Steve Jobs Taking Medical Leave of Absence

Steve Jobs has announced he is taking (another) medical leave of absence from Apple.

Team,

At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.

I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.

Steve

Of course I don't think it is really possible to underestimate the impact that Steve Jobs has had on our modern society. And I wish him a speedy and full recovery.

If not now, then sooner or later, Apple is going to have to confront the reality of a future without Steve Jobs. The company's weakness is that Jobs is the "inspired leader with many minions" style of leadership, and companies that lose these types of leaders tend to do poorly in the transition.

If Apple can continue to run the creative engine at the same pace, then I will gladly be proven wrong about this, and Jobs will have managed to get processes into place that continuously develop people's capabilities to contribute and solve problems "the Apple way." Time will tell.