Tightly boxed

I am not a Steve Jobs disciple and do not prostrate myself at the Church of Apple! (But I had nothing against the man!) So I went with an open mind to see this biopic. Wow! This film is tight, intense & compelling with script and acting that had me glued to the screen for two hours, hardly drawing breath. When it came to an end, I was surprised: the time had just slipped by.

The film is set around three computer launches and is almost balletic in how each scene choreographs the same characters into an updated & revised play within a play. Such a clever narrative technique: simple but enormously effective. There is careful use of flashbacks as well, to add context. This is very well dramatised story of one of the iconic people of our time. Go see!

There is a moment in the film when the strategic insight of Steve Jobs bowled me over: I almost punched the air in awe at his overall plan. This film will not teach you how to be a strategist like Steve Jobs (how could it?!) but it will show you the crucial importance of strategy.

Strategy is a daunting concept: I know it scares some leaders. I know it scared me the first time I was challenged to understand it. But I believe we can all be strategists: but we need the space to think, the tools to think with and (to an extent) the understanding of those who believe that strategy is a complete waste of time!

Do you count yourself as a strategist?

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This is Blog 129 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

Moving on

Fathers and Daughters is well acted: the young girl (Kylie Rogers) especially is just brilliant. Russell, though at times a little wooden, redeems himself in his depiction of someone with some significant mental health problems. Amanda Seyfried is convincing and invokes empathy for her difficult character.

What holds the film back is that it is just a little too contrived, I feel. I think the audience is being set up to be moved in just too clunkier a way. The narrative could have had a few more twists and turns: a bit more subtlety? But for Russell Crowe fans none of this will matter. I do hope to see more of Kylie Rogers one day: she is star in the making.

The films poses the question: how much is our present defined by our past? Are we bound by past events to live our lives in certain ways or can we break free, and start afresh? I won't say how the film answers this question.

But I will say that leadership is all about making new futures. Whilst building on the past, leadership must be a process of constant reinvention so that organisations are dynamically matched to their strategic context. Leaders cannot afford to be hooked into the past: the present and future does not allow this!

Are you hooked?

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This is Blog 128 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

Angels

Angels vs Bullies is a independent film that has received nationwide distribution. I think it is a well made film with some excellent acting. This is not a Hollywood film and it is not as slick as you might be used to: but I think they have extracted many quarts out of their pint sized budget.

This film is inventive, funky and will, I think, reach the audiences it needs and wants to: school students. I am guessing the release of this film is timed to coincide with #antibullying week. The score is is great and the cinematography a little jerky but engaging. Go see this, enjoy and support new talent!

One of the things I loved about this movie is that a place in the narrative was found for many people: this is an inclusive film. Which of course, as any film which aims to have a campaigning message against bullying, should have. This film showcases talent in many ways.

Leaders too, need to act inclusively and find places for everyone's talent. It is often said that the best leaders are the ones who can spot and hire talented people. I agree, but I would also add that great leaders are ones who can spot talent in people and help them to develop it.

How do you go about spotting undiscovered talent and helping people unfurl this?

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This is Blog 127 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

Inspirational!

He Named Me Malala will blow you away. The film making itself has received some negative comment (as documentaries go, this is a bit jumpy) but frankly, I don't care. This is the amazing story of a courageous and inspirational young woman who dared to stand up to the Taliban. This is an incredible story. And her story is not over yet!

It is delightful to hear her brothers talking about her and Malala herself telling her own story - in her own words. The quiet strength and support of her Mum and the solidity and vision of her Dad ground the film. But do not be distracted: Malala is the author of her own life. I can only sit back and watch what happens next with her. Her life and her impact on the world, are only just beginning.

On a day when the world hears news of Aung San Suu Kyi's electoral victory after many years of patient & peaceful protest against the military leaders of Myanmar, I can only hope that Malala will follow a similar path: strong, determined and visionary leadership. I believe she will and I also want to believe that through her leadership, all girls (and boys) will get the education they need to create a fairer, more ambitious and abundant world. All children have the right to be happy and safe, and getting the education they need.

As with many such leaders, Malala is without spite or hate. This is what makes her leadership so amazing. May she go on and on.

What aspect of Malala can you emulate?

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This is Blog 126 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

Scouting for zombies

I went to see the Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse with low expectations but I was pleasantly surprised: it was funnier, less gruesome and more philosophic than I expected. But maybe I am a puerile ex-scout with a crude sense of humour and low threshold on what constitutes 'deep meaning'...

The acting is charming, the narrative (in this genre - although there is one zombie bite not followed through...) convincing (albeit somewhat derivative of Shaun of the Dead) and the humour fairly rib tickling. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, for sure. But I enjoyed it and it was quite a contrast with 'He named me Malala' (see next blog)!

So what leadership theme can be surgically removed from the viscera of this schlock horror pastiche? It all comes down to badges and (you guessed it) being prepared!

I came across a story once of a business that paid for employees to take any evening education course they wished to explore. Some of these courses related to the work being done by the member of staff but quite often the flower arranging / history of ancient Egypt / how to plumb a kitchen (etc) bore no connection to the business in hand. But, what the managers of the business found, was that people who were engaged in learning just worked better. And sometimes the skills being learnt found surprising cross overs too. Leadership is all about learning (and sometimes getting the badges). Good leaders want everyone to be doing that.

What was your last badge for?

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This is Blog 125 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

Love at both ends of the bridge

Brooklyn is a solid movie: an old fashioned romantic film in the genre of Brief Encounter or Roman Holiday. Brilliant period costumes and evocation of 1950s New York & Ireland that will press all of your nostalgia buttons, even if you were not alive then!

Delightful and believable narrative with some memorable cameos from Julie Walters and Jim Broadbent. Great acting and cinematography. A story that will come close to breaking your heart... but not quite. A film about families, small town communities and ambition. A good film to cuddle up to: go see.

Where do you belong? This story is all about home, homesickness, belonging and family loyalties: and working out a way that balances all of these. Working out where you need to be is one of the biggest challenges of life.

Once a upon a time, people would join a company, organisation or profession and be there for life. Loyalty was a given. Now in an age when we have a growing number of zero hour contracts and a performance culture which makes continued employment contingent on good work, that psychological contract has been eroded. The relationships between employer and employee are now ephemeral and contractual. How does leadership work in this environment when at its heart, leadership is about two way loyalty?

How are you making your leadership work in this contractual environment?

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This is Blog 124 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

Red for danger

I didn't realise just how scary Crimson Peak was going to be... and I don't usually do 'scary'! But this is a superb film with the most sumptuous sets, costumes, special effects and indeed acting. Guillermo del Toro has done it again. He has managed to conjure up and absolutely unforgettable film that will have your skin prickling and your eyes widening.

The narrative unfolds like a puzzle box: you keep wondering what the next reveal will be. There is mystery, gore and brutality alongside tenderness, love and hopelessness. Like the house at the centre of the film, this will draw you towards a second or even third showing to uncover the layers within. Go knowing what kind of film this is, but do go and see it!

A theme running through this movie is risk taking: how far will you go in order to get what you want while risking all, including your own life? And this means taking a risk when fear is engulfing your body and mind, telling you to stop and hold back.

While hopefully not in life threatening circumstances, all leaders can feel the fear of taking a risk. Arguably, business only expands when people take risks, albeit calculated ones. But how do we handle the fear, a strong emotion that makes us want to stop and retreat? Good leaders know what makes them feel fearful and they have strategies to manage that fear.

How good are you at managing your fear?

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This is Blog 123 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

Ghostly Bond

Let me make this very clear: I am a Bond fan. I have been all of my life and I can run through several 'clips' from Bond movies on my internal projection chamber. But Spectre disappointed me. It felt like a rehash of an old style two dimensional Bond movie. I loved the depth and minor key of Casino Royale and Skyfall: this was a Bond with scars and humanity.

But this film is one location after another in a series of staged chases and tortures, with a linear plot that was as contrived as it was subtle. The CGI and editing is, of course, seamless. But Bond was just a bit too slick for me and when I find myself analysing whether that stunt was a step too far, during the movie, it has gone too far for me. It has been, of course, one of the biggest grossing films of all time, so what I do know?! I just think we deserve a better Bond.

Spectre, like most Bond movies, is played out in a major (not minor) key: there is little room for reflection, sadness and poignancy. Ennui and self doubt are not in Bond's lexicon. Which is interesting as it has been shown that people in a sad and reflective mood have more realistic decision making capability. Emotions are a critical part our decision making ability.

So whilst Bond makes a good field agent where his reactions have to be millisecond tight, he would probably not make a good strategist or visionary leader. Such people need more capability at accessing and working with their emotions. In many ways, it is parade of Bond baddies that arguably are more strategic than Bond himself.

How well do you harness your emotions in pursuit of good decision making?

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This is Blog 122 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.

Witchery coaching

The Last Witch Hunter is jolly romp and nice day out for Vin Diesel's, Elijah Wood's & Michael Cain's talents. It is all fairly predictable, and the narrative gets a little convoluted at times (are we just being set up for a mini series on NetFlix?). It is mostly harmless but it probably won't have you gripping your seat. (I do worry about 12A cert films, as this is, when parents take six year olds along... shouldn't there be a lower age limit...?)

So special effects - tick. Smidgeon of humour - tick. Craggy smile from national treasure - tick. Steamy & brooding eyes from lead - tick. Love interest - tick. It will probably do even better on DVD. A pleasant Sunday afternoon watch...

While the lead character has some pretty fantastic powers, he is still paired with a priest to keep him in check, as it were. The priest is confidante, guide, organiser and ...historian. How many leaders do you know that have historians.

A good coach, of course, is all of these. In my view (and maybe I am biased!), good leaders have good coaches working with them. Coaches who can operate in all the roles that the priest in this film does (well maybe, not quite all of the roles!) are invaluable to leaders, no matter how competent and powerful they are.

Have you got a coach?

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This is Blog 121 in my 2014/2015 series of blogs about leadership ideas to be found in the movies of our time. You can read here as why I began doing this (with an update at the end of 2014). Please subscribe to this blog if you want to read more. Thanks. Click the label 'film' to see all the others.