Friday 31 July 2015

No intermission

Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation is a deliciously ludicrous (in the true sense of the word), action packed, edge of your seat and beautiful film to watch: I enjoyed it immensely. The baddies are only so menacing, the gunfights devoid of all blood and the sexual chemistry is at a level that even Disney would approve. Which all means that a) it's a 12A and b) you can just delight in the twists of the narrative and glory at the stunts.

I remember MI on TV when I was growing up and the theme tune still sends a shiver of excitement down my spine. These big screen versions are fast becoming one of my favourite film genres, probably second only to Bond (although watch out 007...) I look forward to MI... six (now there's a storyline...)


There is a moment in the film when Ethan is invited to walk away, forget what he does and start a new life. I will leave you to guess what he chooses... But at sometime all leaders face this dilemma.

There will be moments for every leader when she or he just thinks something like 'ah, what the heck, I just want to grow tomatoes'. Being a leader can be a gruelling, lonely and un-thanked role and the lure of just opting out can be overwhelming. There are times to go and times to stay, of course.

How will you know when it is right time to go? 

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This is the Blog 108 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.

Thursday 30 July 2015

Up side down and round about

Inside Out didn't really grab me although I know it has wowed others. And trust me: I love Pixar movies... but this one kind of lost me. I have been struggling to understand why. Partly, I felt duped by the trailer such that the inner dialogue between mother, father and daughter only happened once in the movie but figures large in the trailer.

Partly, it was the whole candy cane landscape of the girl's mind that became increasingly convoluted as the narrative also disappeared up its own cortex. The story is not that complex and it has a strong and important theme about the value of all emotions (not just just the joyful ones). But what lost me was a fair degree of sub text sexism that they just didn't have to use... Frustrating, because I really wanted to like it. Maybe this movie has really been made for children, although I didn't hear much laughing and giggling from the young audience that surrounded me...


Emotional intelligence (or quotient) is what good managers are meant to have: an ability to understand their own emotions, appreciate the emotions of others and exercise leadership that is mindful of the impact of emotions on day to day (business) life. As with most leadership theories, EQ has its adherents and detractors.

For me one of the key questions is whether a leader who doesn't have very much emotional intelligence can develop it to a level where it becomes helpful to them and those that they lead. The answer appears to be a cautious yes, but only under certain conditions.

How are you developing your EQ?

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This is the Blog 107 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.

Friday 24 July 2015

Self absorbed

Self/Less struggles with a clunky narrative that only just about manages to hang together: I could almost hear the screenwriter scrabbling through papers to check constantly on narrative integrity. Time travel films do this. So do body swapping story lines. The acting is a bit of stretch too, even dare I say, I think Mr Kingsley slightly hams it up (deliberately?)

Maddie is the most convincing and her screen daughter the most delightful. And yet again, another US film makes the baddie an Englishman: this is a cliché now and for which I probably blame Alan Rickman (!) This is a Sunday afternoon film if you are bored and in need of a quick scifi fix...


This is a very ethical film in that ethics are a critical part of the story: you will only come to understand fully what the title means at the end of the movie. Every day, usually without knowing it, we make dozens of ethical decisions. They may not feel like it, but the impact of what we do, say, buy, not buy, tweet, not tweet etc all have ethical echoes.

The ethics of leadership cannot be underestimated. In my view, it is the responsibility of all leaders to never let a day go by without reflecting on that day's ethical sub text. This means having a vocabulary & framework against which to examine a day's proceedings.

What is your ethical framework?

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This is the Blog 106 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.

Tuesday 21 July 2015

Comically self aware

Antman does not take itself very seriously and there are layers of cinematic self awareness rarely seen in any movie let alone a super hero comic book one. The lead character almost looks into the camera lens and smiles. Which only makes the film even more endearing and fun.

My only criticism is that the ants looked a bit plastic and I would have thought that CGI could have done a better job of them but perhaps they ran out of budget. But overall this is a subtle (yes truly!), funny and gripping film that I heartily recommend (if you like this genre). And the sequel is coming (again, make sure you stay to the end of the credits...)


A common theme of the superhero genre is the little guy (almost always 'guys', it must be said) who is thrust into a situation where their 'inner hero' is forced to emerge. Suddenly they find they can fight like Bruce Lee, have the courage of Sitting Bull and the charismatic allure of George Clooney... And of course, we can all believe (especially if we are 10 years old) that anyone of us is like that. I well remember running around the playground with my gaberdine macintosh buttoned up around my neck like a cape...

But there is an old adage from the One Minute Manager series of books: if you want people to be responsible, give them responsibility. Likewise, if you want people to show leadership, find ways in which they discover their own leadership.

As a leader, how good are you at creating the situations in which others discover their own leadership?

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This is the Blog 105 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.

Friday 17 July 2015

Good vibrations

Love and Mercy surprised me: I was expecting a standard biopic. Instead I was entranced by a compelling, fascinating and inspiring film that is as subtle and layered as the best Beach Boys' tracks. And just like some of their tracks the chord changes are sometimes hard to follow and sometimes seem out of place... but they are not: this film presents integrated insights into music, power, fame, families and love.

Tripping between the 60s and 80s, this film endeavours to explain the history of Brian Wilson's genius. It raises deep questions about the nature of mental health, creativity and friendship. The acting is seamless and the cinematography is stunning, using colour in some magical ways. This is a film to see - right up to the last credit. Wow!!


Some of the best bits of Beach Boys music are the silences, when you are waiting, hanging in there, for the next blast of notes. These silences draw you in to the music as your body hungers to fill the space. Leaders can use silence in the same way.

Sometimes people think that leadership is all about projection. And of course, at times, it must be. But leadership is also about invitation, asking a question, leaving a silence suspended, stepping back... in the hope and knowledge that another (or several) will feel driven to fill the space.

As a leader, how do you use space and silence?

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This is the Blog 104 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.

A cuddly toy?

Ted 2 is what you would expect: a romping retread of the original movie. The gags keep coming, most with about as much subtlety & finesse as a wrecking ball. I am not sure if you make a racist joke in an ironic post modern way that it totally neutralises the racism; but make up your own mind.

The acting is probably understated as it cannot be easy being in dialogue with some blank space: certainly all the characters are convincing (apart from the baddie who just does not cut it for me - too creepy to be a pantomime villain and not creepy enough to be scary). This is a crude, lewd and daft movie that will (unless you take offence at such humour) keep you amused and give you a few laugh out loud moments.


The legal question at stake in the movie is whether being human is about genetics or behaviour. I won't spoil how the narrative resolves this, naturally. Suffice to say: the answer is not straightforward. And that reminds me of the old apocryphal statement in a manager's appraisal: this person is not yet a born leader.

I regularly work with classes of 9, 10 and 11 year olds and I am always struck by the differences within the groups as to who puts their hand up to risk an answer to my questions... and who does not. Are the ones with their hands up the future leaders (or the quieter more contemplative ones)? But what strikes me more is the difference between schools and indeed classes within the same school: the teachers have so much influence on their pupils. In some places, most of the children are bursting with answers, comments and insights. In other places, they are not but for a few members of the class. So in the appraisal comment above, does that say more about the manager concerned... or the person conducting the appraisal (presumably the manager's manager...)???

How do you create born leaders?

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This is the Blog 103 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.

Saturday 11 July 2015

Back to Black

Amy was a difficult film to watch, as I knew how the film would end and spent some time hoping it could end in another way. In a way it does (and I won't say how) but it is still not a happy film. But it is an interesting, fascinating and uplifting film since although her life ended far too soon, she has left a legacy of some wonderful music that will always live on.

The movie is very cleverly made, splicing together film of her from home movies, mobile phone clips and excerpts from TV shows, overlaid with friends, colleagues and family talking about her and what happened in her life. This film honours Amy Winehouse and is wholly sympathetic towards her, in my opinion. A poignant movie to see.


This is a film about addiction to alcohol, other substances, being slim and even love. I think we all have the capacity to become addicted to things that make us feel good. Most of us fortunately manage to keep such addictions in check.

But let's be clear, addictions start with reward - and indeed the reward does not even have to happen every time. (Psychological learning theory suggests that random intermittent reward leads to behaviour that is the most difficult to 'extinguish' - or stop). Can leaders get addicted to behaviours that are not healthy in the mistaken belief that they are rewarding? Undoubtedly. It is vital to know the difference between healthy behaviours and those which are not so...

How do you know - really know?

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This is the Blog 102 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.

Thursday 2 July 2015

Leadership 101: movies

Over the last 18 months or so, care of an unlimited movie card from Cineworld (first one bought for me by my lovely wife as a Christmas present), I have been treating myself to many, many films. After each one, I have written a two paragraph review of the film itself followed by two paragraphs on the leadership theme I have seen in the movie. I have now written 101 such blog posts. (I have hashtagged this #leadershipinfilms)

So, if you want to see a mainstream film or buy a DVD that has come out in the last 18 months, there is a good chance I will have reviewed it somewhere on this blog. You might also be intrigued by the leadership idea contained within it too. I don't do spoilers either: the reviews will not bust open the narrative for you.

You can search on the film title (see box top left) or click on film label and just scroll down.

Any feedback more than welcome. Should I carry on doing this? Or are my blog posts dropping into oblivion...?

Do let me know.

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy going to the cinema as much as I do!


In the beginning...

I must admit to being a bit of an Arnie fan and it is great to see him back on the big screen. So Terminator Genisys was unlikely to disappoint me, and it didn't. This is classic blockbuster. The narrative was always going to be a bit convoluted but it just about hangs together (don't leave before the closing credits by the way...) There are moments of quiet as well as plenty of bangs, crashes & wallops. The special effects were pretty good back in the day of the original Terminator films, but these are superlative.

The casting is querky but all the more authentic because of it. Apart from the obvious person, the film feels like ordinary people caught up in something hard, dark, urgent and scary. There are (at least for me) several laugh out loud moments when Arnie's character says a couple of things. And I loved what will become a new catchphrase "I am old, I am not obsolete" said in his (probably trademarked) thick Austrian accent. I am waiting for the sequel...


When you have shape-shifting pre-programmed lethal robots around, you are bound to take time to trust people! Especially when you mix this with time travel to boot! But trust does happen nonetheless...

I have written before about leaders being trustworthy and indeed trusting the people that they lead. Without trust there is no leadership. But as a leader, you have to trust yourself too. Leaders must trust themselves to be consistent, honourable, focused... indeed worthy of others' trust. How do you develop such trust: how do stay mindful & observant of your own behaviour and recognise when you might be falling short of your own standards?

How do you monitor yourself?

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This is the Blog 101 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.

100 Minions

The trailer for Minions was really funny. The film as a whole is a chortle but did not quite grab me in the same way as Despicable Me, from which this is a spinoff. I cannot quite put my finger on why... perhaps it just seemed a bit too contrived and clunky? Maybe also because I accidentally saw this in the 4DX cinema at Milton Keynes and I had to cope with being thrown around, smoked and splashed... (I find 4DX a distraction: I wonder how the business plan is working out...?)

I wish I could be more enthusiastic but the gags and narrative just did not work for me as much I had hoped they would. Perhaps, film makers should not make trailers quite so funny? In other words: let the film be better than the trailer?


Near the beginning of the film, Kevin elects himself as Minion leader. He just assumes the role and carves out a new future for his Minion mates. But he is a leader in search of another: Minions (so the narrative goes) are drawn towards the baddest baddy around. Except of course, their hapless followership leads to disaster for their chosen baddy...

But how many leaders do you know who just became leaders because they were driven to do so? Are you one of those kind of leaders who has gained influence merely by being who you are, rather than any position you hold or were elected to? Such leadership is gold dust, in my opinion, because it shows a courage to stand up, stand out and be counted. Good leaders encourage this kind of leadership...

How many Kevins do you have in your organisation?

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This is the HUNDREDTH (!) of 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 is like riding a bull

The Longest Ride is a peach of a movie! This is probably the best and most romantic film I have seen in at least the last ten years. I adored the inter-generational theme, so ably portrayed by dear Alan Alda and resonant with The Notebook (by the same writer). I adored the embedded allegory that beginning a new relationship is a bit like riding a bull: how long are you going to stay together?!

This film has one of those rare 'punch in the air' endings that will leave you uplifted and grinning from ear to ear. You will be convinced (again) that love, really, is everything. Do go and see this film. If, like me, you are an unreconstructed romantic, you will want to see it again too.


This film is all about resolving difference: how can (what appear to be) polar interests and desires be reconciled? There are several moments in the film when it seems that there is nowhere to go, no path to tread that will lead to a joint future.

Are resolutions found? You will have to see the movie to find out. But are resolutions found in real life..? Perhaps all to often for poor reasons such as ego or an absence of creativity or an over adherence to certain principles, resolutions of polar opposites are not found. But where there is good selfless, creative and dynamic leadership... a new way forward can usually be discovered.

What have you managed to resolve in recent times? How?

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This is the ninety ninth of 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.