Who’d have thought that ‘Management by Walking Around’ (MBWA) was actually ‘invented’ by US President Abraham Lincoln? MBWA reputedly originated at Hewlett Packard in the 1970s, and was brought to wider attention by management consultants like Tom Peters. But according to historian Stephen Oates, it really started when Lincoln began informally inspecting… Read More »Walking the job – lessons from Lincoln
One of the best exponents of Kouzes and Posner’s leadership behaviour of ‘model the way’ is surely Nelson Mandela. Both Invictus and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom illustrate this as Mandela overcomes his personal feelings of bitterness and anger to model the behaviours needed to create a new South Africa: forgiveness… Read More »How Bridge of Spies can help you ‘model the way’
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 marks the end of a hugely successful film series based on Suzanne Collins’s dystopian trilogy. And central to that success is the character of Katniss Everdene (played by Jennifer Lawrence), the insecure but feisty teen who becomes the focal point for the rebellion. So what… Read More »Why showing emotion makes Katniss an authentic leader
In Apollo 13, Flight Director Gene Kranz overhears two NASA directors discussing the low survival chances for the crippled spacecraft. “I know what the problems are Henry,” one of them says. “This could be the worst disaster NASA has ever experienced.” “With all due respect Sir,” Kranz intervenes, “I believe… Read More »Apollo 13 and the power of the counterfact
The first time I saw a presentation on the five practices of Kouzes and Posner’s The Leadership Challenge, the presenter chose a well-known leader from business or politics to illustrate each practice. It was a presentation that ‘stuck’, and I became increasingly fascinated with the five practices as a result. … Read More »Five movie leaders to take on the Leadership Challenge
Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this, ever in flesh and blood, walked upon this Earth. Albert Einstein Of all great leaders through history, there can be few to match the aura that surrounds Mohandas K Gandhi, the Indian spiritual leader and subject of Richard… Read More »Lead like Gandhi: one trait every leader should learn
Many organisations have a vision and values, but only in the best does that vision truly galvanise its people and result in better performance. Why? Because often that vision either isn’t compelling enough, or leaders fail to act consistently with the goal they have set out. In Mel Gibson’s stirring though… Read More »Why Braveheart’s clarity of vision can help every leader
Imagine you’re in a meeting with 11 of your peers. They are all in agreement and keen to move on. You are the only one to have doubts, but the stakes are extraordinarily high: a man’s life. What do you do? That’s the premise of Sidney Lumet’s 1957 film 12… Read More »Six ways to influence 12 angry men