Leadership Lessons of Titanic
James Cameron’s
Titanic was released 20 years ago this month. My most request presentation
discusses lessons learned from the Titanic disaster and how they can apply to
your organization. In celebration of the movie’s 20th anniversary,
the following is a snapshot of my Leadership Lessons of Titanic.
The Leader is always responsible
Leadership expert John Maxwell states “Everything rises and
falls on leadership.” The maiden voyage of the
Titanic was Capt. E.J. Smith’s retirement trip. His final duty was to pilot the
grandest ship ever built into New York Harbor. However, Smith took many safety
issues and precautions for granted on the trip. He ignored multiple iceberg
warnings from his crew and neighboring ships.
Leadership is about everything you do, and the things you
don’t do. Maxwell says “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”
The leader sets the stage and influences others to act; the leader is always
present, event when he/she is not there physically.
Bigger is not always
better
Titanic was the largest ship of its
time. It was such a large ship that it took nearly a minute to steer away from
the iceberg, and many believe that delay in changing course was the biggest
factor in its sinking. As a result, the iceberg ripped a large gash in the
ship’s hull.
The bigger the organization, the more
difficult it is to steer, direct, and change. In large organizations, policies
and procedures may sometimes circumvent common sense. How long does it take
your company to change its course? How many levels does it take to change
policy/procedure?
Reevaluate
policies and procedures
A common thought is Titanic was
grossly negligent because there were not enough lifeboats aboard the ship. According to regulations of the time, the requisite number of lifeboats
was in direct proportion to the ship’s weight—to a point: The regulation
stopped calculating at 10,000 tons, for a maximum of 16 lifeboats. Titanic, at
more than 46,000 tons, carried 16 lifeboats.
After Titanic sank, regulations changed to calculate the number
of lifeboats according to the number of passengers. As a leader, you should
routinely review and reevaluate the policies and procedures of your
organization. Be aware of shifts in company culture or focus that warrants a
policy change. Just because procedures always worked a certain way does not
mean it cannot be done more efficiently or successfully.
Look
for dangers hiding below
‘On the night
Titanic sunk, because the moon was not out and the water so still, it was very
difficult to see the iceberg. Rough waters would have caused breakers around
the iceberg, making it easier to see from afar.’ - The Discovery Channel.
Titanic was sunk due
to damage created by the part of the iceberg hidden beneath the water. Peter
Drucker said “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” The culture of your organization
defines the environment in which your employees work. Culture cannot be
dictated; it is developed, usually from the collective traits, beliefs, and
behaviors of your employees.
Value
structured training
As Titanic was
sinking, crew members struggled with releasing the lifeboats. They did not have
the proper training on how to utilize the lifeboats in the event of an
emergency. Deployed lifeboats were loaded with too many or too few passengers,
and only one returned to attempt to recover more people.
Effective leaders
understand the importance of a structured orientation and training program. If
we fail on developing our employees, we fail everyone who depends on our company
to succeed.
Never
lose sight of your goal
Twenty years ago, James Cameron was
determined to make a movie featuring an exact replica of Titanic, and recreate
the most realistic sinking of the ship. The movie cost more to make and longer
to shoot than was originally planned. The movie wasn’t going to be ready for
its planned July 4 release. Cameron was
at odds with the studios financing the film. Critics thought the picture was
going to be a disaster. All the while, Cameron never lost sight of his
goal. Titanic went on to become the
highest grossing picture of all time, holding the top spot until being
supplanted by another James Cameron film.
John Maxwell’s 21
st
Law of Leadership is the Law of Legacy.
As a leader, we are making a lasting impact on everything and everyone with who
we interact. Do you want to ultimately be remembered as the most esteemed
commander of all time, or the person who sank Titanic?