Sully not only shows the importance of psychological safety in a crisis, it’s also a great illustration of how cognitive biases can negatively affect our thinking. The movie recounts the real-life ‘Miracle on the Hudson’. After losing both engines from a bird strike 90 seconds after departing LaGuardia airport in… Read More »Why Sully is a great illustration of cognitive biases
Many leaders are extroverts. They make rousing speeches. They have charisma that brings followers flocking to their cause. But you don’t have to be an extrovert to be an outstanding leader. Sometimes the quiet leadership of introverts can be just as effective. Introverts have many qualities that can effectively be… Read More »Quiet leadership of introverts: Marty Baron in Spotlight
Sully recounts one of the most remarkable aviation incidents of recent times: the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’. It also offers valuable insights on the importance of effective crisis communication. In January 2009, Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger III and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles were flying out of New York’s LaGuardia airport.… Read More »Crisis communication: lessons from Sully
Even great leaders have very human failings. In Darkest Hour, Gary Oldman’s Winston Churchill is irascible, insensitive and stubborn. But cometh the hour, cometh the man. In the early months of World War Two, the British Army faced annihilation as it was driven back to the beaches of Dunkirk in France. England stood… Read More »How Churchill led Britain through its Darkest Hour
Recruiting an outstanding team is a challenge for any leader. So imagine that challenge comes with intense time pressure, national media coverage and expectant fans and owners into the bargain. That’s the challenge facing Cleveland Browns general manager Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner) in Draft Day. Even if you’re not an American… Read More »Character over talent, and other lessons from Draft Day
Decision making is a pretty crucial skill. It can also be fiendishly difficult. Our brains, after all, are amazing in their complexity. But they can also trip us into foolish behaviour. What do we do when faced with a difficult decision? In 1772, Benjamin Franklin recommended a process of comparing… Read More »How 12 Angry Men can improve your decision making
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ‘stuff’ you have to deal with? That you never seem to make the progress you want? Many of us do, and that’s why we fail to achieve what we want to, whether at work or in our personal lives. But… Read More »How Zorro can help you regain control and make progress
Last time we looked at three great female leaders from movies – Rita O’Grady from Made in Dagenham, Dottie Hinson from A League of Their Own, and Elizabeth I from Elizabeth. Here are three more, again with contrasting leadership strengths. Erin Brockovich Legal assistant Erin Brockovich shows that anyone can… Read More »Great female leaders in movies: part two