Weekly series. Please send in your movies via email, twitter etc. Our format :
- Three movies with meaning (and movies you love and recommend!)
- One sentence on the core meaning you take from it
- Send a link to a YouTube clip from the movie that speaks to that meaning
This week three movies I love, each with powerful leadership lessons.
Coach Carter (2005)
The story of the Richmond High School Basketball team (Rich-WHAT !? RICH-MOND), the true story of Coach Ken Carter, who suspended his undefeated team for their poor academic record. He literally locked them out of the gym.
Success is defined in different ways. To Coach Carter, he was interested in building rounded individuals, not just winning basketball games. Define what success looks like for you, then stick to it.
Be the Keeper of the Vision.
Oh, and throughout the movie, Coach Carter repeatedly asks Timo Cruz: “What is your deepest fear young man?”
This clip. As one might say “All the feels”, and for me in particular, as it invokes my favourite quote of all time.
Moneyball (2011)
In which a Baseball team with very limited funds adopts a data-centric approach to hiring, eliminating bias in hiring. People doubt them. They win anyway.
“People are overlooked for a variety of biased reasons and for perceived flaws: age, appearance, personality.” ~ Peter Brand
Bias is everywhere, we all have it. For years, some leading orchestras have had blind auditions, and in 2015 EY in the UK dropped some key academic criteria and also introduced a “Blind” CV (Resumé) process. Since then, over 18% of their student intake would not previously have been eligible to apply, and they have seen a 10% uptick in students from non-private schools.
We are all biased in leadership and decision making. Where are yours ?
Hey, beside all of that, a great film !
Steve Jobs (2015)
Lead, don’t manage. Be, not Do. Keep the Vision.
“What is it that you actually do?” Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (Woz) asks in the movie Steve Jobs, after listing the impressive contributions of other Apple team members.
“Musicians play their instruments,” says Jobs. “I play the orchestra.”
Lead, don’t manage.
Play the orchestra.