Think Like a Leader
In our vainer moments we all believe there is some magic in the way we lead. And we want to think of ourselves as being a cut above – and magic can refer to exceptional skill and talent. However, it can also mean using mysterious or supernatural forces – and there is not a strong evidence base for that working well in today’s organisations. Our thinking does need to soar though – if we only see the mundane and the routine, we will end up stuck.
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Feel Like a Leader
Sometimes exploring our own feelings as leaders is hard. I like to get behind the meaning of words to help me understand what I am feeling. To do this I check the dictionary and search out synonyms. This explanation of magic - the quality of being beautiful and delightful - helped me feel differently about what leadership can be. Leadership is not always about being strident and pushy. It can make lives better and more enjoyable. Have you ever felt this about the way you lead?
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Act Like a Leader
In the west of Scotland a real compliment is to be told ‘that was pure magic’ so we are capable of taking action that has great effect. And this edition focuses on some real life examples of businesses that indeed seem to do ‘magic’ consistently.
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This listen is a good introduction to the long read from Bob Iger, the Disney CEO. This podcast gives you a bit of background to his book that tells his story and rise to leading one of the world’s greatest companies. His insight and reflections are well worth a listen.
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The Magic of Leadership by Brian Evje
'We may all disparage magical thinking – the belief that our thoughts or actions have consequences far beyond what the evidence supports. But when it comes to leadership, magical thinking appears to be alive and well, according to a study led by Maia Young, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Which leads to an interesting question: when should leaders show the hard work and drama behind their decisions? And when is it better to just make the pronouncements, show the results, and move on?
Broadly speaking, the study, called, “Managerial Mystique: Magical Thinking in Judgments of Managers’ Vision, Charisma, and Magnetism,” shows how people perceive the ability and influence of a leader, particularly when a leader is successful. JJ McCormick wrote about the study for Inc here.
When people see that a leader is successful, but they don’t know how that success was achieved (what I’ll call the view behind the curtain), they are likely to say that the leader is charismatic and visionary rather than hardworking. The study refers to this perception of a leader as a “mystique [that] arises from the intuitive logic that psychologists and anthropologists call magical thinking.” We want to believe in, or at least let ourselves believe in, the magic of leadership.
The authors draw a comparison between leaders and magicians. Even though we know, intellectually, that elephants do not transform into mice, most of us happily go along with magic shows nonetheless. We’re not bothered by the things we did not see – the things that actually made the magic “happen.”'
Read more in the full article.
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The Magic Kingdom is the flagship theme park of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. If you have been fortunate enough to visit you will understand the amazing leadership that goes in to making this place operate day after day all year round.
The numbers are staggering – the Magic Kingdom had over 20 million visitors in 2018; the Disney complex in Orlando had over 60 million. Listen to Lee Cockerell, one of their former senior staff. Funny, entertaining and educational and a 10 minute watch.
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This was spotted in a North Lanarkshire shopping centre in Scotland. It illustrates the global appeal of the Disney stories. The Cars movies, from their Pixar stable, is a classic and has something for everyone of all ages. And the senior leadership lessons from the most recent Cars film hit home with real impact. Storytelling is a great way to teach and an even better way to learn. Even as a mature adult I am still captivated by the magic of these movies.
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Stephen King said ‘Books are a uniquely portable magic’. And this book from Bob Iger drives that message home. I was captivated by this new book – it comes across as honest, showing the joys and sorrows of leadership.
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons in Creative Leadership from the CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger.
Iger, one of Time’s most influential people of 2019, shares the ideas and values he embraced to reinvent one of the most beloved companies in the world and inspire the people who bring the magic to life. He became CEO in 2005, during a difficult time.
Morale had deteriorated, competition was intense, and technology was changing faster than at any time in the company’s history. His vision came down to three clear ideas: recommit to the concept that quality matters, embrace technology instead of fighting it, and think bigger―think global―and turn Disney into a stronger brand in international markets.
14 years later, Disney is the largest, most respected media company in the world, counting Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox among its properties. Its value is nearly five times what it was when Iger took over, and he is recognised as one of the most innovative and successful CEOs of our era.
In The Ride of a Lifetime, Robert Iger shares the key lessons he’s learned while running Disney and leading its 200,000 employees, and he explores the principles that are necessary for true leadership, including:
Optimism. Even in the face of difficulty, an optimistic leader will find the path toward the best possible outcome and focus on that, rather than give in to pessimism and blaming.
Courage. Leaders have to be willing to take risks and place big bets. Fear of failure destroys creativity.
Decisiveness. All decisions, no matter how difficult, can be made on a timely basis. Indecisiveness is both wasteful and destructive to morale.
Fairness. Treat people decently, with empathy, and be accessible to them.
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...without a little reflection, there is no Insight Added.
"A dream doesn’t become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination and hard work."
Kevin-Prince Boateng
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Lead well
Graham and Lesley
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This email is brought to you by The Leader (Scotland). It encourages leaders at any age or stage, in all sectors, to deliberately improve their leadership.
The Leader also provides confidential support, learning and development for leaders.
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