If you personally know a math teacher who instilled a love of science in his students, or a manager who motivated his subordinates to new achievements every day, you are lucky. Because we mostly get ideas about real leaders not from real life, but from other sources – movies and TV series.
The concept of “leadership” in our minds is flexible. We can consider a leader someone whose behavior inspires us, or someone who helps us to study ourselves on a deeper level. But if we stick to the dictionary definition of the word “ leader ” — “a person who enjoys authority and influence in a group” — it turns out that cinema often misleads us. Here are just five examples.
1. You have to be a leader, not a manager
Modern movies have conditioned us to think of managers as inferior creatures, obsessed with routine tasks. Think of Dwight Schrute from The Office or Peter Gibbons from the comedy Office Space . In contrast, there are leaders. They are different, breathing a special air of inspiration, unique vision, and brilliant strategic thinking. But it wasn’t always like that.
For example, Lucius Fox was in the Batman universe before “manager” was a dirty word among screenwriters. The CEO of Wayne Enterprises, which handles Bruce Wayne’s worldly affairs, is not only an incredibly effective manager, but also a man of great character. Interestingly, he’s not in the latest Batman movie , which may be saying something.
The dichotomy between managers and leaders is deeply ingrained in the minds of many, including those preparing to pursue a career in management. It is a dangerous view, because an organization with only inspirational leaders with a “global vision” and no managers who are responsible for the fundamental work processes will quickly fall apart. Moreover, in such circumstances, leaders will not be able to inspire others for long. If they do not roll up their sleeves and ensure that work is distributed effectively, they will quickly lose the respect of their team.
2. Real leaders never wanted to lead other people.
Like Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games or Neo from The Matrix, they take on responsibility because that’s what others want them to do. This myth is best articulated in The Two Popes , where the cardinal, quoting Plato, says that the most important quality of a leader is not wanting to become one.
In fact, research shows that the opposite is true: the most important indicator of a future leader is not intelligence or character, but the motivation to be one. The belief in the opposite makes most of those who take on this role because they want to doubt how worthy they are, because their leadership is not connected to any crisis or the will of the people.
Leaders who are kind to themselves are kind to everyone else. It’s okay to want to lead, to take a leadership role, to make mistakes and learn from them.
3. Humility and empathy are all it takes to become a leader
Ted Lasso begins coaching an English football club with very little knowledge of the game. Although he has little power in his new role, through a combination of modesty and kindness, he turns the players into a real team in which everyone loves each other.
The delightful Ted Lasso series (at least its first season) is a useful reminder to all leaders of the importance of redirecting some of their efforts toward empathy and caring for others. But if that’s the only way to guide them, it’s a terrible model.
Leadership is impossible without power. Yes, its source does not necessarily have to be a position or experience. It can also be personal, so-called referent power, which is based on charisma or exceptional intelligence. However, a strong manifestation of these qualities requires enormous self-confidence , and it is fueled by positive social feedback. In other words, even personal power originates in social power, which must be fought for one way or another.
A leader must understand how power works, how to obtain it, and how to use it to its full potential while maintaining moral standards. Research shows that the humble leadership that has been so praised lately is ineffective when the leader lacks power.
4. If a leader has a great idea, he will implement it despite any resistance.
Because the results will prove him right anyway. This formula always works in movies because viewers like to watch the main character succeed , despite everything and despite other people’s opinions.
For example, the protagonist of the biographical drama Moneyball promotes his innovative way of selecting players and managing a baseball team. But he makes no effort to persuade, cajole, or otherwise influence the management and scouts who are responsible for finding talented athletes.
If a leader in real life tried to make change happen without first selling his idea, finding early adopters and reliable allies, his grand plan would fail long before the opening credits stopped rolling.
5. A leader knows what other people need better than they know themselves.
Dead Poets Society, Coach Carter , Remember the Titans—one of these movies usually comes to mind when people think of inspirational leaders. They are great movies, to be sure. But the adult-to-child leadership of teachers or coaches is fundamentally different from the adult-to-adult leadership of managers.
Sometimes, especially when we idolize our leaders (what research even calls “leadership”), we expect them to know everything about the job and what’s best for us. And we abdicate responsibility for our decisions, our choices, and our own development.
This myth has very serious implications for young people who are still wondering if they have what it takes to be leaders. Research shows that fears in this situation are a powerful deterrent. They affect what we expect from leaders and what they expect from themselves.
Of course, cinema leaves its mark on our entire lives, not just on our ideas about leadership. Most good films ask the age-old questions of “How to live?” or “What is a life well lived?” and try to answer them at least partially. The key is to maintain critical thinking and enjoy the films, rather than transferring the on-screen stories to the real world.