The View | Bully-boy tactics are fine if there’s logic behind them. But a little bit of politeness goes a long way in making businesses work
Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick’s tactics are said to have led to the creation of a toxic corporate culture emanating from his own behaviour
Do you have to be nice to become a successful businessperson? And what about if you are really personality-challenged – how does that work out?
The answer is that it worked out fine, but then again not so fine, for Travis Kalanick, who has just stepped down as chief executive of the ride-hailing service Uber, following a request from investors to move aside in the wake of a slew of allegations over sexual harassment and abuse of employees.
Kalanick said in a statement to The New York Times on Tuesday his resignation will allow the ride-sharing firm to go back to building itself, rather than become distracted by another fight.
But it was his personality and behaviour, say many, that led to the creation of a toxic corporate culture at Uber.
On the other hand, Kalanick is responsible for building Uber, the taxi company that prefers to be known as a ride-sharing service, into one of the most successful hi-tech start-ups with revenues last year of US$6.5 billion and a presence in 70 countries, including a troublesome entry into the Hong Kong market.
Even Kalanick admits he is not the nicest person on the planet and has said he will use his indefinite leave to work on personality problems. Oh, and by the way, although Uber does a great deal of business it does not actually make any money; in fact last year it lost US$2.8 billion.
