Leadership Lessons on Netflix
You’re receiving this Leading Thoughts in the last week of April. Soon, summer will be upon us. I hope you have plans to enjoy family, nature, and some recreating. I also hope you’ll make time to read some good leadership books and watch some films that will help you lead more powerfully.
I want to recommend seven videos or video series that I hope you’ll take time to enjoy and be challenged by this summer. They are all on Netflix, they have all helped me lead better, and I trust they will serve as a stirring summer course in leadership for you. Here goes.
Downfall: The Case Against Boeing
I shout as loudly as I can in these Leading Thoughts that leadership is much about creating a healthy culture. In this documentary, you’ll witness a culture shift at Boeing that was unhealthy and ended up costing lives. Directed by Rory Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy’s youngest child and a fine director/producer.
Challenger: The Final Flight
This four-part series analyzes the decisions and leadership culture at NASA that led to the Challenger explosion in 1986. I’ve alluded to the lessons of this documentary before because I know some of the people involved in this story personally. This is one of the great cautionary tales in American history.
Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror
This documentary series chronicles not only the history of the American war on terror prior to September 11, 2001, but also the harrowing tale of that day and what followed. Again, a stark study in culture, decision-making, and even self-deception. Essential!
Darkest Hour
Enjoy this one but learn from it. Gary Oldman gives an Oscar-winning performance as Winston Churchill in the early days of the British struggle against Nazi Germany. Keep your eye on the struggles of the great man for self-mastery and for the inner victories that assured national victory in time. Moving and inspiring.
Coach Carter
Another movie to enjoy but also study. Samuel L. Jackson plays Ken Carter, a Richmond, California, coach who made headlines in 1999 for suspending his winning basketball team for their poor academic performance. Keep your eye on Carter’s culture-building and also his depiction of the future as a motivational device. Much to gain from this. Pull together some leadership friends and pop some popcorn!
How to Become a Tyrant
We often learn what to do from examining what not to do. This documentary series looks at some of history’s infamous tyrants—Joseph Stalin, Muammar Gaddafi, Adolph Hitler, etc.—to understand the building blocks of a tyrannical regime. The obvious lesson: Do the opposite! Important. Watch this one all the way through.
The Playbook: A Coach’s Rules for Life
Some highly successful athletic coaches share their core principles for calling out greatness from their players. Doc Rivers, Jill Ellis, José Mourinho, Patrick Mouratoglou, and Dawn Staley describe their philosophies of leadership and the core principles they embed in their teams. Enjoy the sports. Absorb the coaching/leadership wisdom.
That’s it. You’ll be a better leader by Labor Day if you digest these valuable offerings over the summer. Some painless learning that could change your life.