Entertainment Weekly featured Jon Lasseter, co-founder and chief creative officer of Pixar (and now chief creative officer for Disney animation), as one of its top entertainers of the past decade (2000-2009). Pixar is arguably the most successful filmmaking studio in Hollywood history, having repeatedly produced critically-acclaimed box office successes, amounting to 25 Oscar nominations and $4.1 billion worldwide in just the last ten years alone.
As the heart of this incredible company, Lasseter is an example of great leadership. He sets the bar high, not settling for anything less than the best, but he knows how to work as a team to achieve greatness. "It doesn't matter whose idea it is, the idea that makes the movie better is always used," he says. Plus, he believes in people, both his own team and the audience. "Oftentimes, it feels like Hollywood thinks of the audience as the lowest common denominator," says Lasseter. "We always think that the audience is so smart they'll be there for you - especially kids." Perhaps the best indication that Lasseter is a team player is the fact that he doesn't single himself out - he talks about his team as such, with the word "we."
Creating teamwork, fostering innovation, raising the bar, putting the work ahead of personal interest, having faith in others, and striving for the best. Sounds like a winning combination.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Leadership
I've been thinking a lot lately about leadership - what it is and what makes it good.
It seems to me that there are many leaders out there who aren't good leaders, or maybe they aren't truly leaders - just the people in charge.
Seth Godin, a marketing guru, discusses leadership in his book "Tribes." (An unorganized, impractical, and repetitive book but with some really inspiring thoughts. Kind of like paying $12 for a simple burger and the best part is a delicious bun...) He distinguishes leaders from managers: those who gather people together for a common cause compared with those who simply dictate to others what to do and how to do it. Godin also notes that one key characteristic of leaders is that they are selfless and put the mission above themselves. They also know how to connect people within the "tribe" of followers, know when to push ahead and when to take a step back from leading.
A selfless person who inspires with a clear vision, fosters the potential of his followers, and knows how to balance leaning in on and stepping back from his tribe? Sign me up for that tribe.
Godin's thesis is that anyone can be a leader. But if you ask me, too few people are great leaders. Then again, maybe there's actually a wealth of great leaders out there, each with his or her own small tribe.
What do you think is good leadership? Who is an example of a great leader?
It seems to me that there are many leaders out there who aren't good leaders, or maybe they aren't truly leaders - just the people in charge.
Seth Godin, a marketing guru, discusses leadership in his book "Tribes." (An unorganized, impractical, and repetitive book but with some really inspiring thoughts. Kind of like paying $12 for a simple burger and the best part is a delicious bun...) He distinguishes leaders from managers: those who gather people together for a common cause compared with those who simply dictate to others what to do and how to do it. Godin also notes that one key characteristic of leaders is that they are selfless and put the mission above themselves. They also know how to connect people within the "tribe" of followers, know when to push ahead and when to take a step back from leading.
A selfless person who inspires with a clear vision, fosters the potential of his followers, and knows how to balance leaning in on and stepping back from his tribe? Sign me up for that tribe.
Godin's thesis is that anyone can be a leader. But if you ask me, too few people are great leaders. Then again, maybe there's actually a wealth of great leaders out there, each with his or her own small tribe.
What do you think is good leadership? Who is an example of a great leader?
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