22 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Earlier today I went to the 9:00 AM showing of the much anticipated movie The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.  Good thing I selected an early showing because the young lady working the ticket counter told the gentleman in front of me 11 of the day’s next 12 showings were already sold out.

As the third part of the popular book and movie series, the following are 22 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1:

1. Older Leaders Must Build Bridges With Younger Leaders – I do not understand the popularity of The Hunger Games series but young people love them.  I cannot get excited about any storyline featuring the sanctioned killing of children by other children.  Also, these movies have always seemed average in terms of entertainment value at best.  And finally, missed expectations.  This installment is primarily about propaganda and political maneuvering.  But young people think differently than I do.  They obviously dress differently.  They listen to different music.  As a leader, I don’t have to like their preferences but it is important to respect their world and build bridges with them.
2. Great Leaders Want To Work With Other Great Leaders – The more leaders you have, the more effective your team will be.  What drives this movie is the incredible cast which includes the incredible Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Julianne Moore (President Alma Coin), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Publicist Plutarch Heavensbee), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), and Donald Sutherland as President Snow among others.
3. Leaders Are Incessant Team Builders – When recruiting Katniss to be the revolution’s spokesperson/Mockingjay, Coin said, “The revolution is about everyone.  All of us.  And we need a voice.”
4. Developing Leaders Is A Process – Heavensbee said regarding an insecure Katniss, “People don’t always show up the way you want them to.”
5. Leaders Give Others Confidence And Security – Coin said, “Never let them see you bleed.”
6. Leading By Fear And Deception Is Unsustainable – Snow led by force, execution, lies and military might which resulted in a revolution by his followers.
7. Great Leaders Are Servant Leaders – When negotiating the terms of her involvement, Everdeen’s final request was, “My sister gets to keep her cat.”
8. Leadership Is Temporary – All leadership is temporary and therefore, must be stewarded well.  Heavensbee said, “Anyone can be replaced.”
9. Leaders Bring About Positive Change Over Time – Coin patiently acknowledged, “The thing with revolutions is they need to be kindled.”
10. Leaders Need To Position Their Teams For Success – When filming Everdeen’s propaganda videos, they realized she would be more effective being filmed in the field rather than a studio.
11. Leaders Need A Supportive Team – Gale Hawthorne, played by Liam Hemsworth, was incredibly supportive of Katniss and critical to her success throughout the movie.
12. Leaders Bring Solutions – Coin encouraged Katniss by saying, “Everything old can be made new again, like democracy.”
13. Leaders Bring Out The Best In Others – Image consultant Effie Trinket told Katniss, “We will make you the best dressed rebel in history.”
14. Great Leaders Make A Significant Difference In The Lives Of People – “Everyone will want to kiss you, kill you, or be you.”
15. Leaders Do Not Confuse Activity With Accomplishment – President Coin asked Katniss about going into the field, “And if you’re killed?”  To which she replied, “Make sure you get it on camera.”
16. Leaders Run To The Action, Not From It – In a scene in which a hospital was being attacked, rather than being taken to a bunker, Katniss and Gale engaged the fighter jets in battle.
17. Leaders Are Dealers Of Hope – Katniss wanted the other precincts to have hope.  She said, “I want the rebels to know I’m alive.”
18. Leaders Provide Clear Direction – Rather than being passive, she went on, “We must fight back.”
19. Leaders Are Resilient – Katniss defiantly told President Snow, “You can torture us and burn us and bomb us.  Fire is catching…If we burn, you burn with us.”
20. Leaders Value Character Over Competence – Finnick Odiar said, “It takes 10 times longer to put yourself back together than it does to fall apart.”
21. Leaders Are Defined By Their Actions – “Poison is the perfect weapon for a snake.”
22. “It’s the things we love most that destroy us.” – I have some strong thoughts about President Snow’s famous quote.  If you most love Jesus Christ, you will receive life and life abundantly.  If you love something other than Jesus, then I agree.  You will be ultimately destroyed.

Once again, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 was not for me.  How about you?

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