Timeless Leadership Lessons from Holiday Classics

Wishing you the happiest of holidays, whichever you celebrate! I’m using some of my favorite Christmas classics as inspiration today. What leadership lessons can we glean from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and a Charlie Brown Christmas? Several! Let’s dig in!

Leadership Lessons from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

1. Celebrate Individuality and Diversity Rudolph's unique red nose, initially seen as a liability, becomes his greatest strength. As leaders, we should embrace the unique skills and perspectives team members bring. Encouraging diversity and fostering an inclusive environment can lead to creative solutions and unexpected success. One of my first jobs was at a package design firm. I always loved how the designers would build collaborative and diverse groups of people to help brainstorm product names. Bringing non-creatives together with the creatives always resulted in a wide variety of suggestions, wider than if it was just the creatives alone. Everyone has their own take on creativity and all takes are welcome!
2. Spot Potential in Others Santa initially dismisses Rudolph because of his nose, but later sees its value. Good leaders recognize and nurture hidden potential in their team, even when it doesn’t conform to traditional expectations. Look for strengths that others might overlook. And help your teams see and realize their potential!
3. Overcome Bias and Judgments The story highlights the damage caused by judgment and exclusion. Leaders should challenge their own biases, avoid snap judgments, and create a culture where everyone feels valued and included. I’ve been on the wrong side of bias and judgment from one or two not-so-great managers - it just plain sucks. Do whatever you can to check your bias at the door and not let it cloud your working relationships.
4. Adaptability in the Face of Change When the storm hits, Santa must pivot and adapt his plan. As leaders, we must remain flexible and open to change, using challenges as opportunities for innovation and resilience. Our teams follow our lead and if we believe the sky is falling with every challenge that comes our way, they will too.
5. Collaboration Overcomes Challenges The journey to the Island of Misfit Toys underscores the importance of teamwork. Strong leadership involves bringing diverse talents together to tackle challenges and achieve goals. I’ve often seen hiring managers that want to hire people for their teams who are just like themselves. That can create a very homogenous team, and not in a good way. As leaders, it is important to recognize that people with different perspectives and approaches make us stronger. There’s an exercise I use to illustrate this point. I call it the “green vegetable” challenge. In round 1, each person gets 1 minute to individually write down as many green vegetables as they can. In round 2, teams of 4-5 people do the same thing - collectively as a team. Every single time, the team comes up with at least 2 times as many green vegetables as the individual round. That’s the power of a team with diverse backgrounds!
6. Recognize and Leverage Strengths Rudolph’s red nose, combined with teamwork, saves Christmas. Leaders must identify team members’ strengths and use them strategically for the greater good. As many are in the performance review season, often we are asked to provide constructive feedback around a person’s performance deficiencies. While constructive feedback can be helpful, it is maybe more useful to talk about strengths so people know where they are already succeeding. When we constantly hear about where we aren’t good enough and need to do better, it can be quite demotivating. Shine a (red) light on strengths too!
7. Resilience in the Face of Adversity Rudolph faces ridicule but perseveres. Leaders should model resilience and encourage their teams to overcome obstacles and persist in pursuing their goals. One way our teams learn is from hearing about our experiences and challenges. Don’t be afraid to open up, be vulnerable, and share your experiences - the wins and the losses.
8. The Importance of Second Chances Yukon Cornelius and the reformed Bumble remind us of the value of second chances. Leaders should allow for redemption, recognizing that mistakes can lead to growth and transformation. Avoid snap judgements and try to give people the benefit of the doubt. They just might surprise you!

Leadership Lessons from Frosty the Snowman

Another of my favorite Christmas movies is Frosty the Snowman. I’ll admit that I regularly shed some tears at the end (spoiler alert) when he melts. He’s got some leadership lessons to teach too!

1. Act Quickly in Critical Situations When Frosty begins to melt, the group acts swiftly to save him. Leaders must recognize when time-sensitive decisions are required and respond decisively. All of us know that we don’t always have the benefit of every piece of information we need to make a decision. We often have to act based on what we have in the moment, using our past experience to guide us. Sometimes we must go out on a limb and then adjust along the way.
2. Know When to Let Go Frosty says goodbye when it’s time to leave, showing grace and understanding. Leaders, too, must learn when to step aside or let go of an idea, trusting their team to carry on.
3. Support and Protect the Vulnerable Frosty cares for Karen when she’s cold, demonstrating compassion. Leaders should look out for their team, ensuring they feel supported, especially during tough times. A few years ago, I had a summer intern on my team who was going through some rough times. We talked about them on several occasions. I was in “listen” mode and let the intern take the lead on the conversation. I offered support and some relevant resources. A few weeks after our conversation and again when the internship came to an end, the intern thanked me for listening and providing some help.

Leadership Lessons from A Charlie Brown Christmas

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Snoopy and the Peanuts. I also love their holiday movie. Let’s see what we can learn from them…

1. The Importance of Vision Charlie Brown sees potential in the sad, scraggly tree, a lesson in seeing possibilities others might miss. Leaders should have a vision and help their teams see the beauty and potential in overlooked opportunities. Communicating vision isn’t a one and done. It takes multiple conversations in team meetings and 1:1s, and often reiterating what’s already been said. Leaders must connect the dots for folks and keep that vision at the forefront.
2. Cultivate Belonging and Team Spirit The Peanuts gang comes together at the end, rallying around Charlie Brown’s tree. Leaders should foster a culture of inclusion and teamwork, emphasizing shared goals over individual differences.
3. Lead Through Vulnerability Charlie Brown openly expresses his struggles, showing that leaders don’t always need to have all the answers. Authenticity builds trust and connection. Sharing struggles and how you’ve overcome them helps teams see that others may be experiencing the same things as they are, and that there’s a way through it. When all we do is focus on the positives, the wins, the successes, it may give others the sense that failures, challenges, and obstacles aren’t welcome.
4. Small Gestures Can Have Big Impact The transformation of the little tree highlights how small acts of care and attention can create profound change. Leaders should celebrate small wins and gestures of kindness, as these can have outsized effects on morale. Recognition and rewards don’t always have to be monetary. A simple “thank you” or written note can reap huge rewards. In a prior role, I took on some work that was well outside the scope of my responsibilities. It really wasn’t anyone’s responsibility, but needed to get done. So, I took it on and when the project launched, I had a hand-written note from our CEO on my desk. That was probably 6 or so years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday. These little things can have a profound impact.

As 2024 comes to an end, take a few moments to reflect on these themes and consider how you embody these lessons and others in your own leadership roles. Whether it’s Frosty’s joyful resilience, Charlie Brown’s steadfast values, or Rudolph’s courage to embrace his uniqueness, these classics remind us to lead with heart, optimism, and vision and to embrace diversity, nurture potential, and create environments where everyone feels they belong. Let these stories inspire us this season to lead with empathy and courage.

?? How do these stories resonate with your leadership journey? Share in the comments!

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