When people think of movie directors Steven Spielberg is often the first name that pops into their head. Steven Spielberg has become an iconic film director and is well-known for his several movies including Jaws and Jurassic Park. Spielberg has an imagination and eye for directing but those are not the only skills that make him so successful, he is an incredible leader. Being a movie director requires organizing and leading the several people who work on the set and that task can be extremely overwhelming. Control freak and collaborator are two words used when describing Spielberg’s leadership style. (Joseph McBride). Spielberg has found a balance of different leadership styles and tactics that have led him to being so successful.
Growing up Spielberg was a child filled with imagination. He liked the sensation of being scared and was always pushing himself to the limit. This was later transcribed into the films he produced. When Spielberg began to find his interest in film making he got his whole family involved. He would film his family doing things and his family would play along. “My dad had to wait for me to say ‘action’ before he could put the knife into the fish to clean it” (rolemodels.net). His family served as great supporters that helped him make it into the industry. Spielberg started his career at Universal Studios which began with him manipulating
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the guards to allow him on set. He started making short films and it was not long before is talent was recognized. As far as his personal life, Spielberg is married to Kate Capshaw and has six children. Spielberg is a family man and cares a lot about people which is seen through is work life. Spielberg has gone on to become one of the best directors of all time winning several awards such as an Oscar as Best Director for Schindler’s List. Spielberg was also awarded the Lincoln Leadership Prize and honor “awarded annually by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, [that honors] outstanding individuals for a lifetime of service in the spirit of 16th President Abraham Lincoln” (Steven Spielberg to Receive Lincoln Leadership Prize). This award recognizes Spielberg’s character, individual conscience, and commitment to the principles of democracy. Spielberg is a great director but is also acknowledged for his character, leadership skills and civic engagement. Making his way into the industry, Spielberg found himself in the follower role in many instances. Starting his career in the roles of an editor or an assistant director he had many people he had to answer to. As a follower Spielberg was always interested in learning more to enhance himself as a director. He studied the styles of people he worked alongside of such as George Lucas and Richard Dreyfuss. Spielberg was also a courageous followers and worked to have a relationship with the people above him. He was not afraid to give his input and confront the leader. He also supported the leader’s ideas and believed in the people he worked with. Spielberg once made a bet with his friend George Lucas who he looked up to at the time. Lucas thought that his movies, Star Wars, was not going to be very successful. Spielberg on the other hand knew they would be and empowered and encouraged Lucas. This little encouragement went a long ways as Star Wars is one of the biggest movie series of all time. Spielberg knew how important it was to be an effective follower in order to enhance his own career and support those he followed. Spielberg has mastered the powerful combination of being a directive and supportive leader. He is in charge of a lot people on set and his followers are all trying to make things just the way he likes them. He has to adapt his leadership style based on the people he is working with and the situation. Making his way through the industry Spielberg did all sorts of jobs such as writing scripts to making sets and costumes that when he became the executive director he was a bit in shock when other people were expected to do these things for him. An important part of this learning was experience that Spielberg learned the importance of delegating. “Spielberg learned those people could be a great help in realizing his directorial vision” (McBride). Spielberg gained trust for his followers and allowed them to do more work. Once Spielberg realized that these people were capable of doing work that was up to his high standard he became more comfortable with delegating tasks to them. Spielberg also used a lot of collaboration, “[a quality] essential to good leadership in a profession that involves orchestrating the work of hundreds of helpers” (McBride). Collaboration is an important thing used in participative leadership. Spielberg had an inner circle that he trusted and relied a lot of them for their create inspiration. On the other hand Spielberg was also a directive leader and quite pedantic.
Although he did so very skillfully that made his followers still respect him. He found that using the directive leadership style he could make sure things got done exactly the way he wanted while he was able to focus on his own tasks. His relationship with his followers is very important and having that mutual trust and two-way collaboration is essential to both his and their success. It is said that “he works decisively and efficiently, trusting [his inner circle] and others in the crew to help execute his visions.”
(McBride). Ed Burns revealed what it is like being under Spielberg’s direction and how truly effective of a leader he is. Burns recalls his first day on set being extremely nerve racking, he “botched several takes” ( Mallory Schlossberg). Burns writes his memoir “Independent Ed” : “Most directors would have stepped in after my first botched take, offered some notes, and inadvertently rattled my confidence. But this wasn’t Steven’s approach with us. He allowed us several takes to figure things out for ourselves. So much so that he didn’t provide any direction for almost two weeks... The cast figured he hated what we were doing and speculated which one of would be fired fist” (Schlossberg). Burns and many others under Spielberg’s direction have come to learn that his is just his style of doing things and is very effective. Spielberg really understands his followers and knows that too much correction and feedback can take away from them being effective actors and rattle their confidence. Spielberg likes to give his actors three takes before he steps in and says anything. It is important in Spielberg’s eyes to know when to give direction. He really understands the needs of his followers and accommodates his leadership style. He is said to always be very calm and supportive which is two huge traits to have in the industry of directing. I really like how Spielberg uses the combination of supportive and directive leadership. At sometimes in your career it is necessary to be directive and give your followers detailed instruction so they produce a result that is exactly what you are looking for. Whereas in other situations, it is important to be supportive of your followers and give them room to grow like Spielberg does with his actors. I also like how Spielberg learned how to trust his followers which allowed him to delegate more. Having trust is important to do build upon the leader-follower relationship and have both parties worked effectively.
There have been countless books, lectures, and and trainings, and retreats constructed around the idea of cultivating leadership in an individual. However, cultivating individuals’ ability to follow great leadership has received far less attention. Who are these people leading if each person within an organization is being trained to be a leader? The word follower has negative connotations, evoking the images of a weak, uncreative, milquetoast personality. However, Jimmy Collins, in his book, “Creative Followership: In the Shadow of Greatness”, suggests that the ability to be led brings as much creativity, consciousness, and indeed leadership to an organization or team as the leader himself. Great followership is a reflection of great leadership. In this, the follower is just as important as the leader in the relationship. Many great leaders have asserted that a leader with even a modicum of understanding of what drives their subordinates can take their organization to previously undreamt-of heights in creativity and productivity. Collins does not disabuse us of this notion, he does however add that the follower is indispensable agent in this interplay between leader and follower.
The role of a leader is often inaccurately defined as an individual who is in a position to give orders. However, there are enormous differences in the attributes of an outstanding leader, and one of mediocrity. An outstanding leader, above all else, is a role model for their peers. In doing so, a leader of the highest caliber is trustworthy in both their peer’s trust for the leader as well as the leader’s trust of their peers. A leader must also display exceptional skill in communication which transcends speaking and, more importantly, includes listening and consideration to the ideas presented to them. Furthermore, a leader must be supportive of and willing to help their peers build their own strengths. The attributes listed above represent only a small subset of what makes an outstanding leader. Yet,
A leader must always lead by example, be self-accountable for his/her professional and personal behavior. Have moral and mental strength to do what is right, with confidence and resolution, even in the face of temptation or adversity. A leader must be committed to its SAILORS, so that its SAILORS will be committed to him/her. In today’s Navy, we must be leaders in
One may wonder exactly what it is that qualities a strong leader possesses. A strong leader is determined, and strong willed. They must be of good judgment, and without bias. They cannot easily be persuaded, and they are firm, yet at the same time, a good lead must also empathize with his subordinates, and have the best interest at heart for said subordinates, at all times. However, with that being said, a good leader cannot be afraid to discipline his subordinates when necessary. Unmistakably, being a leader is a very difficult feat – one which not everyone can accomplish. A leader must be an authority, a friend and a counsellor, all at once. They must be responsible, and always take into account the disadvantages of a situation. Not everyone is suitable to be a leader, whereas, just about anybody can be a good role model.
Steven Spielberg, the only child of Leah and Arnold Spielberg, was born on December 18, 1946 at the beginning of the Baby Boom years in Cincinnati, Ohio. It does not take a great stretch of the imagination to see that Steven’s film influences were derived from his father’s experience as a World War II veteran and computer technician and his mother’s past profession as a concert pianist. The love and amount of technology, history, and music within Steven’s films can all be traced back to his early life with his family.
Let it be clear that no book will tell us the optimal way of leading, the best way of organizing subordinates, however, we need to realize that successful leaders have all something in common, their actions speak louder than their words, and that these actions are all guided by integrity. The emerging leader should in the end be able to build a character dependent on integrity. The character should be built by the core values we stand for, by our vision’s context, and what’s most important, we should always keep in mind, that “nothing is worse than losing trust, as it will mark our reputation”.
Spielberg was born in Cincinnati on December 18th, 1946. His father was an electrical engineer, and his mother a concert pianist. Steven seemed to get the best elements from both of them. Spielberg had an early fascination with cinema and began making amateur films at a very young age. At 13, he won a local contest for his 40-minute film, Escape to Nowhere. Ironically, Steven was unable to get into a film school, so he settled for majoring in English Literature at California State University. After graduation, he set out to Hollywood, where he was determined to be successful. In 1974, he received his first break for The Sugarland Express. The film went on to win a Cannes Film Festival Award for best screenplay. The following year saw JAWS explode. This very successful horror film, depicting a man-eating shark, captured the attention of the world and has become part of contemporary pop culture. The movie was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and won several Oscars for technical categories and for its very distinctive score.
The topic of this leadership case study is Ernest Shackleton. This paper will identify the development of Shackleton's leadership skills, provide examples and reflections of his abilities, and relate how he played an essential role in one of history's greatest survival stories. This study of Shackleton's leadership is set loosely within the framework of the five practices of exemplary leadership set forth in The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner, and will focus on the benefits produced by his management of team morale and unity (13).
Captain Aubrey exhibits and demonstrates leadership characteristics that inspire his crew to be the best that they can be. One of the most important leadership traits that Captain Jack has is a single-minded focus on his purpose. All of his decisions are held up against the g...
He also used himself as a role model, and personified his vision. 4. Welfare of team first priority Putting the welfare of his team before his own, looking at the beliefs of those he led and how his decisions would impact every one of them. "No man has a right to ask or accept any service unless under changed conditions he would feel that he could keep his entire self-respect while rendering it."
Steven Spielberg was born on December 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents were Arnold Spielberg and Leah Spielberg, who soon influenced the movies he would make. Surprisingly enough, Steven Spielberg was poor at school. Though, when it came to filmmaking, he was extremely talented. He would often become interested in new filmmaking techniques, just like his father, who would study techniques to get ahead in the field. Steven was Jewish growing up, which would soon help him make one of his best works. Many things, as he grew up, influenced his movies greatly, such as his fears or monsters he knew. His imagination was magnificent; he had many thought-provoking ideas. Steven’s beginning films were home movies that he would film with his $20, 8 mm camera. He would experiment with the camera, such as different lighting, different angles, and other techniques. It was like he was born to film! He soon had an obsession for making movies, especially movies that had the World War 2 theme to it. He even spent most of his free time and his allowance to satisfy his obsession for movies.
This report is an analysis of the movie Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone. This report explored the concept of leadership and how it is depicted in the movie. The reports explain a leader’s use of power and influence tactics. As the report proceeds it shows leader’s attributes and style and how it influences on movie character’s action and the environment in which they operate. In the end, it gives an analysis of the effectiveness of the leader. This report justifies an analysis based on existing theory, research evidence and empirically grounded data.
One very important aspect of a great leader is to lead by example. Any person in a position to guide others cannot ask the team to do one thing and act in the complete opposite way. This is a sure way to show that the leader has a need to show power and quickly loose respect from those who should be learning from him or her. Being a role model is importan...
Steven Spielberg is one of the most influential film personalities in the history of film, and as of the pioneers of the Hollywood era. He is the Hollywood's best known and influential directors and producers in film history. Spielberg has numerous big-grossing, critically acclaimed credits to his name, as producer, director and writer.
Finally, leaders are able to keep everything in perspective. They invest themselves fully but also are able to keep their priorities in order. As a child I never understood anything that my mother did or said but now that I am an adult I realize that my mother had a valid reason for everything she did. My entire childhood my mother has molded me to become a great leader and all the lessons that my mother has taught me I can spread the knowledge to my children. Successful leaders keep it all in perspective because they are able to separate the important from the urgent, and devote their time