Update: This article's headline was updated on October 22.
Employees at X, formerly known as Twitter, have revealed their bewildering first encounter with Elon Musk after the billionaire's takeover of the social media platform. Far from the genius many had expected, Musk's erratic and disconnected responses left staff members scratching their heads, wondering if the tech mogul truly understood the company's complexities. "Wasn't this guy supposed to be a genius?" one baffled employee reportedly asked, capturing the sentiment felt by many during the chaotic meeting.
A Chaotic Q&A: Musk's Rambling Answers
The meeting began with Twitter's Chief Marketing Officer, Leslie Berland, gently steering Musk into a Q&A session. Her first question, a simple "Why do you love Twitter?" was met with an incoherent response that set the tone for the rest of the encounter. "I find, like, I learn a lot from what I read on Twitter... It's a great way to get a message out over the phone," Musk began before veering off into an unrelated joke, adding, "Some people use their hair to express themselves; I use Twitter."
Employees were visibly perplexed by the vague answers and apparent lack of preparation from Musk, whose reputation for innovative thinking and visionary leadership seemed at odds with his performance. One employee recounted their disbelief, saying, "I actually turned to a stranger in the Commons and said, 'What is happening right now?'"
Despite the overall confusion, some staff members, like Randall Lin, believed that the reaction to Musk's performance was overblown. "With Elon, you kind of know what you're going to get," Lin commented, suggesting that Musk's unpredictable behaviour was in line with his established persona. Still, when Berland asked how Twitter employees could earn Musk's trust, the answer left much to be desired. "If somebody is getting useful things done, then that's great. But if they're not... why are they at the company?" Musk responded, appearing indifferent to the concerns of the workforce.
Doubts About Musk's Leadership Abilities
This nonchalant approach is not new to those who have worked with Musk before. Carl Medlock, a former Tesla territory manager, noted that Musk has always been detached when dealing with employees facing termination. During the meeting, Musk was asked if he intended to assume the CEO role. Rather than offering a clear answer, he launched into a tangential monologue about his broader philosophy on the survival of civilisation, extraterrestrial life, and the fundamental nature of the cosmos.
Many X employees were left stunned by the apparent irrelevance of Musk's musings, with one former engineer remarking, "He either hasn't given this much thought or doesn't take this seriously." Musk's focus on abstract concepts, rather than addressing the pressing challenges of the company, did little to reassure the remaining staff about his leadership.
Musk's evasive response to the CEO question wasn't entirely unexpected. In a 2020 episode of the "Third Row Tesla" podcast, he admitted that he had initially resisted becoming Tesla's CEO, saying, "This is misinterpreted like I somehow don't love Tesla, which I do; it's just like trying not to go insane with work."
Disbelief Among X Employees
Following the meeting, the sense of disbelief among employees was palpable. According to screenshots shared by X user 'evan loves worf' (@esjesjesj), the overall sentiment was disappointing and confusing. "He did not land the plane," a former executive remarked, criticising Musk's inability to provide clear direction during a time of significant instability for the company.
The chaos Musk brought to X didn't stop at strange meetings. His $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 was followed by mass layoffs that saw nearly 80 per cent of the workforce laid off. Those who survived the purge were warned of "extremely demanding" work conditions under Musk's leadership. His approach set the tone for the company's future, now rebranded as X.
Concerns Over Musk's Leadership
As the dust settles following Musk's acquisition, questions remain about his ability to lead X through its current turmoil. Many employees and industry observers are sceptical about whether Musk can stabilise the company after such sweeping changes. His erratic leadership style and apparent disconnect from his employees' concerns have left some wondering if the billionaire is truly capable of steering the platform through its period of uncertainty.
Musk, who continues to hold the "Techno King" title at Tesla, has dismissed traditional titles as irrelevant. Yet, his approach to leadership, especially in the context of X, has many questioning whether his philosophy on titles extends to how he views the responsibility of running a company. With a significant portion of the workforce gone and those remaining feeling unsure of their future, the future of X under Musk's leadership remains highly uncertain.
