Tag Archives: Princess Leia

Good Leaders Lead with Open Minds – a Harris / Trump Example

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I have written several blogs about various attributes of good leadership, and in this blog I want to explore leading with an open mind and contrast US Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Interestingly enough, I almost think of Kamala Harris being sort of a Princess Leia (aka General Leia Organa) and Trump as Kylo Ren, the evil love child of Leia and Hans Solo. Do check out my 2016 blog, “Leadership Lessons from Star Wars – The Force Awakens.”

The best leaders are open to listening and considering ideas from many diverse sources to arrive at the best solutions, whereas poor leaders have a “NIH – Not Invented Here” attitude. “If the idea is not mine, then it is not worth considering. Everything has to come from me.”

So what are two examples from Donald Trump and Kamala Harris?

Starting with Trump: when the Republicans and Democrats in the US Senate worked together to pass the bipartisan Immigration Reform bill to address immigration issues and border security by a 68 – 32 vote, Trump killed it. The bill, mainly developed by Sens. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona), and Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), represented the most significant changes to immigration policy in thirty years, reimagining the asylum process and the ways border officials deal with migrants requesting humanitarian protection.

Donald Trump, instead of supporting a positive bill agreed to across both political parties, directed his allies in the US House of Representatives to vote it down since a positive step for our country would hurt his election chances. Trump would only support his own drastic measures like continuing to build a costly and ineffective border wall and deporting millions of immigrants. Any idea that is not Trump’s personally is not worth considering.

The best leaders consider ideas and input from multiple diverse sources,

Now let’s look at Kamala Harris’ approach. A few months ago, Donald Trump floated the idea of not taxing tips of service industry workers. Instead of an attitude of opposing the idea since it was not hers, Harris supported the idea and pledged to do likewise. Of course, Trump complained that “Kamala stole his idea,” but my view is that a great leader embraces all good ideas no matter where they come from.

Instead of opposing or discarding ideas that are not their own, enlightened leaders listen to all input from multiple sources and arrive at conclusions that come from the collective minds of a large diverse group instead of just their own limited thinking.

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Blog author Stan Kimer is a DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging) consultant and trainer who also focuses on inclusive leadership.  In addition, I have dynamic transwoman Deanna Jones on my team who is a fantastic key note speaker discussing her journey being her authentic self.  Please be in touch to book Deanna or myself.

 

 

Leadership Lessons from Star Wars – The Force Awakens

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The entire very diverse team had to work together to defeat the ultimate evil in "The Force Awakens."

The entire very diverse team had to work together to defeat the ultimate evil in “The Force Awakens.”

Just before Christmas this past year, the much awaited new Star Wars Movie, “The Force Awakens” (link to Entertainment Weekly Review) was released with record breaking box office receipts. Having enjoyed the first Star Wars movie while I was still in graduate school pursuing my MBA, I knew I had to see this movie.

I did thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the bringing back of some of the original characters, actors and droids. But I also watched it through the eyes of a management and leadership workplace consultant.

There was an amazing stark contrast between the leadership style of the good Princess Leia (now going by the title General Leia Organa) and the evil love child of Leia and Hans Solo, Kylo Ren.

Let’s first examine General Leia Organa and her approach with her team on figuring out a way to blow up the evil Kylo Ren’s “death star.” A very diverse team of human and not-so-human characters where around a big strategy table each contributing various pieces of information based upon their particular expertise. Everyone listened to and respected each other and as a group took all the various contributions from the diverse parties to arrive at the best solution to win their battle. They seemed enthusiastic and energized working together a team to solve a major challenge. And General Leia led with a positive, enthusiastic style imparting a vision to her team.
starwarsjpegNow let’s look at the evil Kylo Ren. Every time something did not go his way, he threw a temper tantrum and placed blame for the failings on all those around him. He did not listen to advice from his subordinates but instead acted as a dictatorial bully. One scene at which I had to smile broadly was when Kylo Ren experienced another set back and was throwing objects all over the room, some of his troops walked close to the room, saw Kylo Ren in the midst of his temper tantrum, and turned and quickly walked away in the opposite direction! Isn’t that how it is with poor leaders? People do not want to be around them and actually take great pains to stay away.

Whether we are leading a major corporate team, a non-profit, a volunteer group, we can all avoid these traits of bad leadership: bullying, not listening, blaming others, showing anger inappropriately. Instead we can aspire to be excellent leaders: listening to others, appreciating diversity, providing positive vision.