Zuckerberg called ‘Eye of Sauron’ by employees

There are many styles of leadership that can be used to motivate and get the best out of teams. However, few managers would like to be compared to a fictional character shrouded in darkness.

While it may not be the most flattering title, Mark Zuckerberg has fully embraced being referred to as the ‘Eye of Sauron’ by his employees at Meta.

In a rare interview with The Tim Ferriss Show, the founder of Facebook gave insight into his relationship with his employees.

Zuckerberg noted: “Some of the folks who I work with at the company, they say this lovingly, but I think they sometimes refer to my attention as the ‘Eye of Sauron'”.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of JRR Tolkien’s seminal The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sauron is the antagonist of the story.

In the cinematic adaptation by Peter Jackson, Sauron’s vision has a literal appearance as a giant flaming eye that torments the ring bearer when it spots them.

It’s unclear whether Zuckerberg simply believes that his workers feel they are getting his full attention or if they feel a fiery blaze of pressure.

Managing teams under pressure

Zuckerberg unpacked how he likes to work: “You have this unending amount of energy to go work on something, and if you point that at any given team, you will just burn them.”

As a result, the CEO tries to balance his input and focus between teams. The idea is that reserving focus will make teams feel at ease and allow them to do the best work possible.

Zuckerberg commented: “Getting that balance right is an important thing for the sustainability of the organization.”

Some managers will want to avoid any nicknames spawning from The Lord of the Rings, but Zuckerberg raises a valid point about switching his attention between different teams.

No one wants to be micromanaged, and in a climate where employees are asking for flexibility, it is also key to trust them to do their jobs properly in their own schedule. This not only improves morale but can be a benefit to retention amid the ‘Great Resignation‘.

Steve Knox, VP of global talent acquisition at Ceridian, previously discussed burnout and employers: “The relationship between employer and employee has fundamentally changed over the course of the pandemic, creating a reset in expectations as employee needs rapidly evolve.

“It comes down to the employee experience – from the way people get paid, to where, when, and how they work. The organizations that solve for these factors first will be the employers of choice moving forward.”  

If you want to be a successful employer, it is essential that your eye is not synonymous with doom as employers look for rings to disappear from your view. Instead, you need to encourage flexibility and a fellowship of wellbeing.