Super Heroic Leadership

Super Heroic Leadership March 29, 2016

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We live in a culture that worships super heroes. Super heroes surround us on film, in books, on television, on our own phones. Even on the smallest screens, super heroes teach us lessons of  life and leadership. We learn their stories and absorb their super heroic mythology.

Super heroes are the leaders we seek to become.

Super heroes sweep into people’s lives to solve their problems. They rescue people who are overwhelmed and powerless to save themselves.

Super heroes have the power to make things right.

Many of us long to be super heroic because we are eager to be powerful. We want to be able to solve problems, to fix broken situations. We can relate to feeling helpless and afraid. We want to be able to swoop in and take care of people.

The leaders who inspire me understand when we need to work things out for ourselves.

Super heroes protect their secret identities.

Super heroes hide their identities to protect themselves from the powers of evil. They wear costumes, including masks and capes, to disguise themselves. They retreat to their own cave or mansion or ice cave to spend time in solitude.

Time for quiet reflection makes a significant difference. Becoming acquainted with our own secret identities helps us become stronger.

Each super hero has a unique, personal weakness.

Super heroes acknowledge their own weaknesses. Superman understands the power kryptonite has over him. Time spent in solitude gives them key insights into their strengths and weaknesses.

Super heroes teach us important, often unconscious, lessons about leadership. We look for heroes to help us when we most need it.

When do we wish we could sweep in to solve problems?

How do we protect our own secret identities?

What is your personal super heroic weakness?

[Image by tom_bullock]


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