Every summer, millions of people head to the cool refuge of dark movie theatres across the globe to escape the daily grind for a couple hours, and this summer has several blockbusters hitting the big screen, including Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and Man of Steel. With a boost in superhero movies as of late, we at Refresh Leadership decided to look deeper at some of these comic book demi-gods and extract some leadership advice they exude through their characteristics and actions. So, here are a few larger-than-life characters that have graced the silver screen, offering what to do and not do when in a leadership position.
Iron Man
Of all the superhero movies out this summer, Iron Man 3 is by far the most fun – in my opinion. Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey, Jr., is a quick-witted, mechanical genius who builds armored suits to fight back against terrorists. Some of his strengths include a brilliant, analytical mind, a knack for problem solving, and a passion for seeking justice. But with strengths come faults. He can be closed-minded, arrogant, and rash.
As business leaders, we can take Tony’s strengths and use them to better lead our organizations. When faced with an issue, it’s imperative to thoroughly analyze the situation and search for all possible solutions to best serve employees and the overall company. And with that comes the moral obligation to do what’s right and be fair to all parties. Try avoiding some of Tony Stark’s pitfalls by being a leader who is open to suggestions and isn’t too egotistical to admit faults, which can lead to employee disengagement and high turnover.
Thor
Coming off the coattails of a successful debut film and The Avengers, Thor is back, fighting the age-old battle against good and evil. After Thor is banished from his home planet of Asgard to Earth, it doesn’t take long to see this mighty superhero’s cultural differences. Some of Thor’s strengths that complement his strong arm are his strong willpower, take-charge personality, and old-world determination. His faults include a lack of cultural understanding, arrogance, and a hot head.
Like Iron Man, Thor has a take-charge attitude, which is conducive to being a strong leader in the world of business. It’s important for leaders to know where they’re going and push until they get there. It takes strong will and determination to achieve goals while dealing with constant criticism and pushback. But, be careful of taking that determination too far to the point of arrogance and close-mindedness like Tony Stark. Not understanding cultural differences can also be the difference between innovation and overall irrelevance.
Superman
Known as Superman, the Man of Steel, Clark Kent, and Kalel, this character is the Pièce de Résistance to the world of superheroes. Originally developed as a Messiah figure, Superman seems to have it all: super strength, super speed, super vision, and super hearing. Like Thor, Superman is an extraterrestrial being from another planet. He is a good-natured, simple character who is bent on justice, protecting planet Earth, and fulfilling his overall purpose for which he was sent away from Krypton. Though seemingly perfect, he struggled early on with fitting in, doing what’s right over what’s accepted, and his two cultures pulling him from both sides.
We all want to be the “Superman” supervisor, the one who can do anything and everything and lead our team to new heights. To do so, it’s important to be strong against criticism, quick to act during a crisis, able to focus on the overall organization’s vision, hear employees’ concerns, and be willing to not take yourself too seriously. Avoid Superman’s kryptonite by leading to do what’s right, not just to fit in and by balancing company culture.
Sure, analyzing superhero characteristics is entertaining, but embracing some of their leadership traits and avoiding their pitfalls can actually help you be a more effective leader. What other superheroes have good leadership qualities? Let us know in the comments section below!
No comments yet.