LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE FORCE

Part 1 of 6

The latest craze in the movie world is the 7th instalment of the vaunted Star Wars franchise. In and of itself, there are valuable lessons contained in this cinematic masterpiece that shouldn’t be overlooked (after all, no movie series can make the claim that it has created a prequel/sequel following like it being that the 1st movie, Episode IV, came out in 1977). Join me in taking a deeper look at the imbedded leadership nuggets in Star Wars. As we go through the following blogs, may the Force be with you!

Many people hardly paid any attention to the movie run-up of Star Wars that began with the line “Episode IV.” In fact, I am sure many people, like me, didn’t even notice it until the next instalment of “Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” came out in 1980 (which was 3 years after the Episode IV, by the way).

This is because only the maker/designer/author/leader of the plan knew this. George Lucas obviously knew this from the beginning. Unbeknownst to us, this strategy actually created the hype that Star Wars has to this day. It all began with a plan. And the plan was in George Lucas’s mind the whole time.

A LEADER SEES MORE THAN OTHERS SEE, FARTHER THAN WHERE OTHERS SEE AND WAY BEFORE OTHERS DO.

The old adage is true that if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Would Star Wars have the same level of success if things simply went as it goes along? I think not. Actually, I am sure that it wouldn‘t have. What makes the series so intriguing is how everything unraveled through the prequels (e.g. how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader) and the twists and turns the story took (e.g. Darth Sidious being Senator Palpatine all this time). Only a meticulous plan and patient execution could have done this; imagine, it has been close to 40 years before the 7th instalment came out!

Leadership should be like that. A leader without a plan is a weak leader at best. He or she will always be victim to the winds of circumstance that are always present should there be no plan/goal/destination/vision.

What makes George Lucas and Star Wars a testament to leadership is also due to the patience involved in it. As earlier said, it has taken an entire generation (40 years) to reach the 7th installment. Could they have been successful if they rushed the prequels and sequels of the franchise? Probably. But, most assuredly, not as successful.

Patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather, it is timing. It waits on the right time to act, for the right principles and in the right way.

~ Fulton J. Sheen

Have a well-thought out plan. Then when you are absolutely convinced that it is the best you have, work on it and carry it out. Prepare yourself for the resistances along the way (seeing ahead is part of planning). Stick it out. Dig deep. Carry it through!

To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan… believe, act!

~ Alfred A. Montapert

More to come on Part 2