THE EFFECTIVENESS GROUP
  • HOME
    • OUR PHILOSOPHY
    • ABOUT US
    • SIGN UP
    • CONTACT US
  • WHAT WE DO
    • TRAINING >
      • CONVERSITY®
      • THE MEANINGFUL LEADER®
    • PERSONALITY
    • KEYNOTE SPEAKING >
      • TOWARDS ACCEPTANCE
      • SLOW DOWN
      • MEANINGFUL LEADER
  • RESOURCES
    • INTERVIEWS
    • E-LEARNING >
      • FORM
    • ARTICLES >
      • 10 Ms OF ENGAGEMENT
      • A PERFECT MATCH
      • SEEKING COMMON GROUND
      • PERSONALITY MANUAL
      • PERSONAL SIDE OF ENGAGEMENT
      • ENGAGED TO SERVE
    • VIDEOS >
      • DECODING CHANGE
      • WHAT COULD GO WRONG
      • GLOBAL IMPACT OF YOU
      • FIT: CAREER & PERSONALITY
      • BiG FIVE INTRO
      • FORCE FIELD
      • PREDICTING ENGAGEMENT
      • ABILENE PARADOX
      • BAIRD'S ETHICAL LENSES
    • TOOLS & SURVEYS >
      • CREATIVITY AND THEMES
      • ENERGY GAME
      • BIG FIVE
      • JEOPARDY
      • ROI CALCULATOR
  • BLOG
  • HOME
    • OUR PHILOSOPHY
    • ABOUT US
    • SIGN UP
    • CONTACT US
  • WHAT WE DO
    • TRAINING >
      • CONVERSITY®
      • THE MEANINGFUL LEADER®
    • PERSONALITY
    • KEYNOTE SPEAKING >
      • TOWARDS ACCEPTANCE
      • SLOW DOWN
      • MEANINGFUL LEADER
  • RESOURCES
    • INTERVIEWS
    • E-LEARNING >
      • FORM
    • ARTICLES >
      • 10 Ms OF ENGAGEMENT
      • A PERFECT MATCH
      • SEEKING COMMON GROUND
      • PERSONALITY MANUAL
      • PERSONAL SIDE OF ENGAGEMENT
      • ENGAGED TO SERVE
    • VIDEOS >
      • DECODING CHANGE
      • WHAT COULD GO WRONG
      • GLOBAL IMPACT OF YOU
      • FIT: CAREER & PERSONALITY
      • BiG FIVE INTRO
      • FORCE FIELD
      • PREDICTING ENGAGEMENT
      • ABILENE PARADOX
      • BAIRD'S ETHICAL LENSES
    • TOOLS & SURVEYS >
      • CREATIVITY AND THEMES
      • ENERGY GAME
      • BIG FIVE
      • JEOPARDY
      • ROI CALCULATOR
  • BLOG

100 Leadership Movies Blog 2: Maleficent

6/1/2014

2 Comments

 
The newly released Disney movie "Maleficent" is another must see - yes, even for you who don't have young kids. Actually, the beautiful symbolism of the movie might be totally lost on children - this is a movie for grownups to enjoy. Watch the trailer below.

Warning: Spoiler alert - if you don't want to know anything about the movie yet, go watch it first
, then come back to this blog. I won't tell anyone the ending, though.
In this new take on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent was once a beautiful fairy who loved flying over her beloved moors.  She also loved Stephen, whom she had met as a boy. Young Stephen, however, had powerful ambitions. He wanted to become king. When the dying king promised the crown to whomever slayed "the winged creature" Stephen took his chances.  He attracted Maleficent to his side, pretended to love her, and clipped her wings.  Thus, when Maleficent issued her powerful curse on Stephen's child, she was acting out of revenge and bitter grief.

Aurora grew up to become a sweet teenager, beloved by all.  Watch the clip below, when Aurora tells Maleficent how she sees her.
I won't say more so as not to spoil the movie experience for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. Instead, I'll address the "two Maleficents": The evil and powerful fairy whom everyone fears and the loving protector Aurora sees.  Who is the "real" Maleficent? The villain or the hero?

Arguably, both - and there lies the beauty of the movie.  Maleficent reminds us that leaders are not all good or all evil.  Instead, leaders could be molded by love and grief, support and hostility, excitement and disappointment.


This "human quality" of leaders has three interesting implications. 

First, no amount of "development" will trump the complexity of human nature. The same leader could be a hero to some and a villain to others. Good and evil may lie "on the eye of the beholder."

Second, the good of a leader may depend - at least in part - on others.  Like young Aurora, some followers may have the power to transform villains into heroes.

Are you planning a leadership development process for your organization? Then consider this.
Maleficent did not become a better leader after completing a 360 assessment or participating in a leadership training workshop.  She did not hire
an executive coach.  She simply had the gift of a follower who loved her.

Remember the followers. They are leaders too.
2 Comments
Caryn Lee
6/13/2014 11:23:47 pm

I also loved the movie. Throughout the movie, I couldn't stop thinking of the lovely child Maleficent was. Your insights are right on. Human beings are complex - not all good or all bad. I love your last paragraph!!

Reply
Cris Wildermuth
6/14/2014 12:18:40 am

Thanks Caryn! Next I'm tackling the Edge of Tomorrow - great leadership lessons there too :).

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About the Author

    Dr. Cris Wildermuth is an Assistant Professor at Drake University, where she coordinates and teaches at the Master of Science in Leadership Development.

    A
    re you interested in receiving "Connections," our monthly newsletter? If so, please sign up by clicking here. Our promise to you: We never share your information with anyone else.

    Click here more issues of Dr. Wildermuth's blog (we used to publish it in a different address).

    Archives

    December 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All
    Authenticity
    Courage
    Creativity
    Csikszentmihalyi
    Dan McAdams
    Engagement
    Ethics
    Fairness
    Flow
    Gender And Leadership
    Hrci
    Impartiality
    Innovation
    Justice
    Leadership
    Life Stories
    Maleficent
    Personality
    Proximity
    Sheryl Sandberg
    Shrm

    RSS Feed

Home

WHAT WE DO

RESOURCES

BLOG

Contact

Copyright © 2020 The Effectiveness Group