7 movie characters that we can learn from as managers.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge Marvel and MCU fan. But the WGA and SAG strikes have put a crimp on any new Avengers movies (sniff sniff, sad face) until at least 2024, which means I’m gonna have to watch Endgame for like the gazillionth time.

Fortunately, there are a lot of old greats to watch on Prime, Netflix, and the million streaming services that I forgot I paid for.

On that note, I thought it’d be interesting to take an extra-close look at great leaders in movies. All of these fictional (and some non-fictional) characters have leadership qualities that can be applied to great managers at work.

For example, managers can be visionary leaders by setting clear goals and inspiring their team members to achieve them. They can be courageous leaders by standing up for their team members and making difficult decisions. They can be humble leaders by being open to feedback and admitting when they are wrong. And they can be resourceful leaders by finding unique and creative ways to solve problems.

So let’s start. Shocking that it's a Marvel character...

Captain America

:: Selfless, brave, inspiring, strategic ::

Steve Rogers puts the needs of his team before his own. He’s willing to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult. Great managers empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work, and they develop a clear plan of action and are able to adapt it when necessary.

“That’s great. You did the hardest part. You took the jump, you didn’t know where you were gonna come down. And that’s it. That’s those little brave baby steps you gotta take. To try and become whole again.” ~Steve Rogers

Yoda

:: Wise, patient, humble, insightful ::

In the movie series Star Wars, Yoda is a small, green alien who is powerful within the Force, and a leading member of the Jedi Order.

As a Jedi leader, Yoda effortlessly shares his knowledge and experience with others (as well as his mistakes and battle scars). He’s patient and understanding, yet he’s willing to learn from others.

Great managers and leaders, through wisdom, patience and by building trust, help others to develop their skills and reach their full potential.

“Pass on what you have learned. Strength, mastery, hmm… but weakness, folly, failure, also. Yes, failure, most of all. The greatest teacher, failure is.” ~Yoda

Erin Brockovich

:: Tenacious, courageous, passionate ::

Erin Brockovich, played by Julia Roberts, is a true story about a legal clerk who takes on a powerful corporation that has been secretly polluting the water supply in Hinkley, a small southern California community in the Mojave Desert.

She was a tenacious leader who never gave up on her clients, even when the odds were stacked against her. Brockovich was also courageous in the face of opposition and always fought for what she believed in. Her passion for her work inspired others to follow her and fight for justice.

Great managers do exactly that; they inspire others through passion and tenacity to move towards the vision of the organization.

“See, The Thing Is, It Doesn't Matter Whether You Win, Lose Or Draw Here. What Matters Is That You Were Lied To. You're Sick, And Your Kids Are Sick Because Of Those Lies. If For No Other Reason, You All Have To Come Together To Stand Up In A Courtroom And Say That.”

Coach Herman Boone

:: Disciplined, compassionate, driven ::

Remember the Titans is a true story about the 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team where Boone led a racially integrated high school football team in Virginia to a state championship (in his first season as head coach).

Boone is a demanding and disciplined leader who is always pushing his players to be their best. He is also fair and compassionate and cares deeply about his players.

His ability to demand excellence from his team while also being fair and compassionate are both important qualities for great managers to have.

“We will be perfect in every aspect of the game. You drop a pass, you run a mile. You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile. You fumble the football, and i will break my foot off in your John Brown hind parts and then you will run a mile.”

Captain James T. Kirk

:: Decisive, intelligent, compassionate ::

James Tiberius Kirk is a fictional character, and captain of the USS Enterprise, in the Star Trek media franchise.

He was a decisive leader who was able to make quick decisions under pressure. He was also highly intelligent and had a deep understanding of the people he led. The Starfleet captain’s compassion for others made him a caring and supportive leader.

All of these are critical traits of great leaders.

“There are a million things in this universe you can have and a million things you can't have. It's no fun facing that, but that's the way things are.... Hang on tight and survive. Everybody does.”

Andy Dufresne

:: Hopeful, resilient, humble ::

In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne is a convicted prisoner who has been wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to a life in prison.

He never gives up hope, even when he is faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. At the same time, he’s resilient and able to bounce back from setbacks. The scene on the rooftop where he helped the guard with tax advice, only to give the reward to his peers, illustrated his humbleness and selflessness.

Wouldn’t you want to work for him?

“Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

Billy Beane

:: Visionary, innovative and data-driven ::

In Moneyball (a true story), Billy Beane is the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, a low-budget team that can’t compete with big budget franchises on payroll and facilities. To compensate, he uses data and analytics to build a winning team with players that scouts had shunned.

Great managers can learn from Billy Beane by being visionary and innovative, and at the same time it’s critical to use data and analytics to make informed decisions.

“How can you not be romantic about baseball?”

Welp. That's it for me. Let's hope the parties involved settle their differences, and the strikes end. What do you think? Any quotes or actors in movies that inspire you to be a better leader?