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| [New Post] Batman, Superman and Positive Leadership
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| This is a big movie that tries to do a lot. Its overarching theme is how powerful people struggle with their power. It focuses on the power triangle of Batman, Superman and Lex Luthor (brilliantly played by Jesse Eisenberg - best villain since Heath Ledger's Joker, IMHO).
I won't spoil anything, but let's just say everybody in the movie struggles mightily with their power (or perceived lack of it). Batman and Superman don't act that heroic. Lex acts like the good guy (for a while). In the end everyone figures out which side they're on. But the struggle to do what's right, to use that power for good, really resonated.
Leadership is a lot like that struggle. You will face choices about how to use your power. Then you'll have to figure out which side you are on. Sometimes you will be tempted to take the easy way out. You will take the low road, using the power of your position ("If you don't like it I hear McDonalds is hiring") instead of relying on the power of your relationship. Each time you choose that path you build momentum in the wrong direction – but choosing the positive path will often seem like a waste of time. Sometimes it will look like the worst move.
Alan Mulally and Positive Leadership
This all reminded me of a terrific article I read recently about Alan Mulally, former President and CEO of Ford. Mulally practiced something he called Positive Leadership (I'd call it Approachable Leadership). From the article:
"On his first day as Ford’s CEO in 2006, Mulally asked to tour Ford’s famous Rouge plant where Henry Ford created the Model T. Mulally was informed by one of his top executives, “Our leaders don’t talk directly to factory employees.” Ignoring that advice, he went to the plant immediately to talk to front-line workers."
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