In a podcast interview, a former Tesla employee revealed how Elon Musk handles potential firings.
Former Tesla manager shares his experience working under Elon Musk
Carl Medlock, a former Tesla employee, has revealed what it was like to work for Elon Musk.
He worked at Tesla from 2009 to 2013 as a territory manager.
During a podcast interview, he shared insights about Musk’s leadership style and how employees could tell if they were about to be fired.
Micromanagement meant trouble at Tesla
Medlock explained that Musk rarely micromanaged employees. When he did, it often signaled an impending termination.
“If Elon is micromanaging you, you’re probably on your way out,” Medlock said. “He hires good people and lets them do their thing.”
According to Medlock, Musk trusted his team. However, excessive oversight suggested he had lost confidence in someone’s abilities.
Elon Musk’s reserved nature in the workplace
While working for Tesla was exciting, Medlock noted that Musk was not known for socializing with employees.
“He would talk to you if he needed to,” Medlock explained. “But he didn’t just go around chatting with people.”
Unlike some CEOs, Musk was not one to joke around with staff. Medlock admitted, “I never saw it.”
Despite his reserved nature, Musk commanded great respect from his employees. Medlock shared an unspoken rule among staff.
“One of the respectful things that everybody at Tesla did without even saying it, when he was with kids, nobody disrespected him – nobody went over there and talked to him.” Medlock said.
This level of respect demonstrated the strong professional boundaries Musk maintained.
How did Medlock got fired from Tesla?
During the podcast, Medlock recounted the events that led to his dismissal.
The situation involved a Tesla customer in Hawaii who had persistent issues with her car.
“An email came from someone high up at Tesla telling me to fix the problem,” Medlock said.
His boss, however, disagreed with sending resources to Hawaii.
“He told me, ‘I don’t care what he says, you’re not going for more than $500,’” Medlock recalled.
Medlock insisted that Tesla should help the customer, who had been unable to drive her car for three years.
He arranged for his son to travel to Hawaii with the necessary tools.
The customer was thrilled with the service. However, Medlock’s actions ultimately cost him his job.
“My boss told HR that the trip was unauthorized,” he explained. “We got fired for an unauthorized trip to Hawaii.”
Final thoughts on working for Elon Musk
Despite his termination, Medlock described working for Musk as a positive experience.
He respected Musk’s leadership and admired Tesla’s mission. However, his story highlights the strict internal policies that governed the company.
Musk’s leadership style remains a topic of debate. Some admire his high standards, while others believe his approach is too intense.
Either way, Tesla employees know that micromanagement from Musk is rarely a good sign.