Pink Elephant Blog
Lessons in Leadership From Star Wars
The theme of Pink24, the 27th International IT Service Management Conference and Exhibition – being held at Bellagio in Las Vegas from March 3-6, 2024 – is Star Wars.
Now in its 27th hugely successful year, for each conference, we choose a fun theme and for our next event, we’ve chosen a Star Wars theme to show how IT organizations and their leaders can use several business methodologies and leadership concepts to fight the ‘dark side’ (tumultuous times) and fulfill their mission to provide optimal business value.
How apropos that we found this article, Lessons in leadership from Star Wars, written by chartered psychologist and author Dr. Audrey Tang. We’re sharing it because it has many interesting insights on leadership. Dr. Tang notes it was Darth Vader’s rise to power and leadership behaviors that created him and eventually resulted in his downfall. She believes that his story can provide valuable lessons for today’s corporate ‘empires’.
We will summarize the main points in Dr. Tang’s article and then outline how Pink24 will provide exceptional opportunities for leaders and aspiring leaders to obtain the latest leadership-centric guidance in the IT service management industry.
Dr. Tang’s leadership advice is rooted in these recommendations:
- Good is a point of view. Praise and recognition is a human need – VOICE it. We all know the power of praise as motivation, and more importantly, even unconsciously, we all know how lovely it is to receive it…Celebrate your team’s work, pass on praise from clients if it comes to you – not least because sometimes people need help in learning to accept compliments.
- You have done that to yourself. Sometimes good people do bad things for good reasons, but that doesn’t make it okay. An effective leader is aware of their team. It is important to be aware of the needs of your team.
- “Deceive you, eyes can.” Make decisions based on evidence over tradition. “We’ve always done it this way” can be a common chant of long-established businesses, but it is essential to evolve alongside your environment.
- Allow this appointment lightly. Leading, mentoring, and doing require different skill sets. It is notable that often promotions to a position of leadership happen because someone is very good at their job but not necessarily good at getting others to do it. The skill set of the leader, the mentor, and the team player differs, and each may require training to get it right, and simply, some people who excel in one role may struggle in others.
- I did not put you in this situation. What may not be of your making may end up being your problem. We cannot always control the outcome of a decision or situation – sometimes all we can do is deal with reality, saving any recriminations and regrets for a later reflection point (and reflect we must, so we can learn).
- Twice the pride, double the fall. Success is a work in progress – never think you are impervious. Always take a moment to reflect on your own performance and sense-check with your teams and clients that you are still in alignment with both your values and their requirements.
- Let go of everything you fear to lose. It is arguably NOT a case of being unemotional but using emotional intelligence effectively. In leadership, it is not about repressing emotion but knowing how to use it.
Tang notes that emotional intelligence may be defined as being able to recognize emotions and respond appropriately in conduct and interaction, express and manage our feelings effectively, and handle interactive relationships effectively.
Leadership Opportunities at Pink24
The Pink24 program – which is still under development with new sessions being added every day – will, as usual, feature an entire track devoted to leadership-centric guidance. Leaders and aspiring leaders can learn from the insights provided by prominent and progressive-thinking senior IT professionals and practitioners who will present case studies and deliver first-hand experiences that address topics such as strategy, people, business processes, and organizational change management, as well as leading major cultural transformations.
Our Executive VIP Pass is designed for IT leaders, departments, group and function heads, and program and project directors who are seeking strategic and high-level content, insights from peers, and meaningful interactions with Pink’s brightest and most senior consultants and other industry and business experts. Executive VIP Pass holders will have access to exclusive leadership-specific guidance and coaching from senior consultants on how to shape transformation strategies, as well as networking with like-minded peers who “get” your problems and issues.
There is so much more waiting for you at Pink24! Obtain information on the program or register.
The Pink24 Super Faithful Early Bird Special Offer
Register for Pink24 and pay by April 14th, 2023, and you will get:
- $100 off your conference pass
- Up to 4 FREE hotel room nights at the Bellagio Hotel
- Total savings of over $1,000!
For additional details on the Pink24 Super Faithful Early Bird Special offer – and all the benefits of the standard, platinum, and Executive VIP passes – click here.
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