This is the foundational thought of the 8 Essentials of Leading Teams. Throughout the 8, this point is illustrated time and again. I am always on the “lookout” for more relevant illustrations and find them most often in art, and mostly when I’m NOT trying.
Who knew?
A couple months back, my son Andrew and I went to see the movie, Into The Wild. This is based on the true story of Chris McCandless who left it all behind to go to Alaska in 1992 after graduating from Emory College. It’s an amazing, sad, and thought provoking story that Sean Penn directed brilliantly. After watching the movie I can remember telling Andrew that this looked like Sean Penn’s magnum opus.
Last week the DVD arrived and I rewatched the movie and the special features disk. Today, I rewatched the special features again and wanted to share.
Here’s what the actors had to say about Sean Penn, their BOSS for 8 months of shooting Into The Wild.
Hal Holbrook…”…because he’s very kind…because he believes in you, you know? That’s the best thing a director can do, if he’s cast right, is just believe in you. It brings out the best in you.”
Catherine Keener…”He’s interested in it all. He’s really just consummate in terms of his attention to the detail, and so it was wonderful and there were a lot of laughs as well, which was great. Sean sets the tone. Directors often do. And if they’re willing to jump into the boat and do it, or have the crappy trailer, or not have one at all, and have the small, little, tiny motel room that everybody has, then you’re like, WE’RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM HERE. You know, you feel encouraged by that.”
What does your team say about you?
Are you willing to have the crappy trailer?
Do you bring out the best in those around you?
Do you, you know, give your team encouragement?
Tell me more.
Have you cast right?
Do you believe in your team?
Remember, every leader gets EXACTLY the team he or she deserves. Great, transformational leaders are BELIEVERS. They believe before the team does. Their belief sets the tone. Their belief is contagious and worth catching.
What is your team “catching” from you?
BUILT TO LEAD 