There are many ways people have used movies to teach leadership. Thousands of clips are sitting out on YouTube, on our shelves, and etched in our memories. They capture leadership truths on a big screen with a creative flair that stays with us. Movies do more than entertain us.
I was looking for some simple entertainment in Peter Jackson’s King Kong remake to pass the time on the bike for a couple workouts. If you only know King Kong as a giant gorilla, it’s the story of one man’s extreme measures to film and eventually capture a 2 ½ story gorilla legend from an uncharted island and bring it to New York City in 1931. After experiencing the loss of several crew in the pursuit, this interaction occurred.
I was looking for some simple entertainment in Peter Jackson’s King Kong remake to pass the time on the bike for a couple workouts. If you only know King Kong as a giant gorilla, it’s the story of one man’s extreme measures to film and eventually capture a 2 ½ story gorilla legend from an uncharted island and bring it to New York City in 1931. After experiencing the loss of several crew in the pursuit, this interaction occurred.
Denham (the movie producer): I've risked everything I had on this film.
Captain (of the boat and crew): No Denham, you risked everything I have.
Denham was infected with “teleopathy” – a pursuit of a goal that becomes so strong that all reason, moral perspective, and compassion for people is put aside and justified by the end result. As no surprise, the camera and film was lost, most of the crew was lost, and in the end New York City was torn up and more lives lost including King Kong. In the end, Denham nonchalantly blames Kong and his pursuit of the blonde actress – “It was beauty killed the beast” and walks away from any responsibility he had as the leader pushing through all obstacles without regard to the risks of everyone else.
When teleopathy infects a leader, it doesn’t just impact the leader. It impacts all that they have been entrusted. Leaders, in many ways, are stewards of people, relationships, brand, customers, facilities, money. Each feels the ripple (and sometimes waves) of decisions infected with teleopathy.
Everyday we enter the day with an allotted number of minutes, a role, a team, relationships, and other tangible goods and services. Denham played the part of the irresponsible steward on the big screen. We have the real opportunity every day to be a servant leader to empower and support our teams in our collective work balancing the pursuit of a goals with being a wise steward and leaving things better than when they were given.
When teleopathy infects a leader, it doesn’t just impact the leader. It impacts all that they have been entrusted. Leaders, in many ways, are stewards of people, relationships, brand, customers, facilities, money. Each feels the ripple (and sometimes waves) of decisions infected with teleopathy.
Everyday we enter the day with an allotted number of minutes, a role, a team, relationships, and other tangible goods and services. Denham played the part of the irresponsible steward on the big screen. We have the real opportunity every day to be a servant leader to empower and support our teams in our collective work balancing the pursuit of a goals with being a wise steward and leaving things better than when they were given.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Share your thoughts...