Leadership Lessons from “Greyhound” with Tom Hanks on Apple TV.
I must confess….my boss recommended that several of us watch “Greyhound”. His reasoning was quite simple. There was a great display of leadership throughout the movie by Tom Hanks character, Commander Ernest Krause with many lessons that could continue to lead us through the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as many of us have had to adapt to a new normal while leading others (formally or informally), the path to watch this movie changed. It was originally planned for release in the theaters in June, but was sold to Apple+ TV to allow for the films release. I am glad that Apple bought this movie and gave us all the opportunity to watch a great film.
The film was based upon the 1955 book “The Good Shepherd” by C.S. Forester. It tells the story of Captain Krause leading his first war time ship in the Battle of the Atlantic a few months after the United States entered World War II. He was in command of a large convoy of ships that were from different countries tasked with protecting a merchant ship that was under attack from German submarines. There was over 50 hours that the convoy did not have air support from one point to another on open water. As Captain Krause leads the group through these un-supported hours, his remarkable leadership was on full display.
First, he made strong connections with his team & other commanding officers. He valued everyone’s opinions, relied on their expertise, praised them and trusted that everyone would do their job properly. In every sequence of the film, there were numerous examples of this coming to life. The most memorable was the interaction between the sonar technician and the Captain.
Second, he was emotionally intelligent. There were moments of sadness, weakness and frustration throughout the movie. In each of these moments, he knew what he had to do to lead his team effectively. He showed compassion and strength in every situation. He never raised his voice, talked down to anyone or made them feel less than from a failure. He knew his job required that he get the very best out of everyone around him to survive.
Lastly, he was confident even as a beginner. This was his first commanding position. He was decisive, confident and knowledgeable. He knew when to ask the experts around him, but made the final decision as a well-experienced commander would. He reminded me that being surrounded by expertise can help fill in any experience gaps.
This movie was enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it. I know it’s not a book for my year of reading, but it’s safe to say that 2020 has taught me to expect the unexpected, embrace change and lead with heart (ALWAYS).
Stay tuned for what’s next in 2020! 🙂