What does it take to be a leader today? We all need a little bit of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and even Frank Baum in us!

I’ve recently been thinking about what it takes to be a leader in today’s world. With Wicked: Part One hitting our cinema screens tomorrow and reflecting on a talk I recently heard Professor Jonathan Passmore give, I’ve been looking to the characters of the classic Wizard of Oz story for inspiration…

The Scarecrow needs a brain

Being a leader is not about knowing all the answers. ?But it is about being able to think strategically. To ask the right questions, to know who the right people are to bring in. It’s about using data and information to make insight-led decisions and take calculated risks. It’s about being able to clearly define and then articulate a vision, a set of objectives and a strategy for how to achieve them. And then share that strategic thinking with others, aligning on a set of common goals.

The Tin Man needs a heart

We’ve long known that emotional intelligence is not a soft leadership skill. It’s a fundamental leadership characteristic. Simon Sinek says “leadership is not about being?in charge, but about taking care?of those in your charge” – and that takes a heap of empathy, compassion, and kindness. Being a leader is about being able to connect with those around you, understand their perspectives, their fears, their motivations, and respond accordingly so that they come with you on the journey. And that takes heart.

The Lion needs courage

The Lion is strong and he’s capable. But he’s afraid. What he learns is that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act despite it. ?Being a leader is about being resilient, about not giving up. It’s about taking a growth mindset, accepting and learning from setbacks. It’s about maintaining positive momentum – and encouraging those around you to do the same. It certainly takes courage to be a leader.

Dorothy builds an inclusive team

Dorothy is important for two reasons. Firstly, what Dorothy does is build a team. She takes the time to get to know each of her companions, she meets their needs, she brings out their strengths. She helps the Scarecrow realise he is already intelligent, she shows the Tin Man that he already has a heart, and she helps the Lion understand that courage isn’t about being fearless but about doing the right thing in spite of fear.

I also notice that Dorothy is a female leader in an otherwise male world. ?Dorothy represents diversity, she represents inclusive leadership. Building inclusive teams that reflect the communities and customers we serve is only going to become more important for strong leadership.

Frank Baum represents systemic leadership

Then finally, the author, Frank Baum. A product of his moment in time, and his story a reflection of the culture, the values and society – or system – in which he operated. He represents systemic leadership. The ability to lead within the context of the wider organisation. To understand and navigate the interconnectedness of that system. The ability to work alongside and with other teams, and not be fixated on your own world – or silo – but to understand the implications of your work on the entire organisation as a whole.

It takes a lot to be a leader.

Leadership is about bringing all of these things – brain, heart, courage, inclusivity and a systemic approach. It’s not an easy ask. And perhaps if, as leaders, we do all of these things perfectly, we could even call it wizardry.

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