Good Leaders Follow the Example of Movie Directors and Actors
Note: I am sending this newsletter one day early this week because of a road trip to NC starting tomorrow. Next week I will be sending it one day later than usual, on Monday.
Two weeks ago, my wife and I attended the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival in Vermont. This eight-year-old event features narrative and documentary work of first-time and second-time filmmakers from around the world. This was the first time we had attended in four years because of the pandemic.
Some of the films, especially the documentaries, showed examples of wonderful leadership in the public and private sectors. One such movie I can recommend is “I Promise, “ the story of the public school that LeBron James founded in Akron Ohio.
The leadership displayed by the faculty and administrators at that school was incredible. I highly encourage you to find this movie and watch it! I believe it is available on YouTube. Its director, Marc Levin, participated in a panel and called these school administrators “leadership heroes.”
After one of the featured movies, ”A Stage of Twilight,” a panel featured the movie’s director, Sarah Schwab, and the star, Karen Allen. Karen got her start decades ago in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Animal House,” two iconic films.
The panel moderator, Jay Craven, a producer and director from New York City, asked Susan and Karen what were the secret ingredients for a director and lead actor to work well together throughout a film.
Read carefully the five answers upon which they agreed:
-Active listening
-Responding with care and respect, even when you disagree
-Always focus on building trust and being honest with each other
-Being cognizant of your values
-Always striving for authenticity
I was struck by their responses. Isn’t it amazing how those same qualities can help us as leaders be more effective with our teammates and all our stakeholders?
So please follow Sarah’s and Karen‘s lead. As you continue on your unique leadership journey, focus on these same four attributes!