Leadership lessons from pop culture
The BIG Takeaway™
newsletter
Aug. 15, 2022

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​What leaders can learn from TV, sports and movies this week

Hello current and aspiring leaders! 

Are you ready for some football?! The NFL preseason started this week which means the real games are only about a month away.

It also means it's time for the HBO show "Hard Knocks" which follows an NFL team through training camp. 

• This season premiered on Aug. 9 and will be the focus of this week's newsletter.
  
  

This season's team? The Detroit Lions. 

• Did you know Detroit is sometimes called the Paris of the Midwest? I didn't either. What an insult to Detroit!
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Let's go.

Rich Trombetta
@trombettarich

Aug. 15, 2022

This week's BIG Takeaway:
The best leadership style is YOUR leadership style
​(unless you are a mean jerk)

Image: HBO

HBO's "Hard Knocks" provides a valuable leadership lessons
But not for the reasons you might expect

The context: ""Hard Knocks" is a reality sports documentary produced by the NFL and HBO. Each season the show follows an NFL team during training camp in preparation for the upcoming season." (source: IMDb.com)

• There are a lot of leadership lessons viewers can learn from interviews, behind-the-scenes footage of practice, locker room discussions and even decisions on which players will or will not make the team. 
  
  

• Episode No. 1 profiled first-year coach, Dan Campbell, a former player who quoted the heavy metal band Metallica in his first address to the team.
  
  
• Campbell is very vocal and tries to lead by example, going so far as to do intense workouts with the players.
  
  

What we can learn: Campbell's leadership style is his style; it looks good on TV but it might not be right for you.
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• Campbell is intense, has a good sense of humor and works hard to build connections and relationships with players.
  
  
• He seems to embody what it means to be a football coach - tough, strong and motivational. He pushes players hard and uses a number of analogies in fiery speeches to inspire players.
  
  
• Campbell does what he thinks will work best for the team and is a representation of his true self.

My take: Not every leader has to be a Dan Campbell. Find your authentic style, remember to flex to adjust to your team and be who you are.

• Everyone is different. Some people are extroverted, some are introverted. Some give inspirational speeches and some are more calm and measured. There is no right or wrong.
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• Too often we view a leader as someone who portrays strength, gives powerful speeches and has a General Patton approach to life. This is unfortunate because leadership can - and does - take many forms. Did you know Abe Lincoln was an introvert? I'm going to go out on a limb and say he did a pretty good job at leading.
  
  
• ​​While the people who give great speeches may get all the attention, quite often it is the people who are not in the spotlight that are getting all of the results. Don't let Hollywood's image of leadership define you; YOU define you.
  ​​

The BIG Takeaway:
The best leadership style is YOUR leadership style
(unless you are a mean jerk)

Let's put this into action

Image: Pexels

👉​What you can do on your own: 

• ONE: Try this unique leadership assessment to learn about your leadership style.
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• TWO: Didn't like that assessment? Here's another one.
  
  
• THREE: Watch a TED Talk on leadership. Here's a list; find one that works for YOU.

📢​ What you can do with others:

• Work with your team or other colleagues to dig deeper into our topics using our discussion guides. Instead of a book club I like to think of this as our "movie-or-TV club." ​
  
  This week: Your leadership style.
  

Did you know we can design and deliver custom classes or programs based on topics we write about?

​Click the button to learn more.

For companies

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That's all for now

But wait! Here's our weekly dog video to help you smile before you go. 
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​Thanks for reading and please remember:

• We archive our stories and put them here for the world to read so feel free to have a look.
• If you have any ideas or feedback Contact me with your thoughts.
• We can create custom newsletters​ and training sessions on the topics we write about.

Rich Trombetta
​@trombettarich

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Our mission is to revolutionize corporate learning and development by providing quick, timely and practical leadership lessons using relatable examples from pop culture.
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Our why: Most corporate learning and development is boring, doesn't work or is only available to people with the cash to afford it. We say "enough." It is time to smash traditional training models and instead make learning quick, fun, relatable and accessible for everyone. 

Copyright 2022 The Pop Culture Training Company. ​