some employees refer to as his “drooling psycho face,” which features bulging veins and narrowed eyes, followed by some fist pounding and a barrage of verbal lashing that leaves no doubt of his displeasure.
Surprisingly honest about what he calls his punishment management style, Rodgers describes working at Cypress as “crawling through a muddy battlefield.” It is said that in the past, some employees complained about the long hours. Rodgers got some old army cots and pillows and placed them outside the bathrooms to remind them how easy they had it just working 12 to 14 hour days as compared to when he and other company founders used these cots in the early 1980s when some literally slept in the office. One thing remains certain however, no one has ever accused Rodgers of having a double standard. He holds himself just as accountable as he holds his employees. At one point the CEO fell behind is his own duties and got his pay check cut off. He subsequently had to sell some of his Cypress stock to pay his bills.
QUESTION 2
How suitable is Rodgers’ attention to detail for a top level manager? “If everyone in our company made ordinary business decisions in a commonsense way, we would be unstoppable,” says Rodgers. “It turns out that very few people at our company or anywhere else make ordinary business