After being truly challenged, moved, and inspired by the movie Invictus, the list below includes what I would consider to be the key lessons.
- Leaders must first learn to lead themselves. Leaders cannot avoid going through tough times, and often they will be required to go through these times alone. Leaders must have strategies to lead themselves. “Just words. But they helped me to stand up when I wanted to lie down.”
- Leaders must learn to forgive. An attitude of unforgiveness and bitterness can only create a self-centered and self-absorbed focus. It is only from a position of forgiveness that we can truly focus on others and be effective leaders. “Forgiveness starts here too. Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.” “We have to surprise them with compassion, with restraint, with generosity. I know. All of the things they denied us.”
- Leaders must be prepared to learn from others. This includes opening our minds to the possibility of learning from anyone and everyone. In a climate charged with racial and political tensions Francois could have chosen to decline the invitation to have tea with the President– he did not. And he demonstrates a willingness to listen and learn in every interaction.
- Leaders must recognize when to follow. When the team received the news that they would be required to complete coaching clinics while preparing for the World Cup, the majority of the team was resistant. Francois recognized that this was not the time to lead, but to follow. “Times change. And we need to change as well.”
- Leaders must have courage in the face of opposition. This is particularly difficult amongst team members, but no less important. President Mandela was prepared to oppose his own countrymen at the risk of losing his support and popularity. Francois openly challenged his teammates to learn the South Africa national anthem, and to do the coaching clinics without question. “The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.” (Mandela’s response to the accusation: “You are risking your future as our leader.”)
- Leaders must accept that their influence is far-reaching. All leaders are role models, and have influence beyond their immediate positions that needs to be recognized and used for the common good. “We’ve become more than just a rugby team. And we might as well get used to it.”
- Leaders empower others to become better than they think they can be. Leaders can see the potential in individuals, teams, and organizations and then have the ability to create that vision and capacity. “Because in order to build our nation, we must all exceed our expectations.”
Truly an inspiring movie based on a true story I would encourage every current and future leader to watch Invictus.
Reference
Eastwood, C. (2009). Invictus [Motion picture]. USA: Warner Bros.
You have identified some important aspects of transformative servant leadership in the movie Invictus. I am particularly struck by the importance of self-leadership. Do you think this sense of self management must happen before someone becomes a leader — or is this part of the ongoing process of personal leadership development?
Great question that prompted me to question my own thought process there, only to discover I made an assumption based on limited knowledge. I was honoured to be a mentor for a colleague who was enrolled in a leadership opportunity through work. As a result of this relationship she shared with me some of what she was being taught, and “Lead Self” was at the top of the list. So, the conclusion I jumped to was that leading oneself needs to happen first, but that is certainly not my personal experience. I was in leadership roles long before I even recognized that I needed to lead myself. I have known many leaders who still have no sense of self-leadership or self-management. So my answer is no, a sense of self-management does not need to happen before someone becomes a leader. In my own experience every difficult or challenging situation pushed me to improve, and I realized quickly that the only hope I had of improving involved learning how to lead myself. To encourage myself. To forgive myself. To stop the negative self-talk. To stop the vain imaginations and destructive thought pattern. And leading myself continues to be an ongoing process in my own personal development. Though I wonder if this experience is shared with others, or if I am alone in this regard?