There are many movies that capture the true essence of Transformational Leadership. Movies that come to mind are the Great Debaters (Denzel Washington), Coach Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) and Dangerous Minds (Michelle Pheiffer). However, the movie that I chose for this assignment was Dead Poets Soceity.
"Oh Captain, My Captain"!
Dead Poets Society was an exceptional movie. Set in the late 1950's, it is set at a prestigious boarding school for men, with rigid traditions and standards. Professor John Keating (Robin Williams) is introduced as the new English Professor.
Transformational leadership is defined as having the ability inspire and motivate. It has five components; idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectural stimulations, individual consideration and trust/collaboration.
Keating was inspirational, dynamic, and energenic! He also injected humor into his teaching which stimulated his students to think differently and creatively by suggesting news ways of looking at things.
In the movie, one could say that one can see many types of leadership styles. From the opening scene in which Keating comes to class, you can see him invoke his leadership style. His passion for poetry, his students, and teaching them to look at the world in a different light.
Professor Keating from the opening class appears to want to move his students in a new direction. He teaches them to look at poetry differently and to seize the day. Professor Keating "became their inspiration, he made their lives extraordinary". ( A tagline from the movie).
Keating's leadership was compelling, sympatheic, and eloquent. He focused on each student invidually and assisted them in facing both their strengths and weaknesses. Keating broke tradition, but still maintained professionalism, although his teaching style was being noticed by other professors and school administrators.
Professor Keating involved his students in making decisions, they developed a bond of trust. And while he was very influencing and thought provoking, he was not intruding. The culuture of the school was rigid. The school director Mr. Nolan had a profound influence on all of the students. However, his style is nothing like Mr. Keatings, in fact it clashes. Nolan is straight by the book, whereas Keating uses his style to invoke confidence and transformation.
In the movie, Transformational Leadership is so noted as Professor Keating coaches his students through their situations and issues. Futhermore, he uses his influence and skills to listen, learn and develop new and innovative ways to inspire his students. According to Northouse (2001), "This factor is represenative of leaders who provides a supportive climate in which they listen carefully to the individual needs of the followers." You see this demonstrated throughout the movie.
Keating's most profound teaching lesson in my opinion was having his students face conformity! He does an excercise where he tells them to find their own walk, swim against the stream. Keating challenged the process and taught his students how to confront new traditions.
An outstanding movie that shows you leadership skills and methods from beginning to end.
SEIZE THE DAY!
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6 comments:
I like to think that all students and/or children come across a leader like Keating - someone who will inspire and provoke to think and commit to action on something they believe. I may be cynical but it just seems that there are not too many leaders/role models for children that fall outside of the realm of criminal athletes, drug induced or violent artists (performers), and even business leaders.
I think a good example in the movie where Keating showed being a good listener and supportive, was when Perry came to him about being in the play and how his father wouldn't allow it. Keating listened to Perry's feeling and then encouraged him to share this passion with his father the way Perry did with him. Perry does what Keating suggests, thus showing how influentual Keating is.
This was the point in the movie where you knew for certain that Keating was an inspirational leader to some of the students.
Nancy you make a great point in all students should have a Keating in their life. Listening and making sure that you listen to the students needs is an important aspect of good leadership. One thing that I saw Keating was relating to each students need. He recognized that each student is different and addressed the problem. Whether it was him having a student expressed himself publicly or sitting and listening to them, finding the needs is a vital portion of leadership.
Transformational leaders, such as Keating in Dead Poets Society, unfortunately are not held in high esteem in most conventional work environments. While I espouse them, it has been my experience that these types of leaders - because they do not march to the beat of the collective drum - they are ostracized. This type of behavior was illustrated in DPS. It is unfortunate that transformational leaders are not treated in the same manner as the "yes" folks, who consistently rise to the highest realms of organizational leadership positions. Maybe that's a negative thought, but I have witnessed it enough times to know. Unfortunately, the transformational leader is usually the one who can contribute the most to a stable work environment with high morale.
RE: last comment/sentence clarification. "Unfortunate" for the staff members who report to the sometimes ostracized transformational staff leader.
Transformational leadership enhances the execution, assurance, inspiration, and commitment of both leaders and their groups or supporters. http://www.blanchardinternational.co.in/organizational-leadership
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