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.